Nahor נָחוֹר

Male Early Patriarch H5152H 1 book

Son of Terah, Abraham's brother; father of Bethuel.

Biography

Nahor, mentioned in Genesis 11, 22, 24, 29, and 31, was the son of Terah and the brother of Abraham and Haran. He was born in Ur of the Chaldeans and later settled in the city of Nahor, which was likely named after him.

Nahor married Milcah, the daughter of his brother Haran, and together they had eight children, including Bethuel, who became the father of Rebekah (Gen.22.20-23). Rebekah would later marry Isaac, Abraham's son, thus continuing the lineage of the patriarchs.

When Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac, the servant traveled to the city of Nahor and met Rebekah at the well (Gen.24.10). Rebekah's family connection to Nahor and Abraham was confirmed when she identified herself as Bethuel's daughter and Nahor's granddaughter (Gen.24.15, 24, 47).

Later, when Israel (or 'Jacob'), Rebekah's son, fled from his brother Esau, he sought refuge with Laban, Rebekah's brother, in the city of Nahor (Gen.29.5). This shows that Nahor's descendants maintained close ties with Abraham's family.

In Gen.31.53, when Jacob and Laban made a covenant, they invoked the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor as witnesses, suggesting that Nahor and his descendants had come to acknowledge the God of Abraham.

Nahor's role in the biblical narrative is primarily as a link in the lineage of the patriarchs, connecting Abraham to the subsequent generations. His descendants, particularly Rebekah and her family, play a crucial role in the continuation of the covenant promises made to Abraham.

Family

In Scripture

1 biblical book ; 1 with study content
Genesis 5 verses
  • Genesis 11:26

    "Terah lived seventy years, and became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran."

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  • Genesis 11:27

    "Now this is the history of the generations of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran became the father of Lot."

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  • Genesis 11:29

    "Abram and Nahor married wives. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, who was also the father of Iscah."

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  • Genesis 22:20

    "After these things, Abraham was told, “Behold, Milcah, she also has borne children to your brother Nahor:"

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  • Genesis 22:23

    "Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother."

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Names & Aliases

Form Language Script Strong's
Named Hebrew נָחוֹר H5152H