Nahor

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Brother of Abraham and son of Terah, and father of Bethuel.

About Nahor

Son of Terah and Abraham’s brother (Genesis 11:2629; Joshua 24:2). He married Milcah, Haran’s daughter, and his family is named in Genesis 22:2023. Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac at Nahor’s residence in Mesopotamia (see Genesis 24:10, which possibly suggests that the city itself was called Nahor). There he found Rebekah, Nahor’s granddaughter (Genesis 24:151).

Nahor is also named as the father (perhaps grandfather) of Laban, to whom Jacob went when he fled from his brother Esau (Genesis 29:5). Both of these texts link Abraham’s family with related Semitic people. In Genesis 31:53 God is spoken of as “the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor.”

See also Nahor (Place).

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Family Relationships

Parents
Terah
Partners 2
Milcah, Reumah
Half-siblings 3
Abraham, Haran, Sarah
Children 12
Uz (Genesis 22:21), Buz, Kemuel, Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, Bethuel, Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, Maacah
Nieces & Nephews 11
Ishmael, Isaac, Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, Shuah, Lot, Milcah, Iscah

Key References

Genesis 11:26

When Terah was 70 years old, he became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

Genesis 24:10

Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed with all manner of good things from his master in hand. And he set out for Nahor’s hometown in Aram-naharaim.

Genesis 24:24

She replied, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milcah bore to Nahor.”

All Scripture References (11)

Genesis (11)
Genesis 11:26

When Terah was 70 years old, he became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

Genesis 11:27

This is the account of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot.

Genesis 11:29

And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. Abram’s wife was named Sarai, and Nahor’s wife was named Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, who was the father of both Milcah and Iscah.

Genesis 22:20

Some time later, Abraham was told, “Milcah has also borne sons to your brother Nahor:

Genesis 22:23

And Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. Milcah bore these eight sons to Abraham’s brother Nahor.

Genesis 24:10

Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed with all manner of good things from his master in hand. And he set out for Nahor’s hometown in Aram-naharaim.

Genesis 24:15

Before the servant had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor.

Genesis 24:24

She replied, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milcah bore to Nahor.”

Genesis 24:47

Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She replied, ‘The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists.

Genesis 29:5

“Do you know Laban the grandson of Nahor?” Jacob asked. “We know him,” they replied.

Genesis 31:53

May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.