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Nahor

malePatriarchal

Meaning: “Snorting; piercer

A brother of Abraham who remained in Mesopotamia. His descendants, including Bethuel and Laban, would intermarry with Abraham’s line.

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Biography

Nahor is a brother of Abraham, named after their grandfather (Genesis 11:24–26). While Abraham journeyed to Canaan, Nahor's family settled in Mesopotamia, in "the city of Nahor" (Genesis 24:10).

Ancestor of Rebekah and Rachel

Nahor's importance lies in his descendants. Through his son Bethuel came Rebekah, Isaac's wife (Genesis 24:15), and through Bethuel's son Laban came Leah and Rachel, the wives of Jacob (Genesis 29). Thus Abraham deliberately sought wives for his line from Nahor's household rather than from the Canaanites.

Life Timeline

2150 BC

Settles in Mesopotamia as Abraham journeys to Canaan

Genesis 11:27
2030 BC

His granddaughter Rebekah becomes Isaac’s wife

Genesis 24:15

On the Bible timeline

Nahor belongs to the Creation & the Early World era (Beginning – c. 2100 BC).

  1. c. 2400 BC (traditional)The Flood
  2. c. 2200 BCThe Tower of Babel

Family Tree

NNahorPatriarchal
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Themes & lessons from Nahor

Biblical themes that run through the passages where Nahor appears.

Genealogy8×Shem8×Milcah6×Hebrew5×Rebekah5×Terah5×Servants4×Abraham3×Haran3×Serug3×Burnt Offering, the2×Prayer, Answers To2×Laban1×Mesopotamia1×Oaths1×Presents1×Shepherd1×Syria1×

People they appear with

Abraham7×
Milcah6×
Terah5×
Bethuel4×
Serug3×
Haran3×
Rebekah2×
Lot1×
Sarah1×
Iscah1×
Laban1×
Isaac1×
Jacob1×

Places in their story

Haran3×

Scripture Appearances

16 verses in 2 books
Genesis15 verses

Genesis 11:22

And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor:

Genesis 11:23

And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:24

And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah: Terah: Gr. Thara

Genesis 11:25

And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:26

And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

Genesis 11:27

Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.

Genesis 11:29

And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.

Genesis 22:20

And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor;

Genesis 22:23

And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother. Rebekah: Gr. Rebecca

Genesis 24:10

And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. for: or, and

Genesis 24:15

And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

Genesis 24:24

And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.

Genesis 24:47

And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.

Genesis 29:5

And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.

Genesis 31:53

The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.

1 Chronicles1 verse

1 Chronicles 1:26

Serug, Nahor, Terah,

Frequently asked about Nahor

Who was Nahor in the Bible?

A brother of Abraham who remained in Mesopotamia. His descendants, including Bethuel and Laban, would intermarry with Abraham’s line.

What does the name Nahor mean?

The name Nahor means “Snorting; piercer”.

What did Nahor do in the Bible?

Nahor served as patriarch, of the tribe of Hebrew.

Who were Nahor's parents?

Nahor was the child of Terah.

Where does Nahor appear in the Bible?

Nahor is mentioned 16 times across 2 books: Genesis, 1 Chronicles.

What can we learn from Nahor?

The story of Nahor touches on themes of genealogy, shem, milcah, hebrew — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Nahor's life.

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