Terah
malePatriarchalMeaning: “Wanderer; station”
The father of Abraham, Nahor, and Haran. He set out from Ur of the Chaldees toward Canaan but settled in Haran, where he died.
Biography
Terah is the father of Abraham and the link between the line of Shem and the call of the patriarchs. A descendant of Shem through Eber and Nahor (Genesis 11:10–26), he lived in Ur of the Chaldees in lower Mesopotamia.
A family of idolaters
Joshua later reminded Israel that "Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nachor… served other gods" (Joshua 24:2). Abraham's call, then, was an act of grace pulling him out of a pagan household, not a reward for righteous ancestry.
The journey halted at Haran
Terah took Abram, Sarai, and his grandson Lot and "went forth… from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there" (Genesis 11:31). The family stopped short of Canaan. Terah died in Haran at 205 (Genesis 11:32), and only afterward did Abram press on to the promised land (Acts 7:4).
Life Timeline
Fathers Abram (Abraham)
Leads the family from Ur toward Canaan, settling in Haran
Dies in Haran at the age of 205
On the Bible timeline
Terah belongs to the Creation & the Early World era (Beginning – c. 2100 BC).
- c. 2400 BC (traditional)The Flood
- c. 2200 BCThe Tower of Babel
Family Tree
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Themes & lessons from Terah
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Terah appears.
People they appear with
Places in their story
Scripture Appearances
7 verses in 4 booksGenesis4 verses
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 11:31
And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.
Genesis 11:32
And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.
Joshua1 verse
Joshua 24:2
And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.
Luke1 verse
Luke 3:34
Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor,
Acts1 verse
Acts 7:4
Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.
Frequently asked about Terah
Who was Terah in the Bible?
The father of Abraham, Nahor, and Haran. He set out from Ur of the Chaldees toward Canaan but settled in Haran, where he died.
What does the name Terah mean?
The name Terah means “Wanderer; station”.
What did Terah do in the Bible?
Terah served as patriarch, of the tribe of Hebrew.
Who were Terah's children?
Terah's children include Abraham, Nahor, Haran.
Where does Terah appear in the Bible?
Terah is mentioned 7 times across 4 books: Genesis, Joshua, Luke, Acts.
What can we learn from Terah?
The story of Terah touches on themes of terah, abraham, genealogy, haran — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Terah's life.
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