Location
Overview
Haran was an important caravan city of upper Mesopotamia. It served as a way-station and a refuge across three generations of the patriarchs.
Terah's resting place
Travelling from Ur toward Canaan, Terah's family "came unto Haran, and dwelt there"; there Terah died (Genesis 11:31–32). From Haran God renewed his call to Abram: "Get thee out of thy country... unto a land that I will shew thee" (Genesis 12:1–4).
A wife for Isaac
It was to the region of Haran that Abraham's servant returned to find Rebekah for Isaac among Abraham's kindred (Genesis 24).
Jacob's exile
Fleeing Esau, Jacob came to Haran to his uncle Laban (Genesis 27:43; 29:4). There he married Leah and Rachel, served twenty years, and his children were born, before returning to Canaan a wealthy man.
Events Here
Terah dies at Haran; Abram is called onward to Canaan
Jacob flees to Haran and serves Laban
Scripture References
13 versesGenesis11 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 11:28
And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.
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 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.
Genesis 12:4
So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
Genesis 12:5
And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
Genesis 27:43
Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran;
Genesis 28:10
And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. Haran: Gr. Charran
Genesis 29:4
And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.
Acts2 verses
Acts 7:2
And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
Acts 7:4
Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.
Archaeology & History
Haran (modern Harran in south-eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border) was a major centre on the trade routes of the ancient Near East and, like Ur, a seat of moon-god worship. Its distinctive beehive mud-brick houses and the ruins of its old city are still visited today.
People who appear here
Frequently asked about Haran
Where is Haran today?
Today, Haran corresponds to Harran, Turkey.
What happened at Haran in the Bible?
Key biblical events at Haran include terah dies at haran; abram is called onward to canaan; jacob flees to haran and serves laban.
Where is Haran first mentioned in the Bible?
Haran is first mentioned in Genesis 11:26.
How often is Haran mentioned in the Bible?
Haran is mentioned in 13 verses across 2 books: Genesis, Acts.
Who lived at Haran in the Bible?
Abraham’s father Terah settled and died there; Abraham was called onward from Haran; and Jacob fled there to his uncle Laban, marrying Leah and Rachel and raising his family before returning to Canaan.
Where is Haran today?
It is Harran in south-eastern Turkey, near the border with Syria — an ancient caravan city famous for its beehive-shaped houses.