Genesis 11:26
New International Version
After Terah had lived 70 years, he became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran.

New Living Translation
After Terah was 70 years old, he became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

English Standard Version
When Terah had lived 70 years, he fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

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

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

New King James Version
Now Terah lived seventy years, and begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

New American Standard Bible
Terah lived seventy years, and fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

NASB 1995
Terah lived seventy years, and became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran.

NASB 1977
And Terah lived seventy years, and became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Terah lived 70 years and became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

Amplified Bible
After Terah had lived seventy years, he became the father of Abram and Nahor and Haran [his firstborn].

Christian Standard Bible
Terah lived 70 years and fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Terah lived 70 years and fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

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

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Terah was 70 years old when he became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

Good News Translation
After Terah was 70 years old, he became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

International Standard Version
When Terah had lived 70 years, he fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

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

NET Bible
When Terah had lived 70 years, he became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

New Heart English Bible
Terah lived seventy years, and became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

World English Bible
Terah lived seventy years, and became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Terah lives seventy years, and begets Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

Young's Literal Translation
And Terah liveth seventy years, and begetteth Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Terah will live seventy years and will beget Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Thare lived seventy years, and begot Abram, and Nachor, and Aran.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Terah lived for seventy years, and then he conceived Abram, and Nahor, and Haran.

New American Bible
When Terah was seventy years old, he begot Abram, Nahor and Haran.

New Revised Standard Version
When Terah had lived seventy years, he became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Terah lived seventy-five years, and begot Abram, manor, and Haran.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Terakh lived seventy and five years and begot Abram and Nakhor and Haran.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Terah lived seventy years, and begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Tharrha lived seventy years, and begot Abram, and Nachor, and Arrhan.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Genealogy from Shem to Abram
25And after he had become the father of Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and had other sons and daughters. 26When Terah was 70 years old, he became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

Cross References
Genesis 12:1-3
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you. / I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. / I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 17:5
No longer will you be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.

Genesis 22:15-18
And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time, / saying, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your only son, / I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. ...

Genesis 25:19-26
This is the account of Abraham’s son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac, / and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and the sister of Laban the Aramean. / Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. ...

Genesis 28:13-14
And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie. / Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.

Genesis 35:11-12
And God told him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation—even a company of nations—shall come from you, and kings shall descend from you. / The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.”

Genesis 46:1-4
So Israel set out with all that he had, and when he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. / And that night God spoke to Israel in a vision: “Jacob, Jacob!” He said. “Here I am,” replied Jacob. / “I am God,” He said, “the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. ...

Joshua 24:2-3
And Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your fathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates and worshiped other gods. / But I took your father Abraham from beyond the Euphrates and led him through all the land of Canaan, and I multiplied his descendants. I gave him Isaac,

1 Chronicles 1:26-27
Serug, Nahor, Terah, / and Abram (that is, Abraham).

Nehemiah 9:7-8
You are the LORD, the God who chose Abram, who brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham. / You found his heart faithful before You, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites and Hittites, of the Amorites and Perizzites, of the Jebusites and Girgashites—to give it to his descendants. You have kept Your promise, because You are righteous.

Isaiah 51:2
Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. When I called him, he was but one; then I blessed him and multiplied him.

Matthew 1:1-2
This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham: / Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.

Luke 3:34
the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,

Acts 7:2-4
And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, / and told him, ‘Leave your country and your kindred and go to the land I will show you.’ / So Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God brought him out of that place and into this land where you are now living.

Romans 4:1-3
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has discovered? / If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God. / For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”


Treasury of Scripture

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

A.

Genesis 12:4,5
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 22:20-24
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 29:4,5
And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we…

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Abram Begat Begetteth Begot Haran Nahor Seventy Terah
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Genesis 11
1. One language in the world.
2. The building of Babel.
5. It is interrupted by the confusion of tongues, and the builders dispersed.
10. The generations of Shem.
27. The generations of Terah, the father of Abram.
31. Terah, with Abram and Lot, move from Ur to Haran.














When Terah was 70 years old
Terah's age at the time of fathering his sons is significant in the genealogical records of Genesis, which often highlight the ages of patriarchs to establish timelines and connections between generations. This age marks a period in the post-Flood world where lifespans were gradually decreasing. Terah's age also sets the stage for the narrative of Abram, who would later be called Abraham, a central figure in biblical history.

he became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran
Abram, later known as Abraham, is a pivotal figure in the Bible, often called the "father of faith." His story begins here, and he is a key ancestor of the Israelites, as well as a spiritual forefather to Christians and Muslims. Nahor and Haran are less prominent but still important; Nahor's descendants include Rebekah, who becomes Isaac's wife, and Haran is the father of Lot, who plays a significant role in the narrative of Sodom and Gomorrah. The mention of these three sons together suggests a family unit that would have been typical in ancient Mesopotamian culture, where family lineage and inheritance were crucial. This phrase also sets the stage for the call of Abram by God, which is a foundational moment in the biblical narrative, leading to the establishment of the covenant with Abraham and the eventual formation of the nation of Israel.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Terah
The father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Terah is a significant figure as the patriarch of a family that would become central to the biblical account. His name in Hebrew can mean "delay" or "station," which may reflect his life journey.

2. Abram
Later known as Abraham, he is a central figure in the Bible, known for his faith and obedience to God. Abram's journey begins here, and he is promised to be the father of many nations.

3. Nahor
Abram's brother, who would later become the grandfather of Rebekah, Isaac's wife. Nahor's lineage is significant in the continuation of the Abrahamic line.

4. Haran
The third son of Terah, who died in Ur of the Chaldeans. Haran is the father of Lot, who plays a crucial role in the account of Abram.

5. Ur of the Chaldeans
The place where Terah's family originated. It was a significant city in ancient Mesopotamia, known for its advanced culture and idolatry, which sets the stage for Abram's call to monotheism.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Beginnings
Genesis 11:26 marks the beginning of Abram's account, reminding us that God often uses humble beginnings to accomplish His purposes. Reflect on how God might be using your current circumstances as a starting point for His plans.

Family and Legacy
Terah's family, though initially steeped in idolatry, becomes the foundation for God's chosen people. Consider the legacy you are building and how your faith can impact future generations.

God's Sovereignty in History
The genealogy in Genesis 11:26 shows God's hand in history, orchestrating events and people for His purposes. Trust in God's sovereignty over your life and history.

Faith and Obedience
Abram's account, which begins here, is one of faith and obedience. Reflect on areas in your life where God is calling you to step out in faith.

Leaving the Past Behind
Just as Abram was called to leave Ur, we are often called to leave behind past sins or comforts to follow God's call. Identify what you might need to leave behind to pursue God's will.Verse 26. - And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram. First named on account of his spiritual pre-eminence. If Abram was Terah's eldest son, then, as Abram was seventy-five years of age when Terah died (Genesis 12:4), Terah's whole life could only have been 145 years. But Terah lived to the age of 205 years (Genesis 11:32); therefore Abram was born in Terah's 130th year. This, however, makes it surprising that Abraham should have reckoned it impossible for him to have a son at 100 years (Genesis 17:17); only, after having lived so long in childless wedlock, it was not strange that he should feel somewhat doubtful of any issue by Sarai. Kalisch believes that Stephen (Acts 7:4) made a mistake in saying Terah died before his son's migration from Charran, and that he really survived that event by sixty years; while the Samaritan text escapes the difficulty by shortening the life of Terah to 145 years. And Nahor, who must have been younger than Haran, since he married Haran's daughter. And Haran, who, as the eldest, must have been born in Terah's seventieth year. Thus the second family register, like the flint, concludes after ten generations with the birth of three sons, who, like Noah's, are mentioned not in the order of their ages, but of their spiritual pre-eminence.

From this table it appears that 292 years, according to the Hebrew text, passed away between the Flood and the birth, or 292 +75 = = 367 between the Flood and the call of Abraham. Reckoning, however, the age of Torah at Abram's birth as 130 (vide Exposition), the full period between the Deluge and the patriarch's departure from Haran will be 367 + 60 = = 427 years, which, allowing five pairs to each family, Murphy computes, would in the course of ten generations yield a population of 15,625,000 souls; or, supposing a rate of increase equal to that of Abraham's posterity in Egypt during the 400 years that elapsed from the call to the exodus, the inhabitants of the world in the time of Abraham would be between seven and eight millions. It must, however, be remembered that an element of uncertainty enters into all computations based upon even the Hebrew text. The age of Terah at the birth (apparently) of Abram is put down at seventy. But it admits of demonstration that Abram was born in the 130th year of Terah. What guarantee then do we possess that in every instance the registered son was the firstborn? In the case of Arphaxad this is almost implied in the statement that he was born two years after the Flood. But if the case of Eber were parallel with that of Terah, and Joktan were the son that he begat in his thirty-fourth year, then obviously the birth of Peleg, like that of Abram, may have happened sixty years later; in which case it is apparent that any reckoning which proceeded on the minute verbal accuracy of the registered numbers would be entirely at fault. This consideration might have gone far to explain the wide divergence between the numbers of the Samaritan and Septuagint as compared with the Hebrew text, had it not been that they both agree with it in setting down seventy as the age of Terah at the date of Abram's birth. The palpable artificiality also of these later tables renders them even less worthy of credit than the Hebrew. The introduction by the LXX. of Cainan as the son of Arphaxad, though seemingly confirmed by Luke (Luke 3:35, 36), is clearly an interpolation. It does not occur in the LXX. version of 1 Chronicles 1:24, and is not found in either the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Targums or the ancient versions, in Josephus or Philo, or in the Codex Beza of the Gospel of Luke. Its appearance in Luke (and probably also in the LXX.) can only be explained as an interpolation. Wordsworth is inclined to regard it as authentic in Luke, and to suppose that Cainaan was excluded from the Mosaic table either to render it symmetrical, as Luke's table is rendered symmetrical by its insertion, or because of some moral offence, which, though necessitating his expulsion from a Hebrew register, would not prevent his reappearance in his proper place under the gospel.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When Terah
תֶ֖רַח (ṯe·raḥ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8646: Terah -- Abraham's father, also a place in the desert

was
וַֽיְחִי־ (way·ḥî-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2421: To live, to revive

70
שִׁבְעִ֣ים (šiḇ·‘îm)
Number - common plural
Strong's 7657: Seventy (a cardinal number)

years old,
שָׁנָ֑ה (šā·nāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8141: A year

he became the father of
וַיּ֙וֹלֶד֙ (way·yō·w·leḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage

Abram,
אַבְרָ֔ם (’aḇ·rām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 87: Abram -- 'exalted father', the original name of Abraham

Nahor,
נָח֖וֹר (nā·ḥō·wr)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5152: Nochor

and Haran.
הָרָֽן׃ (hā·rān)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2039: Haran -- 'mountaineer', a brother of Abram, also an Israelite


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Genesis 11:25
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