King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Terach took his son Avram, his son Haran’s son Lot, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Avram’s wife; and they left Ur of the Kasdim to go to the land of Kena‘an. But when they came to Haran, they stayed there.
Berean Standard Bible:
And Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai the wife of Abram, and they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans for the land of Canaan. But when they arrived in Haran, they settled there.
American Standard Version:
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.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Terah{H8646} took{H3947} Abram{H87} his son{H1121}, and Lot{H3876} the son{H1121} of Haran{H2039} his son's{H1121} son{H1121}, and Sarai{H8297} his daughter in law{H3618}, his son{H1121} Abram's{H87} wife{H802}; and they went forth{H3318} with them from Ur{H218} of the Chaldees{H3778}, to go{H3212} into the land{H776} of Canaan{H3667}; and they came{H935} unto Haran{H2771}, and dwelt{H3427} there.
Cross-References (KJV):
Nehemiah 9:7
- Thou [art] the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham;
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.
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 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.
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.
Joshua 24:3
- And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 11:31
Genesis 11:31 is part of the patriarchal narratives in the Book of Genesis, which detail the genealogy and early history of the Israelite people. This verse introduces a significant transition in the life of Abram (later known as Abraham), who is a central figure in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
**Themes:**
1. **Divine Call and Obedience:** The broader context of this verse involves God's call to Abram to leave his homeland and go to a place that God would show him (Genesis 12:1-3). Abram's departure from Ur is an act of faith and obedience to this divine call, which sets the stage for God's covenant with him and his descendants.
2. **Family Dynamics:** The verse highlights the importance of family relationships and the role they play in the narrative. Terah, Abram's father, initiates the journey, indicating a level of familial cooperation and shared destiny among Abram, Lot, and Sarai.
3. **Journey and Pilgrimage:** The act of leaving Ur and traveling to Canaan symbolizes a spiritual and physical pilgrimage, a common theme in the Bible where individuals and groups are called to move from one place to another, often representing a journey from the old to the new, from darkness to light, or from idolatry to the worship of the true God.
4. **Ur of the Chaldees:** The departure from Ur, an ancient Sumerian city in Mesopotamia, signifies a departure from a center of pagan culture and religion. This move is away from the familiar and comfortable towards an unknown future, guided by faith in God's promises.
5. **Settling in Haran:** The family's stop in Haran, a city in northern Mesopotamia, represents an intermediate stage between the old life in Ur and the fulfillment of God's promise in Canaan. It is here that Terah dies, and Abram continues the journey to Canaan after his father's death.
**Historical Context:**
Genesis 11:31 is set in the context of early human history according to the biblical narrative, following the Tower of Babel incident (Genesis 11:1-9), which describes the dispersion of peoples across the earth due to their rebellion against God. The migration of Terah's family occurs during a time when urban centers like Ur were thriving, and the region was a hub of commerce, culture, and religious practice.
The historical accuracy of the biblical account, including the existence of Ur and the possibility of a historical Abraham, has been a subject of scholarly debate. Archaeological evidence confirms the existence of Ur as a significant city during the early to mid-second millennium BCE, which corresponds with the traditional dating of Abraham's life.
In summary, Genesis 11:31 is a pivotal verse that sets the stage for the unfolding of God's covenantal relationship with the patriarch Abraham. It emphasizes themes of divine guidance,
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H8646
There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תֶּרַח
Transliteration: Terach
Pronunciation: teh'-rakh
Description: of uncertain derivation; Terach, the father of Abraham; also a place in the Desert; Tarah, Terah. - Strong's Number: H3947
There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָקַח
Transliteration: lâqach
Pronunciation: law-kakh'
Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. - Strong's Number: H87
There are 17014 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַבְרָם
Transliteration: ʼAbrâm
Pronunciation: ab-rawm'
Description: contracted from אֲבִירָם; high father; Abram, the original name of Abraham; Abram. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H3876
There are 30 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לוֹט
Transliteration: Lôwṭ
Pronunciation: lote
Description: the same as לוֹט; Lot, Abraham's nephew; Lot. - Strong's Number: H2039
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הָרָן
Transliteration: Hârân
Pronunciation: haw-rawn'
Description: perhaps from הַר; mountaineer; Haran, the name of two men; Haran. - Strong's Number: H8297
There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׂרַי
Transliteration: Sâray
Pronunciation: saw-rah'-ee
Description: from שַׂר; dominative; Sarai, the wife of Abraham; Sarai. - Strong's Number: H3618
There are 34 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כַּלָּה
Transliteration: kallâh
Pronunciation: kal-law'
Description: lemma כַּלָה missing dagesh, corrected to כַּלָּה; from כָּלַל; a bride (as if perfect); hence, a son's wife; bride, daughter-in-law, spouse. - Strong's Number: H802
There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִשָּׁה
Transliteration: ʼishshâh
Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English. - Strong's Number: H3318
There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָצָא
Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter. - Strong's Number: H218
There are 146 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אוּר
Transliteration: ʼÛwr
Pronunciation: oor
Description: the same as אוּר; Ur, a place in Chaldaea; also an Israelite; Ur. - Strong's Number: H3778
There are 80 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כַּשְׂדִּי
Transliteration: Kasdîy
Pronunciation: kas-dee'
Description: (occasionally with enclitic) כַּשְׂדִּימָה; towards the Kasdites into Chaldea), patronymically from כֶּשֶׂד (only in the plural); a Kasdite, or descendant of Kesed; by implication, a Chaldaean (as if so descended); also an astrologer (as if proverbial of that people; Chaldeans, Chaldees, inhabitants of Chaldea. - Strong's Number: H3212
There are 938 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָלַךְ
Transliteration: yâlak
Pronunciation: yaw-lak'
Description: a primitive root (compare הָלַךְ); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses); [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak. - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. - Strong's Number: H3667
There are 91 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כְּנַעַן
Transliteration: Kᵉnaʻan
Pronunciation: ken-ah'-an
Description: from כָּנַע; humiliated; Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the country inhabited by him; Canaan, merchant, traffick. - Strong's Number: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H2771
There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָרָן
Transliteration: Chârân
Pronunciation: kaw-rawn'
Description: from חָרַר; parched; Charan, the name of a man and also of a place; Haran. - Strong's Number: H3427
There are 980 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָשַׁב
Transliteration: yâshab
Pronunciation: yaw-shab'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry; (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry.