Genesis 11:26

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

And Terah {H8646} lived {H2421} seventy {H7657} years {H8141}, and begat {H3205} Abram {H87}, Nahor {H5152}, and Haran {H2039}.

Terach lived seventy years and fathered Avram, Nachor and Haran.

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

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

Commentary

Genesis 11:26 marks a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative, serving as a genealogical bridge from the post-Flood world to the emergence of the patriarchs. This verse introduces Terah and his three sons, setting the stage for the story of Abram, who will later become Abraham, the father of many nations.

Context

This verse is part of the genealogical record that traces the descendants of Shem, one of Noah's sons, after the Great Flood and the scattering of peoples at the Tower of Babel. Genealogies in ancient Near Eastern cultures were not merely lists; they established legitimacy, inheritance, and the continuity of a family line. Here, the focus narrows significantly, preparing the reader for the detailed account of God's covenant with Abram.

Key Themes

  • Lineage and Continuity: The verse emphasizes the unbroken line from Noah through Shem to Terah, highlighting God's faithfulness in preserving a chosen lineage through which His redemptive plan would unfold.
  • Divine Preparation: While seemingly a simple record, the introduction of Abram here underscores God's meticulous preparation for the call of a chosen individual to establish a new covenant people.
  • The Dawn of a New Era: The mention of Abram signals the end of the universal narratives (creation, flood, Babel) and the beginning of the patriarchal history, focusing on God's specific dealings with a single family that would grow into a nation.

Significance and Internal Connections

Though Terah lived seventy years before fathering these three sons, it's important to note that Abram was not necessarily the firstborn. Biblical genealogies often list individuals by importance rather than strict birth order. The true significance of this verse lies in the naming of Abram, whose life story dominates the subsequent chapters of Genesis. His introduction here is foundational to understanding the Abrahamic covenant and the origins of Israel.

This verse directly precedes the crucial narrative of Terah's family journeying from Ur of the Chaldees towards the land of Canaan, eventually settling in Haran (Genesis 11:31). It sets the stage for God's momentous call to Abram, commanding him to leave his country and kindred for a promised land (Genesis 12:1). Abram's transformation into Abraham and the promise of numerous descendants (Genesis 17:5-6) are direct outgrowths of the lineage established in this verse, demonstrating God's sovereign hand in human history.

Practical Application

Genesis 11:26 reminds us that God works through specific individuals and their families to accomplish His grand purposes. Even in seemingly mundane genealogical records, there is divine intentionality. It encourages us to recognize that our own lives, families, and histories, though perhaps not recorded in Scripture, are part of God's larger tapestry. It highlights the principle that God often prepares for His greatest works quietly, through the ordinary course of generations, before revealing His extraordinary plans.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 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.

  • 1 Chronicles 1:26

    Serug, Nahor, Terah,

  • 1 Chronicles 1:27

    Abram; the same [is] Abraham.

  • 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 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 22:24

    And his concubine, whose name [was] Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.
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