Genesis 11:24 kjv
And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah:
Genesis 11:24 nkjv
Nahor lived twenty-nine years, and begot Terah.
Genesis 11:24 niv
When Nahor had lived 29 years, he became the father of Terah.
Genesis 11:24 esv
When Nahor had lived 29 years, he fathered Terah.
Genesis 11:24 nlt
When Nahor was 29 years old, he became the father of Terah.
Genesis 11 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 5:3 | ...Adam begot a son in his own likeness...and named him Seth. | Example of standard genealogical formula. |
| Gen 5:32 | Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah begot Shem, Ham, and Japheth. | Demonstrates generational succession. |
| Gen 10:25 | ...to Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg... | Part of the broader "Table of Nations." |
| Gen 11:10 | This is the genealogy of Shem: Shem was one hundred years old, and begot Arphaxad two years after the flood. | Beginning of the Shemite line leading to Abram. |
| Gen 11:22 | ...Serug lived thirty years, and begot Nahor. | Immediate preceding father in the lineage. |
| Gen 11:26 | Now Terah lived seventy years, and begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran. | Directly links Terah to Abraham. |
| Gen 12:1 | Now the Lord had said to Abram: "Get out of your country..." | God's call to the direct descendant of this line. |
| Gen 22:20 | Now it came to pass after these things that it was told Abraham, saying, "Indeed Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor:" | Refers to Abraham's brother Nahor's lineage, separate but related. |
| Gen 24:4 | "...but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac." | Highlights the family origin in Aram Naharaim. |
| Gen 24:15 | And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor... | Identifies a key descendant of Nahor. |
| Deut 7:6 | "For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you..." | Connects to the divine election through this lineage. |
| 1 Chr 1:1-27 | Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan...Nahor, Terah, Abram. | Inclusion of Nahor and Terah in detailed genealogy. |
| Isa 51:2 | "Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who bore you..." | Emphasizes the importance of the patriarchal line. |
| Matt 1:1 | The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham. | Links Jesus' lineage directly to Abraham, underscoring the purpose of Genesis genealogies. |
| Matt 1:2 | Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob... | Demonstrates the ongoing "begot" pattern in divine history. |
| Lk 3:23-38 | ...son of Joseph...son of Terah, the son of Nahor...son of Shem, the son of Noah... | Provides a comprehensive New Testament genealogy of Jesus that includes Nahor and Terah. |
| Acts 7:2-4 | "The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him, 'Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.' Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell." | Stephen's speech confirms Terah's role in the family journey. |
| Rom 4:16 | Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. | Abraham's foundational role, whose lineage is established here. |
| Gal 3:16 | Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ. | Reinforces the importance of the specific lineage for the Messiah. |
| Heb 11:8 | By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance... | Highlights Abraham's role as the recipient of promise, stemming from this lineage. |
Genesis 11 verses
Genesis 11 24 Meaning
Genesis 11:24 concisely states that Nahor lived twenty-nine years before his son Terah was born, solidifying a direct and chronologically precise link in the post-Flood lineage leading directly to Abraham. This verse acts as another critical step in the divinely preserved ancestry, providing familial continuity and a foundational bridge between the broad history of humanity (Genesis 1-11) and the specific unfolding of God's redemptive plan through Abraham's family (Genesis 12 onwards).
Genesis 11 24 Context
Genesis 11:24 is situated within the "Toldot Shem" (generations of Shem, Gen 11:10-26), a specific genealogy linking the descendants of Noah's son Shem to Abraham. This genealogical bridge is crucial as it follows the narrative of the Tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9), which describes humanity's dispersion due to their pride. In the midst of this fractured human history, God's ongoing plan is quietly demonstrated through the preserved and precise lineage from Shem to Nahor, and now to Terah. This verse serves as a historical and chronological marker, systematically detailing the ancestry that will lead to Abraham, through whom God would initiate His covenant and a new chapter in redemptive history.
Genesis 11 24 Word analysis
- Nahor: (Hebrew:
Nāḥōr, נָחוֹר) The name of a specific individual in the vital genealogical line from Shem to Abraham. Its precise identification ensures the unbroken and historical chain leading to the patriarchal promises. The biblical narrative focuses on him as the immediate father of Terah, thereby directly connecting the subsequent patriarchal narrative to earlier post-Flood history. - lived: (Hebrew:
chai, חַי) This verb signifies active existence or the duration of life. In these genealogical statements,chaifunctions to mark the specific lifespan of a patriarch leading up to the birth of their named successor, contributing to the chronological framework of biblical history. It underscores that these individuals were not mythical, but real, living people within time. - twenty-nine years: This numerical specificity contributes to the meticulously crafted chronology of Genesis. It highlights a continuing pattern of decreasing ages for paternity and overall lifespan compared to pre-Flood and earlier post-Flood generations. This subtle but consistent decline hints at the progressive, long-term impact of the Fall and potentially a post-Flood change in human vitality, even within a divinely protected lineage. The precision validates the historicity intended by the writer.
- and begot: (Hebrew:
vayyoled, וַיּוֹלֶד) This is the Waw consecutive imperfect ofyalad(יָלַד), meaning "to give birth" or "to beget." In the context of male lineage,vayyoledspecifically means "and he begot" or "fathered." Its consistent use in genealogies affirms direct, physical paternity and ensures the integrity of the successive generations, leaving no room for doubt about the biological and spiritual lineage leading to the fulfillment of God's promises. - Terah: (Hebrew:
Teraḥ, תֶּרַח) Introduced as Nahor's direct son. Terah is a pivotal figure as the immediate father of Abram (later Abraham), Nahor (Abraham's brother), and Haran. His introduction here prepares the reader for the significant role his family will play, particularly as they migrate towards Canaan and become the progenitors of the nation of Israel. His identity links this genealogy directly to the patriarch of faith.
Words-group analysis:
- "Nahor lived twenty-nine years and begot Terah": This concise, formulaic statement is a foundational element in biblical genealogies. It serves several crucial functions: (1) It precisely tracks time and human generations, contributing to the historical reliability of the biblical narrative. (2) It affirms the continuous, direct succession of a specific, chosen lineage, emphasizing divine providence in preserving the seed line. (3) The consistency of this phrase across Genesis validates the integrity of the succession from creation through the patriarchs, providing an unwavering historical bridge from past divine dealings to future redemptive acts, especially the call of Abraham and the establishment of God's covenant people.
Genesis 11 24 Bonus section
- The repetitive "lived... and begot" formula common throughout Genesis 5 and 11 underscores the factual, historical nature of the account, setting it apart from more mythological or vague genealogical lists found in other ancient Near Eastern literature. The Bible's precision emphasizes concrete human history as the arena of God's unfolding purposes.
- The fact that Nahor was 29 when he begot Terah falls within the overall trend of diminishing ages for firstborn progeny (and overall lifespan) among post-Flood patriarchs in Genesis 11, subtly pointing to a general decline in human longevity since the days of Noah and beyond.
- This particular verse places Terah directly within the continuous, unbroken line chosen by God from Shem's descendants, solidifying his role as the father of Abraham. It is through Terah that the narrative transitions into the pivotal story of the Abrahamic covenant, demonstrating God's consistent work through a select human family.
Genesis 11 24 Commentary
Genesis 11:24, while brief, is a significant marker in the grand narrative of Scripture. It confirms the orderly and historical progression of generations chosen by God to bear His promise after the global scattering at Babel. By stating Nahor's age at Terah's birth, the verse reinforces the biblical commitment to detailed historicity and the meticulous chronology underpinning God's redemptive plan. It subtly foreshadows the imminence of Abraham's birth and divine call, demonstrating that God's covenant with Abraham was not an isolated event but occurred within a divinely prepared and preserved lineage. This precise accounting highlights God's sovereignty over history and His unwavering faithfulness in preparing the way for the eventual birth of the Messiah.
- Example: Just as a vital chain requires every link to be strong, this verse ensures the unbroken strength of the biblical lineage, demonstrating that no generation was left to chance in God's precise plan for salvation.