Genesis 11:25 kjv
And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.
Genesis 11:25 nkjv
After he begot Terah, Nahor lived one hundred and nineteen years, and begot sons and daughters.
Genesis 11:25 niv
And after he became the father of Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and had other sons and daughters.
Genesis 11:25 esv
And Nahor lived after he fathered Terah 119 years and had other sons and daughters.
Genesis 11:25 nlt
After the birth of Terah, Nahor lived another 119 years and had other sons and daughters.
Genesis 11 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 5:3 | "And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness..." | Genealogical pattern for pre-flood patriarchs |
| Gen 5:32 | "And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth." | Another example of fathering before old age |
| Gen 9:28-29 | "And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years... so all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years..." | Longevity post-Flood |
| Gen 10:1-32 | "Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah..." | Broad table of nations |
| Gen 11:10-24 | "These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old... begat Arphaxad..." | Contextual flow of Shem's lineage to Terah |
| Gen 11:26 | "And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran." | Introduction of Terah's prominent sons |
| Gen 11:27 | "Now these are the generations of Terah..." | Shift to Terah's specific family narrative |
| Gen 12:1-3 | "Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country..." | Significance of the lineage leading to Abram |
| Gen 17:6 | "And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee..." | God's promise of fruitfulness/descendants |
| Gen 17:7 | "And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee..." | Covenant passed through the "seed" line |
| Ex 1:7 | "And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly..." | Continuation of God's promise of increase |
| Deut 7:6-7 | "For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God... not for your multitude..." | Election tied to a specific people/lineage |
| Num 1:2-3 | "Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel..." | Further genealogies for organizational purposes |
| 1 Chr 1:24-27 | "Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor, Terah, Abram; the same is Abraham." | Summary of the Genesis 11 lineage |
| Job 42:16 | "After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons..." | Longevity and continued procreation |
| Ps 127:3 | "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward." | Blessings of having children |
| Prov 17:6 | "Children's children are the crown of old men..." | Importance of continuation of family lines |
| Luke 3:34 | "...the son of Terah, which was the son of Nahor..." | Inclusion of Nahor and Terah in Jesus's genealogy |
| Rom 4:16 | "Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed..." | Fulfillment of the Abrahamic promise |
| Gal 3:16 | "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." | The singular 'seed' referring to Christ |
| Heb 11:8 | "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place..." | Significance of Abraham emerging from this lineage |
Genesis 11 verses
Genesis 11 25 Meaning
Genesis 11:25 provides a specific chronological detail within the genealogical line tracing from Shem to Abram. It states that Nahor lived an additional 119 years after fathering Terah, and during this post-Terah period, he continued to have other sons and daughters. This verse functions as a precise historical marker, linking Nahor to Terah, the father of Abram, thereby establishing a critical part of the ancestral lineage through which God's redemptive plan would unfold.
Genesis 11 25 Context
Genesis chapter 11 concludes the primeval history and transitions into the patriarchal narratives. The chapter primarily details the Tower of Babel incident, explaining the diversification of languages and the scattering of humanity, and then presents the genealogy from Shem, Noah's son, down to Abram (Abraham). This genealogy (verses 10-32) meticulously records the father-son links, specific ages at which the primary heir was begotten, and the lifespan of each patriarch along with the note of other sons and daughters. Verse 25 is specifically part of this linear succession, focusing on Nahor, linking him to Terah, who is key as Abram's father. This careful enumeration highlights the gradual decrease in human lifespans since the flood and emphasizes God's sovereign preservation of a specific line through which the covenant promise would be passed. It provides the crucial family background for the call of Abram in chapter 12, preparing the reader for the beginning of God's focused redemption plan for humanity.
Genesis 11 25 Word analysis
- And Nahor (וַיְחִי נָחוֹר - wayĕḥî nāḥôr): "And Nahor lived." The conjunction "and" (וְ - wə) connects this statement to the preceding narrative. "Nahor" (נָחוֹר) is a proper noun, identifying the individual. He is a key ancestral figure in the direct line of Shem, connecting earlier generations to Terah and ultimately to Abraham. The verb "lived" (חָיָה - ḥāyâ) indicates continuation of life, a standard formula in these genealogies to denote existence following a specific event.
- lived, after he begat (אַחֲרֵי הוֹלִידוֹ - aḥărê hôlîdô): "After he begat." This phrase emphasizes the chronological marker, specifying that the duration mentioned follows the birth of the designated heir (Terah). The verb "begat" (יָלַד - yālad) is foundational, meaning to procreate, to become the father of. It highlights the lineal succession vital to biblical genealogies.
- Terah (תֶּרַח - teraḥ): A proper noun identifying Nahor's son, who will be the immediate father of Abram. His position in the genealogy is crucial, as the narrative immediately shifts its focus to his family in the subsequent verses (Gen 11:27ff), specifically leading to Abram, the father of many nations.
- an hundred and nineteen years (מֵאָה וְתֵשַׁע עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה - mēʾāh wəṯêšaʿ ʿeśrēh šānāh): "One hundred and nineteen years." This precise numeric detail for the period after fathering Terah indicates the meticulous record-keeping nature of these genealogies. It contributes to the shrinking lifespan pattern seen in post-Flood humanity compared to the earlier antediluvian patriarchs. These numbers are vital for biblical chronology.
- and begat sons and daughters (וַיּוֹלֶד בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת - wayyōwleḏ bānîm ūḇānōṯ): "And begat sons and daughters." This is a standard formula found in nearly all patriarchal records within the Genesis genealogies (e.g., Gen 5, 11). It signifies that the patriarch continued to have other offspring beyond the specified main heir, ensuring the proliferation of the family line. It also highlights the theme of fruitfulness as a blessing in the ancient world and within God's creation mandate.
Genesis 11 25 Bonus section
- Significance of the Genealogical Decreases: The gradual reduction in lifespans observed from the Methuselah-like figures of Genesis 5 to those in Genesis 11 is not arbitrary. It marks a significant shift in human experience post-Flood, suggesting a changing environment, a spiritual decline, or a deliberate act of divine governance. This gradual decrease highlights the increasing fragility of human life and sets a theological stage for the need for a covenant and special divine intervention to establish God's people, rather than reliance on inherent longevity.
- Purpose of Genealogies in the Bible: Beyond merely tracing ancestry, these genealogies serve multiple theological purposes. They demonstrate the continuity of God's plan through history, connect key figures to larger narratives (like Nahor and Terah to Abram), validate claims of descent for land, priestly service, or messianic lineage, and underline the unity of humanity. In this case, it tightly weaves the universal story into the particular narrative of God's chosen people.
- Contrast with Ancient Near Eastern King Lists: While other ancient cultures had extensive genealogies or king lists (e.g., Sumerian King List), the biblical genealogies, especially those in Genesis, often provide ages and explicit parent-child relationships, rather than simply reigns. They often also demonstrate a clear moral and theological purpose, presenting a true history as perceived biblically, distinct from often fantastical accounts of demigods or impossibly long reigns in surrounding cultures.
Genesis 11 25 Commentary
Genesis 11:25, while seemingly a simple statement of fact, serves as an important cog in the intricate genealogical machinery of Genesis. It provides a specific age detail for Nahor after the birth of Terah, reinforcing the meticulous chronology foundational to the biblical narrative. This verse underscores the divine oversight in preserving a specific lineage, moving methodically from the broader scope of human history to the precise family line that would ultimately produce Abram. The continuation of "begat sons and daughters" reaffirms the pattern of ongoing procreation, fulfilling the creation mandate even as human lifespans gradually decreased after the flood. This careful record demonstrates God's consistent working through generations to set the stage for the pivotal moment of the Abrahamic covenant, indicating that even in these seemingly dry lists, there is purpose and divine faithfulness preparing for the promised "seed."