Genesis 11:26 kjv

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

Genesis 11:26 nkjv

Now Terah lived seventy years, and begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

Genesis 11:26 niv

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

Genesis 11:26 esv

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

Genesis 11:26 nlt

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

Genesis 11 verses

Genesis 11 26 Meaning

Gen 11:26 states that Terah lived for seventy years, and then became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. This verse serves as a genealogical marker, connecting the lineage of Shem to the family from whom Abraham would descend, thereby bridging the broad post-Flood human history to the specific history of God's chosen family. It signifies the point at which the progenitors of Abraham's immediate family appear in the biblical narrative.

Genesis 11 26 Context

Gen 11:26 appears within the "Toledot of Shem" (Gen 11:10-26), a structured genealogy following the narrative of the Tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9). This specific verse marks the culmination of the post-Flood lineage leading directly to Abraham, the patriarch chosen by God to begin a new redemptive history. Historically, it reflects the social structure where genealogies were crucial for identity, inheritance, and tribal organization in ancient Near Eastern societies. The precise age of Terah (70 years) and the naming of his three sons — Abram, Nahor, and Haran — signifies the foundational moment for the patriarchal period, establishing the family unit from which God's covenant people would emerge. It sets the stage for the dramatic shift from universal history to the particular history of Israel, centered around Abraham.

Genesis 11 26 Word analysis

• And Terah lived (וַיְחִי-תֶרַח, vayekhi Terakh): "And Terah lived" is a standard genealogical opening, linking to previous patriarchal accounts (cf. Gen 5, 11:10ff). Terakh (תֶרַח) means "station" or "breathing place." His longevity and paternity are emphasized. This continuity ensures the flow of human history under God's sovereignty.
• seventy (שִׁבְעִים, shiv‘im): Refers to seventy years of age. While shorter than antediluvian lifespans, this still represents a significant lifespan in the descending curve of human longevity after the Flood. The number seventy has biblical significance, often indicating completeness or a large quantity (e.g., 70 nations, 70 elders of Israel), but here it denotes a specific age marker.
• years (שָׁנָה, shanah): Standard unit of time in ancient Near Eastern texts, signifying an annual cycle.
• and begot (וַיּוֹלֶד, vayyoled): Hebrew root יָלַד (yalad), meaning "to give birth" or "to father." This verb indicates the start of his fatherhood. In ancient Near Eastern genealogies, the first son mentioned in such a list may not always be the chronologically firstborn, but often the most significant one from the narrator's perspective, especially when multiple sons are born to a father.
• Abram (אַבְרָם, Avram): Meaning "exalted father" or "my father is exalted." He is presented first despite likely not being the chronologically firstborn (see explanation below). His immediate listing highlights his foundational importance, anticipating his future divine call and covenant with God. His name will later be changed to Abraham ("father of a multitude").
• Nahor (נָחוֹר, Nakhor): Potentially meaning "snorting" or "snorer." He is Abraham's brother, and his son Bethuel would father Rebekah, Abraham's nephew marrying into the line (Gen 24:15, 24:24).
• and Haran (וְהָרָן, veHaran): Meaning "mountain dweller" or "parched." Haran is the father of Lot, Iscah, and Milcah. He dies before his father Terah (Gen 11:28). Milcah becomes Nahor's wife, establishing another intra-family connection.

Words-group analysis

• Terah lived seventy years and begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran: This phrase concisely reports the beginning of Terah's family line that would lead to Abraham. The chronological implications are a key point of discussion:
  • The Chronological Anomaly: If Terah was 70 when Abram was born, and Terah lived to be 205 (Gen 11:32), he would have died when Abram was 135 (205-70). However, Acts 7:4 states that Abram left Haran after his father died, and Gen 12:4 records Abram's age as 75 when he left Haran. This means Abram must have been born when Terah was 130 years old (75 + 205 = 280, wait no. If Abram was 75 when he left Haran, and this was after Terah died at 205, then Terah must have been 205 years old minus 75 years when Abram left, or Terah was 130 when Abram was born (205 - 75 = 130).
  • Resolution: This is a common pattern in biblical genealogies where "begot" implies beginning of fatherhood within a period, not necessarily the specific birth of the first-named son at that exact age. It is understood that Terah started fathering children at age 70, but Abram (the most important descendant for the narrative) was born much later. Haran is generally thought to be the eldest, as Lot (Haran’s son) is a contemporary and traveling companion with Abram. This framing intentionally foregrounds Abram’s importance by placing his name first, even if he was not the firstborn. The Septuagint, an early Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, states Terah lived 130 years before begetting Abram, aligning the chronology. The Masoretic Text (the standard Hebrew text) emphasizes the group birth and implicitly the significance of Abram by his early mention.

Genesis 11 26 Bonus section

The chronological discrepancy regarding Abram's birth year in Gen 11:26 (Terah begot sons at 70) versus the implicit timeline of Acts 7:4 and Gen 12:4 (Abram born when Terah was 130) is a well-noted feature in biblical studies. This discrepancy highlights a narrative technique: the listing of the most significant individual first, regardless of actual birth order. Abram's primacy in the list of Terah's sons in Gen 11:26 immediately draws the reader's attention to him, foreshadowing his unparalleled importance in God's redemptive plan. This approach aligns with the Bible's focus on theological and spiritual significance over strict chronological ordering, demonstrating that divine election and purpose often override conventional human expectations, even within genealogical records. It underscores that the story of salvation history is paramount.

Genesis 11 26 Commentary

Gen 11:26 serves as a pivot point in biblical history, seamlessly linking the lineage of humanity since the Flood to the specific family that would give rise to God's chosen people, Israel. By introducing Terah's three sons—Abram, Nahor, and Haran—the narrative transitions from broad human genealogies and the global events (like Babel) to the intimate story of God's redemptive purpose through a select individual. While appearing as a straightforward genealogical statement, the mention of Abram's name first, despite the chronological likelihood that he was not the firstborn, underscores the divine hand preparing for a significant epochal change. It subtly emphasizes Abram's unique and divinely ordained destiny, setting the stage for his imminent call by God, the establishment of the Abrahamic covenant, and the unfolding of salvation history through his lineage. This verse is not just historical data; it is an anticipation of the dramatic shift from human striving (Babel) to divine initiative (Abraham's call).