Genesis 11:28 kjv
And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.
Genesis 11:28 nkjv
And Haran died before his father Terah in his native land, in Ur of the Chaldeans.
Genesis 11:28 niv
While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth.
Genesis 11:28 esv
Haran died in the presence of his father Terah in the land of his kindred, in Ur of the Chaldeans.
Genesis 11:28 nlt
But Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, the land of his birth, while his father, Terah, was still living.
Genesis 11 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 5:5 | All the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died. | Introduces human mortality. |
| Gen 7:22-23 | Everything on the dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died. | Widespread death due to sin and judgment. |
| Gen 11:27 | Now these are the generations of Terah... Terah begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begot Lot. | Establishes family lineage, Haran's relation. |
| Gen 11:29 | And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves... | Continues the family narrative post-Haran's death. |
| Gen 11:31 | Terah took Abram... and Lot... and Sarai... and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldeans... | Terah's migration partly due to Haran's death. |
| Gen 11:32 | And the days of Terah were 205 years; and Terah died in Haran. | Terah himself dies away from birthland, after his son. |
| Gen 12:1 | Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house..." | Direct contrast to Haran, Abram is called away from his land. |
| Gen 12:4 | So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. | Explains why Lot (Haran's son) accompanied Abram. |
| Gen 25:8 | Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age... | Contrasts Haran's untimely death with faithful Abraham's. |
| Job 14:1-2 | Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble... | Reflects on the brevity and sorrows of human life. |
| Ps 39:4 | Make me know my end and what is the measure of my days... | Reflects on the ephemeral nature of life. |
| Ps 90:10 | The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty... | Shortening of human lifespan emphasized. |
| Acts 7:2-4 | Stephen recounted, "...Your God lived in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran... After the death of his father, God removed him..." | Confirms the family's dwelling in Mesopotamia and their subsequent journey. (Note: Stephen refers to Terah's death, not Haran's, highlighting the next stage of Abram's journey.) |
| Heb 11:8 | By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out... | Abraham's journey contrasts Haran dying rooted. |
| Heb 11:13 | These all died in faith, not having received the things promised... | All believers face mortality, even faithful ones. |
| Jas 4:14 | Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring... What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time... | Reinforces the uncertainty and brevity of life. |
| 1 Cor 15:26 | The last enemy to be destroyed is death. | Death's dominion over humanity until Christ's victory. |
| Rom 5:12 | Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin... | Haran's death, like all deaths, is a consequence of sin. |
| Gen 3:19 | By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken... | Mortality is a divinely decreed consequence of the fall. |
| Isa 57:1 | The righteous perishes, and no one lays it to heart; merciful men are taken away... | Though perhaps not righteous, his death signifies a life cut short. |
| Eccl 9:11-12 | ...time and chance happen to them all. For man also does not know his time... | Death's unpredictable and inescapable nature. |
| Jer 22:10 | Weep not for him who is dead, nor grieve for him, but weep bitterly for him who goes away... | Highlights sorrow of absence, death changes lives. |
Genesis 11 verses
Genesis 11 28 Meaning
Genesis 11:28 records the untimely death of Haran, one of Terah's sons and the brother of Abram and Nahor. He died "before" his father, meaning he predeceased Terah, and this event took place "in the land of his birth," which was Ur of the Chaldeans. This death signifies a significant moment in the narrative, impacting the family dynamics that would ultimately lead to Abram's departure from his homeland and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.
Genesis 11 28 Context
Genesis chapter 11 bridges the general history of humanity after the Flood, characterized by the Babel incident (Gen 11:1-9) and the subsequent scattering of people, with the specific family history of Abram. This chapter presents a genealogy from Shem to Terah's family (Gen 11:10-26), noting the shortening of human lifespans post-Flood. Verse 28 is placed within this family tree, specifically listing Terah's three sons: Abram, Nahor, and Haran, and immediately follows with the detail of Haran's premature death. Historically and culturally, living to old age was a blessing, and a son dying before his father was a profound tragedy, disrupting the natural order of lineage and inheritance. Ur of the Chaldeans was a prominent, highly urbanized Sumerian city, a significant religious and cultural center, famous for its worship of the moon god Nanna. The narrative implicitly sets the stage for God's call to Abram to leave this pagan homeland, highlighting the stark contrast between remaining in such a land (where death occurs, as with Haran) and following God's command to depart into the unknown.
Genesis 11 28 Word analysis
- Haran: הָרָן (Haran). This is a proper noun, referring to Terah's son. The name itself may relate to "mountain" or "road," possibly hinting at later movements. He is specifically named as Lot's father, which is crucial for understanding Lot's inclusion in Abram's journey.
- died: וַיָּמָת (vayyamath). A simple Qal imperfect verb, consecutive. It signifies an actual, physical cessation of life. The simplicity of the verb underscores the finality of death. Its placement immediately after introducing him indicates the primary piece of information about him in this genealogy is his demise. This early death in the narrative lineage, after the Babel scattering and declining lifespans, brings a sudden, stark reality into the unfolding family history.
- before his father Terah: עַל־פְּנֵי תֶּרַח אָבִיו (ʿal-pəne Terakh ʾāvīv). Literally "on the face of Terah his father," or "in the presence of Terah his father." This idiom clearly means "predeceased." This phrase highlights the tragedy: a father outliving his son was seen as particularly grievous in ancient Near Eastern culture, going against the expected order of life and the continuity of the family line. It indicates sorrow and possibly disrupted family plans. This personal tragedy might have influenced Terah's decision to leave Ur later with Abram and Lot.
- in the land of his birth: בְּאֶרֶץ מוֹלַדְתּוֹ (bəʾerets môladtô). "In his native land/country." This specifies the location of Haran's death as Ur of the Chaldeans, his home. This detail creates a striking contrast with the later command to Abram (Haran's brother) to "go from your country and your kindred and your father's house" (Gen 12:1). While Haran remained rooted in the pagan environment of Ur until his death, Abram would be called by God to leave it. This underscores the significance of leaving Ur as an act of faith, distinguishing God's chosen line from those who remained steeped in idolatry.
- Haran died before his father Terah: This phrase underscores the deep family tragedy. Haran's death, being premature, serves as a poignant reminder of human vulnerability and the impact of sin on life, even within a prominent lineage leading to Abraham.
- in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldeans: This specific geographical and cultural context is vital. Ur was a hub of sophisticated civilization but also deep-seated pagan worship, particularly of the moon god Sin/Nanna. Haran's death there implies remaining in that context was not a path for the chosen lineage; departure was necessary for divine purposes. It also establishes the starting point for the patriarchs.
Genesis 11 28 Bonus section
The mention of Ur of the Chaldeans serves as the crucial original pagan environment from which the Abrahamic lineage would be called. This departure from Ur and its idolatry, instigated by God's call to Abram, is a fundamental act of separation and faith that underpins the entire covenant relationship. Haran's death "in Ur" reinforces the idea that the true path and life for the elect lineage did not lie in remaining in such a pagan stronghold, even if it meant comfort or familiarity. Furthermore, this verse sets a somber tone before the glorious promises to Abraham begin, subtly reminding the reader that mortality and loss are realities even within the lineage God chooses to bless.
Genesis 11 28 Commentary
Genesis 11:28 marks a somber interlude in the ancestral line leading to Abram. The terse statement of Haran's death is powerful, highlighting the sorrow of a son predeceasing his father, an inversion of the natural order and a deep family sorrow for Terah. His death "in the land of his birth," Ur of the Chaldeans, becomes significant when contrasted with the divine call soon to be extended to Abram to leave his native land. Haran represents a life cut short, bound to his place of origin and its pagan influences, setting a thematic contrast for the subsequent narrative of Abraham's faith-journey. His demise necessitates Lot's direct dependence on Terah and Abram, effectively weaving Lot into the destiny of the future patriarch, as Lot would accompany them out of Ur and Haran. This verse is not just a genealogical note, but a crucial pivot, foreshadowing the divine separation and call to a new way of life that lay ahead for Abram's family.