Genesis 11:31 kjv
And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.
Genesis 11:31 nkjv
And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram's wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran and dwelt there.
Genesis 11:31 niv
Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there.
Genesis 11:31 esv
Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram's wife, and they went forth together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan, but when they came to Haran, they settled there.
Genesis 11:31 nlt
One day Terah took his son Abram, his daughter-in-law Sarai (his son Abram's wife), and his grandson Lot (his son Haran's child) and moved away from Ur of the Chaldeans. He was headed for the land of Canaan, but they stopped at Haran and settled there.
Genesis 11 31 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:1-4 | "Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country...to the land that I will show you...” | God's specific call to Abram after Terah's journey stops. |
| Acts 7:2-4 | "The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran..." | States Abraham was called in Ur, clarifying divine initiative. |
| Neh 9:7 | "You are the Lord God, who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans..." | Acknowledges God's election and bringing forth. |
| Gen 10:19 | "...the territory of the Canaanites extended from Sidon toward Gerar, as far as Gaza, and then toward Sodom..." | Establishes the existence of Canaan, the destination. |
| Josh 24:2-3 | "...Your fathers lived of old beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods..." | Highlights the idolatrous background of Abraham's family. |
| Heb 11:8 | "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out...and he went out, not knowing where he was going." | Focuses on Abraham's obedience in leaving his homeland. |
| Gen 13:14-17 | "The Lord said to Abram...“All the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever.”" | Reinforces God's land promise to Abraham's descendants. |
| Gen 15:7 | "He said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”" | God reiterates His action of bringing Abram from Ur for the land. |
| Gen 12:7 | "Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.”" | Initial land promise to Abraham upon arriving in Canaan. |
| Deut 1:6-8 | "The Lord our God said to us in Horeb, 'You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Turn and take your journey...'" | Illustrates a divine directive for continued journeying. |
| Gen 28:10-15 | Jacob's dream at Bethel; God reiterates the land promise to him. | Continuation of the land covenant through Abraham's descendants. |
| Gal 3:8 | "And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham..." | Abraham's journey is connected to universal salvation. |
| Isa 51:2 | "Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for I called him alone when I brought him..." | God's sovereign call to Abraham from obscurity. |
| Ezek 16:3 | "...Your origin and your birth are of the land of the Canaanites; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite." | References the pagan origins of Israel through their ancestors (though Abram was from Mesopotamia). |
| Jer 35:7-10 | The Rechabites, commanded to not settle, illustrating nomadic obedience to a father's command. | Contrast in ultimate obedience, staying nomadic vs. settling short. |
| Gen 14:18-20 | Melchizedek, King of Salem (Jerusalem) and priest, meets Abraham in Canaan. | Highlights Abraham's eventual presence and encounters in Canaan. |
| Exod 13:17-18 | God leading Israel indirectly in the wilderness, avoiding war, yet still reaching the destination. | Illustrates God's indirect guidance and purposeful detours in journeys. |
| Heb 11:13 | "These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar..." | Reflects on the patriarchs' faith despite not fully possessing the promise. |
| Rev 18:2, 4 | "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!...Come out of her, my people..." | The call to "come out" from spiritual Babylon echoes leaving pagan Ur. |
| John 4:21-24 | Jesus on worship: not bound to a specific place (Jerusalem/Samaria), but "in spirit and truth." | While Gen 11:31 is physical, it foreshadows spiritual journeys to truth. |
| Luke 9:62 | "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." | Implies that stopping short of the divine goal, or looking back, is problematic for faith. |
Genesis 11 verses
Genesis 11 31 Meaning
Genesis 11:31 describes the beginning of the journey of Terah, Abram's father, taking his family—Abram, Lot (son of Haran), and Sarai—from Ur of the Chaldeans with the intention of traveling to the land of Canaan. However, they stop en route at the city of Haran and settle there, marking a significant pause or partial fulfillment in the migration towards the divinely promised land. This verse highlights a pivotal transitional moment leading to Abram's definitive call in Gen 12, showcasing an initial move out of pagan lands and towards God's designated purpose, albeit with an intermediate stop.
Genesis 11 31 Context
Genesis 11:31 is positioned at the close of the genealogies of Shem (Gen 11:10-26) and Terah's own family line (Gen 11:27-32), directly preceding the definitive call of Abram by the Lord in Genesis 12. Chapter 11 itself opens with the dispersion of humanity at the Tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9), emphasizing humanity's self-directed ambitions and God's sovereign response. Following this, the focus narrows from universal humanity to a specific lineage, setting the stage for the narrative of Abraham, through whom God would initiate a covenant to bless all families of the earth. The broader context includes the history of early mankind, the post-Flood world, the rise of human civilizations in Mesopotamia, and the prevalence of idolatry. This verse marks a significant transition, signaling the Lord's redemptive work beginning with one chosen family, drawing them out from a highly developed, yet pagan, urban center towards a specific land where His plan for salvation would unfold.
Genesis 11 31 Word analysis
- Terah (תֶּ֥רַח - Terach): Abram's father, who is recorded as initiating this major move. While God's direct call is later to Abram (Gen 12), Terah's leading of the family out of Ur suggests an underlying, perhaps general, spiritual unease or knowledge of a divine promise or direction known to him or his ancestors (possibly hinted at in Josh 24:2-3, where it's stated they "served other gods," implying a turning away, but also God's calling them out). It underscores familial patriarchy.
- took (לָקַ֣ח - lāqaḥ): Indicates Terah's active leadership and responsibility as the patriarch in orchestrating the family's migration.
- Abram (אַבְרָ֣ם - ʾAḇrām) his son: Future Abraham, central to God's redemptive plan. His inclusion highlights the continuity of the covenant line.
- Lot (ל֠וֹט - Lôṭ) the son of Haran, his son's son: Lot's presence is important; he is orphaned, so Terah, as the family patriarch, includes him in the journey. Lot's subsequent journey and separation from Abram (Gen 13) makes his inclusion here significant.
- Sarai (שָׂרַ֖י - Sārāy) his daughter-in-law, his son Abram's wife: The future Sarah. Her mention emphasizes her crucial role in the promise of descendants, despite her barrenness at this stage.
- and they went out (וַיֵּֽצְא֥וּ - wayyēṣəʾū): A decisive and active departure from their previous life and land. This verb signifies an act of coming forth or going out, often with purpose.
- with them (אִתָּ֛ם - ʾittām): Reinforces that Terah initiated and led the whole group.
- from Ur (מֵא֥וּר - mēʾûr): A highly advanced Sumerian city-state in Mesopotamia, known for its moon-god (Nanna/Sin) worship, significant trade, and impressive ziggurat architecture. Leaving Ur represents a radical break from a highly sophisticated, yet pagan, culture. This demonstrates an implicit, if not explicit, separation from idolatry and a shift towards God's designated purpose.
- of the Chaldeans (כַּשְׂדִּֽים - Kaśdîm): The region where Ur was located. By the time this text was canonized, "Chaldeans" would evoke Babylon and its sophisticated, yet pagan, culture.
- to go to (לָלֶ֖כֶת - lāleḵeṯ): Expresses the intended purpose and destination of their journey.
- the land of Canaan (אַרְצָה כְּנָֽעַן - ʾarṣāh Kənaʿan): The destination divinely designated by God as the future homeland for Abraham's descendants (Gen 12:7; 15:18-21). Terah's awareness of Canaan as a destination is critical, suggesting a broader family or ancestral knowledge of promises that preceded Abram's specific call.
- and they came as far as Haran (וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ עַד־חָרָ֗ן - wayyāḇōʾū ʿaḏ-Ḥārān): "As far as" highlights that they reached only a specific point, not their final destination. Haran (located in modern-day Turkey/Syria) was another important city, also a center for moon-god worship (Sin) and a significant trading hub, culturally linked to Ur. It was also Nahor’s (Abram’s brother’s) later home.
- and settled there (וַיֵּ֥שְׁבוּ שָֽׁם - wayyēšəḇū šām): Indicates they ceased their journey and resided there for an extended period, suggesting a deviation or a delay from the initial full purpose of reaching Canaan. This interim settlement is crucial because Abram receives his definitive call in Gen 12 from Haran, after Terah dies (Acts 7:4).
Words-group Analysis:
- "Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his son's son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram's wife": This detailed list of individuals highlights the patriarchal structure of the family and emphasizes the multi-generational nature of God's redemptive plan that often begins with, and is carried through, families.
- "from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan": This phrase contrasts their idolatrous origin with their divine destination. It signifies a trajectory out of paganism and into God's appointed place, setting the stage for a dramatic shift in religious and national identity.
- "and they came as far as Haran and settled there": This part reveals the temporary cessation or partial obedience of the journey. While the direction was correct, the completion was not, foreshadowing potential human weakness or strategic divine timing in the faith journey. This stop would be the setting for Abram's more direct divine encounter.
Genesis 11 31 Bonus section
The specific names of the places—Ur and Haran—are not incidental. Both were major centers of the worship of the moon god Sin. This deep-seated idolatry, pervasive in their origin and even their intermediate destination, accentuates the radical nature of the spiritual calling that draws Abram out. While Terah leads the initial exodus from Ur, it's significant that Abram eventually completes the journey to Canaan after Terah's death, emphasizing the shift in divine focus and the direct, personal covenant God initiates with Abram alone. The contrast between Ur (sophisticated, idolatrous, pagan, yet left) and the promised land (unoccupied by them yet, but divinely chosen) highlights a core biblical theme of separation from the world for a divine purpose.
Genesis 11 31 Commentary
Genesis 11:31 functions as a prologue to the definitive call of Abram in Genesis 12. It establishes the immediate family unit and their initial context of departure. The journey begins with Terah, highlighting familial leadership and potentially a broader understanding or ancestral stirring toward a destination linked to promises. Their move from Ur, a hub of advanced paganism, marks a significant breaking away from deep-seated idolatry. The explicitly stated destination, "the land of Canaan," shows that their aim aligned with God's ultimate intention for Abram, even before the specific, direct divine command to Abram in Gen 12. However, the settlement in Haran signifies an intermediate, protracted stop, reflecting human fallibility or perhaps divine design, as it is from Haran that Abram eventually leaves under direct divine mandate (Acts 7:4 clarifies the first call happened in Ur, making Haran a second step or confirmation point after a delay). This partial obedience sets the scene for God to intervene decisively in Gen 12, reaffirming His sovereignty and purpose even when human plans falter or are incomplete. It teaches that while God's ultimate plan is certain, the path of human obedience may involve stops and starts, yet His divine hand orchestrates for His will to be fulfilled.