Genesis 11:32 kjv
And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.
Genesis 11:32 nkjv
So the days of Terah were two hundred and five years, and Terah died in Haran.
Genesis 11:32 niv
Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Harran.
Genesis 11:32 esv
The days of Terah were 205 years, and Terah died in Haran.
Genesis 11:32 nlt
Terah lived for 205 years and died while still in Haran.
Genesis 11 32 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 7:4 | "Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. And from there, after his father died, God removed him..." | Confirms Abram left Haran after Terah's death. |
| Gen 11:27 | "Now these are the generations of Terah..." | Introduces Terah's lineage. |
| Gen 11:31 | "Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran...and they went forth...to go into the land of Canaan..." | Narrates Terah's journey from Ur. |
| Gen 12:1 | "Now the Lord said to Abram, 'Go from your country...'" | Immediate sequel; God's call to Abram. |
| Gen 12:4 | "So Abram went, as the Lord had told him...Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed..." | Abram's obedient departure from Haran. |
| Gen 25:7-8 | "These are the days of the years of Abraham's life...then Abraham breathed his last..." | Abraham's life span and death for comparison. |
| Ex 12:40 | "The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years." | Chronological markers in divine history. |
| Num 10:11 | "In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day...the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle..." | Divine timing for key journey stages. |
| Josh 24:2-3 | "Your fathers lived of old beyond the Euphrates...Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor...But I took Abraham..." | Highlights God's initiative in calling Abram from his family's background. |
| Neh 9:7-8 | "You are the Lord, the God who chose Abram...You found his heart faithful..." | God's sovereign choice of Abram. |
| Isa 48:1 | "Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel...who came from the loins of Judah..." | Speaks of Abraham's descendants and heritage. |
| Ez 20:5-7 | "Thus says the Lord God: On the day when I chose Israel...when I revealed myself to them in the land of Egypt..." | Remembers God's election of Israel. |
| Heb 11:8-10 | "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called...for he was looking forward to the city that has foundations..." | Abraham's faith contrasted with Terah's journey. |
| Heb 11:13 | "These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them..." | Emphasizes the pilgrimage of faith not always completed by one generation. |
| Heb 11:15-16 | "If they had been thinking of that country from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return..." | Distinguishes between those who linger and those who fully separate. |
| 2 Sam 2:1 | "After this David inquired of the Lord, 'Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?'..." | Consulting the Lord for next steps in one's journey. |
| Psa 90:10 | "The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty..." | General human lifespan contrast to long lifespans of patriarchs. |
| Gen 5:5 | "Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died." | Genealogical format and pattern for life-span summaries. |
| Gen 23:19 | "After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah..." | Burial rituals common for patriarchs. |
| Gen 1:28 | "And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply...'" | Continuation of the divine plan for humanity through faithful lineage. |
| Phil 2:12-13 | "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you..." | Divine sovereignty working through human action (or inaction like Terah). |
| Ecc 3:1-2 | "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die..." | Universal truth of divine timing. |
| Dan 2:21 | "He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings..." | God's sovereign control over historical periods. |
Genesis 11 verses
Genesis 11 32 Meaning
Genesis 11:32 marks the conclusion of Terah's life journey, stating his total age and the place of his death. This verse serves as a crucial chronological and narrative transition point within the Book of Genesis. It signifies the end of one era and paves the way for the beginning of a new one, specifically the divine call to Abram (later Abraham) and the commencement of the Abrahamic covenant. Terah's death in Haran establishes the immediate context for Abram's departure from that location, highlighting God's timing in the unfolding of His redemptive plan.
Genesis 11 32 Context
Genesis 11:32 is the concluding verse of the Terah family account (Gen 11:27-32), which follows the table of nations and the dispersion at Babel. This verse brings the direct genealogical line from Shem through Noah to an abrupt halt with the death of Terah in Haran. The narrative in Gen 11:31 sets up Terah, Abram, Lot, and Sarai commencing a journey from Ur of the Chaldeans to Canaan but stopping prematurely in Haran. Terah's death at this specific juncture is pivotal. It signifies the end of an era marked by partial obedience or human initiative and the immediate transition to the era of divine calling and explicit covenant, as depicted in Gen 12. The historical context reflects a migratory culture where families would move to establish new homes, but in this case, the movement is directly tied to God's ultimate plan for a specific land and a specific people. The mention of Haran as a city known for its moon god worship might also implicitly highlight the need for Abram to fully separate from his past, even from the influence of his father's incomplete journey.
Genesis 11 32 Word analysis
And: A conjunction linking this statement to the preceding narrative of Terah's migration from Ur to Haran (Gen 11:31).
the days: יְמֵי (yᵉmê) – Literally "days," but contextually refers to "years" when discussing a lifespan in biblical genealogies. This is a common Hebrew idiom.
of Terah: תֶּרַח (Terach) – The patriarch who left Ur of the Chaldees for Canaan but settled in Haran. His name might carry connotations of "delay" or "station," possibly alluding to his stopping short of the intended destination.
were two hundred and five years: מָאתַיִם וְחָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים (māṯayim wəḥāmēš shānim) – This specific age provides a precise chronological anchor. Critically, according to a strict reading and comparison with Gen 12:4, Abram would have been 75 when he left Haran. This implies Terah must have been 130 when Abram was born (205 - 75 = 130). This is consistent with Stephen's recounting in Acts 7:4 that Abram left Haran after Terah's death.
and Terah: תֶּרַח (Terach) – Repetition of the name emphasizes the subject of the clause, highlighting his personal death.
died: וַיָּמָת (wayyāmaṯ) – The standard Hebrew verb for dying. Its consistent use throughout Genesis, especially in genealogical summaries (e.g., Gen 5), underscores the universality of death as a consequence of sin and the recurring rhythm of life cycles.
in Haran: חָרָן (Ḥārān) – A significant location in northern Mesopotamia, on a trade route. It was a stopping point, not the ultimate destination (Canaan). It was known for its worship of the moon god Sin, similar to Ur, reinforcing the idolatrous background from which Abraham was called to depart (Josh 24:2). Terah's death here means he did not reach the Land of Promise.
"And the days... were two hundred and five years": This phrase functions as a genealogical formula, commonly used in Genesis to conclude a life span (e.g., Gen 5:5, 8, etc.). It serves as a marker in God's unfolding timeline, signaling generational change and the advancement towards the fulfillment of divine promise.
"Terah died in Haran": This clause holds profound theological and narrative significance. It implies a partial fulfillment of God's unstated plan to guide Abram to Canaan through his father. However, Terah's death in Haran, short of Canaan, becomes a test and catalyst for Abram. Abram could have remained to observe mourning rituals or inherit possessions. Instead, his subsequent departure signifies his greater obedience to God's specific command in Gen 12, marking a separation from family ties that bound him to idolatry and an incomplete journey.
Genesis 11 32 Bonus section
The seemingly precise age of Terah (205 years) allows for important chronological reconstruction. When combined with Abram's age of 75 at the time of departure from Haran (Gen 12:4) and Stephen's clarification in Acts 7:4 that Abram left Haran after Terah died, it implies Terah was 130 years old when Abram was born. This aligns with other interpretations where Abram was not necessarily the firstborn of Terah but is listed first due to his theological prominence in the narrative as the ancestor of the covenant line. The detail about Terah dying in Haran signifies a pivotal juncture, not just a biological event. It delineates a boundary—Terah stopped short, but Abram would go further, entering the promised land. This geographic detail subtly reinforces the concept of complete separation from former allegiances and partial commitments.
Genesis 11 32 Commentary
Genesis 11:32 concisely delivers the end of Terah's life story, placing it decisively in Haran. This factual statement is deceptively simple but laden with implications for understanding the subsequent divine narrative. Terah's 205 years culminate in a death that frees Abram to fully embark on his own faith journey, as highlighted in Stephen's sermon (Acts 7:4). While Terah initiated the move from idolatrous Ur, his settlement and death in Haran, another center of moon worship, illustrate a journey left incomplete, a call partially answered. This stands in stark contrast to Abram, who, after his father's passing, would fully embrace God's directive to "go forth" without looking back, symbolizing total surrender and reliance on the divine promise (Gen 12:1-4). The verse underscores the divine providence at play: God's timing for Abram's true commencement of his mission aligns with Terah's removal from the scene, ensuring an unhindered response to the divine call towards the land of Canaan.