Keraia
Genesis 11

Genesis 11:29

Terah’s Descendants · Genesis 11:27–32
Read Genesis 11

Translations

Modern
And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. Abram’s wife was named Sarai, and Nahor’s wife was named Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, who was the father of both Milcah and Iscah.
Traditional
And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.
Literal
And Abram and Nahor took for themselves wives; the name of the wife of Abram was Sarai; and the name of the wife of Nahor was Milcah daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and the father of Iscah.
Latin
Duxerunt autem Abram et Nachor uxores: nomen uxoris Abram, Sarai: et nomen uxoris Nachor, Melcha filia Aran, patris Melchæ, et patris Jeschæ.

Original

Hebrew
English
And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. Abram’s wife was named Sarai, and Nahor’s wife was named Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, who was the father of both Milcah and Iscah.

Notes

Genesis 11:29

  • Sarai means "princess" in Hebrew. The text does not mention Sarai's parents. This might have been to create suspense in the story of Abimelech. This story reveals her as Abram's half-sister (20:9–12). Later, the law forbade such marriages (Leviticus 18:9; 20:17; Deuteronomy 27:22).

  • Nahor's wife was Milcah, who was the daughter of Haran and Nahor's niece (see Genesis 11:29). Her son Bethuel was Rebekah's father. Rebekah became the wife of Abram's son Isaac (24:10, 15, 24). The name Milcah is related to the Hebrew word for "queen."

    In Akkadian, it is a title for the goddess Ishtar, the daughter of the moon god. Terah's name is related to the Hebrew word for "moon." His family probably worshiped Sin, the moon god (see Joshua 24:14).

Genesis 11:27–32

This brief section provides a complete summary of Terah’s life and accounts for his other sons and their marriages. It also introduces Lot, Abram’s nephew, who later played an important role. The ancestors, including Terah and his family, were idolatrous, worshiping other gods in Mesopotamia (Joshua 24:2).

Theme notes and profiles

Abraham Lot Sarah Symbolic Numbers

People

Abraham: Patriarch, chosen by God to father His people Haran: Son of Terah, brother of Abraham and father of Lot Iscah: Daughter of Haran, Milcah's sister, Lot's sister Milcah: Wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother Nahor: Son of Terah, Abraham's brother; father of Bethuel Sarah: Wife of Abraham; mother of Isaac

Glossary

Abraham Architecture Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Chronology of the Bible (Old Testament) Ebla Tablets Genealogy Genesis, Book of Haran (Person) Haran (Place) Iscah Land Lot Man Mesopotamia Milcah Nahor (Person) Nations Patriarchs, Period of the Sarah Sarai Ur (Place)

Topics

Abraham: Marries Sarah Genealogy: To Abraham Haran: Father of Lot and Brother of Abraham Incest: Nahor Iscah: Daughter of Haran and Sister of Lot Marriage: Consanguinous, Abraham and Sarah Milcah: The Wife of Nahor and the Mother of Bethuel Nahor: Brother of Abraham: Marriage and Descendants of Sarah: Also Called Sarai: Wife of Abraham Shem: Descendants of Terah: The Father of Abraham