Who was Terah?

Father of Abram

The story of Terah

Terah - Patriarch
Terah - Patriarch
205 yearsBorn: -2046Died: -1841Patriarch

Terah was the father of Abraham, Nahor, and Haran in the Bible, according to the Book of Genesis. He was born in Ur of the Chaldees in Mesopotamia and lived to the age of 205. Terah is best known for being the father of Abraham, who is considered the father of the Jewish people. It is said that Terah and his family were originally idol worshippers, but that Abraham later rejected idolatry and worshiped the one true God. Terah died in Haran in Mesopotamia.

Name meaning

The name "Terah" is of Hebrew origin and is found in the Bible. Terah is most notably recognized as the father of Abraham, Nahor, and Haran in the Old Testament. The meaning of the name "Terah" is not definitively established, but some interpretations suggest it could mean "wanderer" or "delay." In the biblical narrative, Terah is associated with the journey from Ur of the Chaldeans toward Canaan, which lends some support to the "wanderer" interpretation. As with many biblical names, the exact meaning can vary based on different linguistic and historical analyses.

Name origin

Hebrew.

Role

Patriarch

First mention

Genesis 11:24

Appearances in the Bible

10 mentions

Family

Relatives of Terah

Terah in the Bible

Explore all 3 chapters where Terah appears

Genesis

Chapter 11

The Tower of Babel

The chapter tells the story of the Tower of Babel, where people decided to build a big tower to reach the heavens. God c...

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Joshua

Chapter 24

Covenant Renewal at Shechem

Joshua gathers all the Israelites at Shechem and reminds them of God's faithfulness and calls on them to choose to serve...

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1 Chronicles

Chapter 1

Genealogy from Adam to Abraham

A genealogy of the descendants of Adam through Jacob, including the tribes of Israel.

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