The BibleGospel Companion

Nahor

נָחוֹר · na.chor · H5152H“hoarse; dry; hot” Hitchcock's 186911 mentions, all in Genesis

Who he was

Nahor, mentioned in Genesis 11, 22, 24, 29, and 31, was the son of Terah and the brother of Abraham and Haran. He was born in Ur of the Chaldeans and later settled in the city of Nahor, which was likely named after him.

Nahor married Milcah, the daughter of his brother Haran, and together they had eight children, including Bethuel, who became the father of Rebekah (Genesis 22:20–23). Rebekah would later marry Isaac, Abraham's son, thus continuing the lineage of the patriarchs.

When Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac, the servant traveled to the city of Nahor and met Rebekah at the well (Genesis 24:10). Rebekah's family connection to Nahor and Abraham was confirmed when she identified herself as Bethuel's daughter and Nahor's granddaughter (Gen.24.15, 24, 47).

Later, when Israel (or 'Jacob'), Rebekah's son, fled from his brother Esau, he sought refuge with Laban, Rebekah's brother, in the city of Nahor (Genesis 29:5). This shows that Nahor's descendants maintained close ties with Abraham's family.

In Genesis 31:53, when Jacob and Laban made a covenant, they invoked the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor as witnesses, suggesting that Nahor and his descendants had come to acknowledge the God of Abraham.

Nahor's role in the biblical narrative is primarily as a link in the lineage of the patriarchs, connecting Abraham to the subsequent generations. His descendants, particularly Rebekah and her family, play a crucial role in the continuation of the covenant promises made to Abraham.

Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Family

Family relations: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Every mention

11 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)

Genesis 11 mentions

Genesis 11:26Terah lived seventy years, and became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.Genesis 11:27Now this is the history of the generations of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran became the father of Lot.Genesis 11:29Abram and Nahor married wives. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, who was also the father of Iscah.Genesis 22:20After these things, Abraham was told, “Behold, Milcah, she also has borne children to your brother Nahor:Genesis 22:23Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother.Genesis 24:10The servant took ten of his master’s camels, and departed, having a variety of good things of his master’s with him. He arose, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.Genesis 24:15Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher on her shoulder.Genesis 24:24She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.”Genesis 24:47I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her hands.Genesis 29:5He said to them, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”Genesis 31:53The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” Then Jacob swore by the fear of his father, Isaac.

What the dictionary says

Snorting.

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Read the article →

Sources