Terah
Terah was the father of Abraham, Nahor, and Haran, and a descendant of Shem living in Ur of the Chaldees. Though Joshua records that Terah served other gods, it was Terah who first set out from Ur toward Canaan, settling his family in Haran where he died at 205. His household became the starting point of God's redemptive call to Abraham.
Biography
- Died
- Age 205, Haran
- Age
- 205 years
- Father
- Nahor
- Children
- Abraham, Nahor, Haran
- Era
- Patriarchs
- Nationality
- Chaldean
Family
Did You Know?
Joshua bluntly records that Terah 'served other gods' beyond the Euphrates (Joshua 24:2), meaning Abraham was called out of an idol-worshipping household - the first act of a family's radical turn to the one God.
It was actually Terah, not Abraham, who first set out from Ur toward Canaan (Genesis 11:31), though he stopped and settled in Haran; Abraham later completed the journey his father had begun.
Terah lived to 205 and died in Haran (Genesis 11:32), and the city of Haran itself shares a name with Terah's deceased son, hinting the family may have named their new home in memory of the son they lost.
Key Chapters
Key Passages
Terah's Family and Journey
Genesis 11:27-32
Terah leads his family out of Ur toward Canaan but settles in Haran, where he dies - the journey God would complete through Abraham.
27ow these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.
Terah Served Other Gods
Joshua 24:2-3
Joshua reminds Israel that their ancestor Terah worshipped idols before God called Abraham out from beyond the River.
2nd Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.