In brief
Terah is the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran, a descendant of Shem. He lived in Ur of the Chaldeans, where his son Haran died. He took Abram, Sarai and his grandson Lot and set out from Ur for the land of Canaan, but he stopped at Haran, where he died at the age of two hundred and five (Genesis 11:31-32). Joshua recalls that he served other gods beyond the River. His story sets the stage for the call of Abraham.
What does the name Terah mean?
The origin of the name Terah is uncertain, and the Bible does not explain it. Some link it to ancient words connected with the moon, but no hypothesis is certain. The New Testament calls him Terah in the genealogy of Jesus as well, in the Greek form Thara (Luke 3:34).
The story of Terah
A descendant of Shem
Genesis 11:10-26The genealogy of Genesis 11 runs from Shem, Noah’s son, down to Terah, son of Nahor. The text specifies that when Terah had lived seventy years, he became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. His family thus belongs to the line blessed by Noah, the one from which God will call Abram to begin a new stage in his plan for humanity.
A family in grief at Ur
Genesis 11:27-30Terah lives at Ur of the Chaldeans with his sons. Haran, the father of Lot, dies in the presence of his father Terah, in the land of his birth. Abram marries Sarai, and Nahor marries Milcah, Haran’s daughter. The text adds a painful note: Sarai was barren and had no child. Terah’s family knows mourning and seems to have no future.
Leaving Ur for Canaan
Genesis 11:31Terah takes Abram, his daughter-in-law Sarai and his grandson Lot, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan. The text presents him as the one leading the departure. Stephen later specifies that the God of glory had already appeared to Abraham in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran (Acts 7:2).
The stop at Haran
Genesis 11:31-32But the journey is cut short: they came as far as Haran and settled there. Terah never reaches Canaan. He dies at Haran at the age of two hundred and five. According to Acts 7:4, it is after his father’s death that God brought Abraham into the promised land. Terah remains the man of an unfinished journey.
A father who served other gods
Joshua 24:2-3Centuries later, Joshua reminds Israel of its origins: Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor, and their ancestors lived beyond the River and served other gods. God took Abraham from that world and led him through Canaan. Joshua draws a call from it: put away those gods and serve the Lord.
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What Terah teaches us
- God can call someone out of a family that does not know him: your family past does not limit his grace.
- Starting out is not enough: go all the way to what God shows you, without settling halfway.
- The grief and barrenness that weigh on a family are not the last word when God takes the initiative.
- Breaking with inherited idols is a personal choice, the one Joshua urges on Israel: to serve the Lord.
Key verses
Terah leaves Ur of the Chaldeans with Abram, Sarai and Lot to go to the land of Canaan, but the journey stops at Haran, where the family settles. A real departure, but an unfinished one.
Joshua recalls that Terah and his ancestors served other gods beyond the River. Israel’s history begins with grace: God went to find Abraham in an idolatrous family.
Stephen explains that Abraham settled in Haran and that it was after his father’s death that God brought him into the promised land. Terah’s death opens a new stage.
Bible verses to meditate on
Sermons about Terah
Frequently asked questions
Who was Terah in the Bible?
Terah is the father of Abram (Abraham), Nahor and Haran, and the grandfather of Lot. A descendant of Shem, he lived at Ur of the Chaldeans. He set out with Abram, Sarai and Lot for the land of Canaan, but stopped at Haran, where he died at the age of two hundred and five (Genesis 11:26-32).
Did Terah worship other gods?
Yes, according to Joshua 24:2: Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the River with his ancestors, and they served other gods. The Bible does not say which ones. This reminder highlights the grace of God, who took Abraham out of that world to make him the father of all who believe.
Where can I find the story of Terah in the Bible?
The essentials are in Genesis 11:24-32, which gives his genealogy, his family and his departure from Ur for Haran. Joshua 24:2 recalls that he served other gods, Acts 7:4 mentions his death at Haran before Abraham entered Canaan, and Luke 3:34 lists him as Thara in the genealogy of Jesus.