Nahor (Person)

Abraham’s grandfather (Genesis 11:22–25; 1 Chronicles 1:26), also an ancestor of Jesus according to Luke 3:34. Some English translations use the Greek spelling "Nachor." The Genesis and 1 Chronicles passages show that Nahor is from Shem’s line. Therefore, Abraham and his descendants are part of the Semitic family of nations.

Son of Terah and Abraham’s brother (Genesis 11:26–29; Joshua 24:2). He married Milcah, Haran’s daughter, and his family is named in Genesis 22:20–23. Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac at Nahor’s residence in Mesopotamia (see Genesis 24:10, which possibly suggests that the city itself was called Nahor). There he found Rebekah, Nahor’s granddaughter (Genesis 24:1–51).

Nahor is also named as the father (perhaps grandfather) of Laban, to whom Jacob went when he fled from his brother Esau (Genesis 29:5). Both of these texts link Abraham’s family with related Semitic people. In Genesis 31:53 God is spoken of as “the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor.”

See also Nahor (Place).