Genesis 11:31 - Terah took Abram his son, Lot the son of Haran, his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife. They went from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan. They came to Haran and lived there.

Generated Verse: Genesis 11:31

What does "Genesis 11:31" mean?


Genesis 11:31 describes the beginning of Abram's journey, a pivotal event in the Bible. Here's a breakdown of what the verse means:

"Terah took Abram his son, Lot the son of Haran, his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife." This identifies the individuals who are departing together:
Terah: Abram's father, the patriarch of the family. He initiates the move.
Abram (later Abraham): The main figure, destined to be the father of a great nation.
Lot: Abram's nephew, the son of Abram's deceased brother, Haran. Abram seems to have taken responsibility for him.
Sarai (later Sarah): Abram's wife, noted as Terah's daughter-in-law. This emphasizes the family unit.

"They went from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan." This specifies their origin and destination:
Ur of the Chaldees: A major Mesopotamian city, a sophisticated and potentially idolatrous environment. This marks their starting point.
Land of Canaan: The promised land, the destination God will eventually direct Abram to. This is where Abram's descendants are destined to live.

"They came to Haran and lived there." This indicates an interruption or a temporary settlement:
Haran: A city in Mesopotamia, located northwest of Ur. They did not reach Canaan immediately, but stopped in Haran. This is a significant detail, as it implies that Terah made the decision to settle there.

In summary, this verse describes Terah's decision to leave Ur of the Chaldees with his family, intending to go to Canaan, but they only made it as far as Haran, where they settled. This sets the stage for Abram's eventual calling by God to leave Haran and continue the journey to Canaan, which is the focus of the next chapter. It's important to note that while the verse states their intention to go to Canaan, they do not complete the journey initially. This delay in Haran suggests that Terah may have been leading the journey, and Abram's independent journey begins after Terah's death.

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