Genesis 11:24 (KJV)

What does Genesis 11:24 mean?

Genesis 11:24 records that Nahor lived twenty-nine years and then became the father of Terah. This verse is part of a genealogy that traces the descendants from Shem, the son of Noah, down to Abram (later called Abraham).

Genesis 11:24 is found in a list of family records, where each generation is introduced by the age of the father at the birth of his son. The verse simply notes Nahor’s age and the birth of Terah, who will become an important figure as the father of Abram. This genealogy helps set the stage for the story of Abraham and the beginnings of the Israelite people.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 11:24

• נָחוֹר (Nahor, transliteration: Nachor): This is the personal name of the man mentioned, and it is important because Nahor is a direct ancestor of Terah and Abraham.
• יָלַד (yalad, transliteration: yalad): This word means "begat" or "became the father of." It emphasizes the direct parent-child relationship, which is central to the genealogical record here.

Why Genesis 11:24 matters

• Genesis 11:24 connects Nahor directly to Terah, showing the unbroken line from Noah’s family to Abraham, which is crucial for understanding the biblical story of Israel’s origins.
• By carefully listing ages and names, this verse and its surrounding passage highlight the continuity and reliability of the family record, which was important to ancient readers.
• The verse helps to situate Abraham’s family in a specific historical and genealogical context, making the later narrative about Abraham more grounded and meaningful.