Genesis 11:31 (KJV)

What does Genesis 11:31 mean?

Genesis 11:31 describes how Terah, the father of Abram, took his family—including Abram, Sarai, and Lot—and left their home city of Ur of the Chaldees with the intention of going to the land of Canaan, but instead they stopped and settled in Haran. This verse marks the beginning of Abram’s journey, which becomes central in the following chapters.

The verse is set in a time when families often traveled together for survival or new opportunities. Terah is the main figure here, making the decision to move his household. The text highlights the family relationships and their original goal to reach Canaan, but also notes that they did not complete the journey at this point, choosing instead to stay in Haran.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 11:31

• אֶת־אַבְרָם (Abram, transliterated "Avram"): This is the first mention of Abram as a central figure, whose story will become the focus of the coming chapters.
• אוּר (Ur, transliterated "Ur"): Refers to the ancient city in southern Mesopotamia, showing that Abram’s family came from a significant urban center.
• כְּנַעַן (Canaan, transliterated "Kena'an"): The intended destination, which later becomes the Promised Land in the biblical narrative. The mention here sets up the importance of Canaan for the rest of Genesis.
• חָרָן (Haran, transliterated "Haran"): The place where the family stops and settles, not to be confused with the person named Haran earlier in the genealogy.

Why Genesis 11:31 matters

• Genesis 11:31 clarifies that it was Terah, not Abram, who first decided to leave Ur, which is sometimes overlooked when focusing on Abram’s later call.
• The verse sets up the transition from the story of humanity as a whole (Genesis 1–11) to the story of one family, which will shape the rest of Genesis and much of the Bible.
• By noting that the family settled in Haran instead of reaching Canaan, the verse highlights an unfinished journey, which prepares the reader for God’s later direct call to Abram in Genesis 12.