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Patriarchs

Epoch 11 · c. 2100 BC

From Shem to Terah

The genealogy narrows from the nations to one family line, preparing the reader for Abram's call.

Header image source: Unsplash search: desert camp

Bible references

Scripture in full

The passages connected to this timeline moment are shown in full below.

Genesis 11:10-32

These are the generations of Shem. When Shem was one hundred years old, he fathered Arphaxad, two years after the flood. And Shem lived five hundred years after he fathered Arphaxad, and he fathered other sons and daughters. When Arphaxad had lived thirty-five years, he fathered Shelah. And Arphaxad lived four hundred and three years after he fathered Shelah, and he fathered other sons and daughters. When Shelah had lived thirty years, he fathered Eber. And Shelah lived four hundred and three years after he fathered Eber, and he fathered other sons and daughters. When Eber had lived thirty-four years, he fathered Peleg. And Eber lived four hundred and thirty years after he fathered Peleg, and he fathered other sons and daughters. When Peleg had lived thirty years, he fathered Reu. And Peleg lived two hundred and nine years after he fathered Reu, and he fathered other sons and daughters. When Reu had lived thirty-two years, he fathered Serug. And Reu lived two hundred and seven years after he fathered Serug, and he fathered other sons and daughters. When Serug had lived thirty years, he fathered Nahor. And Serug lived two hundred years after he fathered Nahor, and he fathered other sons and daughters. When Nahor had lived twenty-nine years, he fathered Terah. And Nahor lived one hundred and nineteen years after he fathered Terah, and he fathered other sons and daughters. When Terah had lived seventy years, he fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Now these are the generations of Terah. Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran, and Haran fathered Lot. And Haran died in the presence of Terah his father in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldeans. And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. The name of the wife of Abram was Sarai, and the name of the wife of Nahor was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and Iscah. And Sarai was barren; she had no child. And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot, the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, the wife of Abram his son, and went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan. And they went to Haran, and they settled there. And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years, and Terah died in Haran.

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Why this moment matters

Genesis moves from universal history to the particular family through whom God will restore blessing. The story now focuses on covenant promise.

About this section

God narrows the promise through Abraham's family, forming the covenant line that will bless the nations.