Nahor

Nahor is a figure in the Hebrew Bible, mentioned in the genealogies of Genesis. He is described as the son of Serug and an ancestor in the line that leads to Abraham. Nahor is married to Milcah, the daughter of Haran, and they are the parents of Bethuel, who becomes the father of Rebekah, the wife of Isaac. In Genesis 22:20–24, the descendants of Nahor are listed, including Bethuel and several other sons such as Uz, Buz, Kemuel, Aram, Chesed, and Hazo, as well as Pildash and Jidlaph, illustrating Nahor’s role as a progenitor of multiple lineages.

The name Nahor is of Hebrew origin, and its exact meaning is uncertain. It is treated as a personal name in biblical texts, and there is no widely agreed-upon etymology. In the biblical narrative, Nahor functions primarily as an ancestral figure within the broader genealogies that connect the generations to the patriarchs of Israel.

Nahor’s significance in biblical literature rests on his place within the family trees that lead to later figures such as Rebekah and, more broadly, the line through which the Hebrew Bible presents the beginnings of the Israelite patriarchs. He is not a central narrative character but serves to situate the genealogies within the early history of the patriarchal families.