Nahorites

Nahorites are the descendants of Nahor, a figure in the Hebrew Bible. Nahor is described as the son of Terah and the brother of Abraham, placing the Nahorites within the wider patriarchal genealogies of Genesis. The term is used primarily in biblical lists to designate a lineage rather than a distinct ethnic group or political community.

Nahor’s wife is Milcah, daughter of Haran, and their son or descendant line is given in Genesis as Uz, Buz, Kemuel, Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel. Bethuel, in turn, becomes the father of Rebekah and Laban, making Rebekah (the wife of Isaac) and Laban (her brother) Nahorites as well. Through Bethuel and his children, the Nahorite lineage connects the Abrahamic narrative to the broader family networks present in the region.

Geographically and historically, the Nahorites are associated with the northern Mesopotamian area around Haran, a setting that anchors the Genesis genealogies in a specific locale rather than describing a separate nation. In scholarly and religious discussions, the term “Nahorites” is used mainly to trace kinship ties within the patriarchal families and to identify individuals who share a common ancestor in Nahor.

In summary, the Nahorites are the genealogical descendants of Nahor, emphasizing family connections within the early Genesis narratives—most notably Bethuel and his children, Rebekah and Laban—rather than a standalone people or cultural group.