Genesis 11:29 And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. Abram's wife was named Sarai, and Nahor's wife was named Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, who was the father of both Milcah and Iscah.

◄ Genesis 11:29 ►

New International Version
Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milkah; she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milkah and Iskah.

New Living Translation
Meanwhile, Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah. (Milcah and her sister Iscah were daughters of Nahor’s brother Haran.)

English Standard Version
And Abram and Nahor took wives. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and Iscah.

Berean Standard Bible
And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. Abram’s wife was named Sarai, and Nahor’s wife was named Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, who was the father of both Milcah and Iscah.

King James Bible
And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.

New King James Version
Then Abram and Nahor took wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and the father of Iscah.

New American Standard Bible
Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and Iscah.

NASB 1995
Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and Iscah.

NASB 1977
And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and Iscah.

Legacy Standard Bible
Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and the father of Iscah.

Amplified Bible
Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai (later called Sarah), and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and Iscah.

Christian Standard Bible
Abram and Nahor took wives: Abram’s wife was named Sarai, and Nahor’s wife was named Milcah. She was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milcah and Iscah.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Abram and Nahor took wives: Abram’s wife was named Sarai, and Nahor’s wife was named Milcah. She was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milcah and Iscah.

American Standard Version
And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.

English Revised Version
And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Both Abram and Nahor married. The name of Abram's wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor's wife was Milcah, daughter of Haran. (Haran was the father of Milcah and Iscah.)

Good News Translation
Abram married Sarai, and Nahor married Milcah, the daughter of Haran, who was also the father of Iscah.

International Standard Version
Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. The name of Abram's wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor's wife was Milcah. She was the daughter of Haran, who was the father of Milcah and Iscah.

Majority Standard Bible
And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. Abram?s wife was named Sarai, and Nahor?s wife was named Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, who was the father of both Milcah and Iscah.

NET Bible
And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. The name of Abram's wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor's wife was Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milcah and Iscah.

New Heart English Bible
And Abram and Nahor took wives. The name of Abram's wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran who was also the father of Iscah.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.

World English Bible
Abram and Nahor married wives. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, who was also the father of Iscah.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And Abram and Nahor take to themselves wives; the name of Abram’s wife [is] Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife [is] Milcah, daughter of Haran, father of Milcah, and father of Iscah.

Young's Literal Translation
And Abram and Nahor take to themselves wives; the name of Abram's wife is Sarai, and the name of Nahor's wife is Milcah, daughter of Haran, father of Milcah, and father of Iscah.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Abram and Nahor will take to them wives, the name of Abram's wife Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Abram and Nachor married wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai: and the name of Nachor's wife, Melcha, the daughter of Aran, father of Melcha, and father of Jescha.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then Abram and Nahor took wives. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai. And the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.

New American Bible
Abram and Nahor took wives; the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah, daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and Iscah.

New Revised Standard Version
Abram and Nahor took wives; the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah. She was the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and Iscah.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves; the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and Iscah.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Abram and Nakhor took to themselves women; the name of the wife of Abram: Sarai, and the name of the wife of Nakhor: Milka, daughter of Haran, the father of Milka and father of Isca.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Abram and Nachor took to themselves wives, the name of the wife of Abram was Sara, and the name of the wife of Nachor, Malcha, daughter of Arrhan, and he was the father of Malcha, the father of Jescha.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Terah's Descendants
…28During his father Terah’s lifetime, Haran died in his native land, in Ur of the Chaldeans. 29And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. Abram’s wife was named Sarai, and Nahor’s wife was named Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, who was the father of both Milcah and Iscah. 30But Sarai was barren; she had no children.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Genesis 17:15-16
Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, do not call her Sarai, for her name is to be Sarah. / And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.”

Genesis 24:15
Before the servant had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor.

Genesis 24:67
And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and took Rebekah as his wife. And Isaac loved her and was comforted after his mother’s death.

Genesis 25:20
and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and the sister of Laban the Aramean.

Genesis 22:20-23
Some time later, Abraham was told, “Milcah has also borne sons to your brother Nahor: / Uz the firstborn, his brother Buz, Kemuel (the father of Aram), / Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” ...

Genesis 12:5
And Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions and people they had acquired in Haran, and set out for the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,

Genesis 20:12
Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife.

Genesis 24:10
Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed with all manner of good things from his master in hand. And he set out for Nahor’s hometown in Aram-naharaim.

Genesis 28:2
“Go at once to Paddan-aram, to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel, and take a wife from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.

Genesis 29:5
“Do you know Laban the grandson of Nahor?” Jacob asked. “We know him,” they replied.

Genesis 31:53
May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.

Genesis 35:22-26
While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons: / The sons of Leah were Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. / The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin. ...

Genesis 49:31
There Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah are buried, and there I buried Leah.

Ruth 4:11
“We are witnesses,” said the elders and all the people at the gate. “May the LORD make the woman entering your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you be prosperous in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem.

1 Chronicles 1:27-28
and Abram (that is, Abraham). / The sons of Abraham were Isaac and Ishmael.

Treasury of Scripture

And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.

Sarai.

Genesis 17:15
And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.

Genesis 20:12
And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

Milcah.

Genesis 22:20
And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor;

Genesis 24:15
And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

Iscah.

Genesis 11:31
And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.

Genesis 20:12
And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

Jump to Previous

Abram Abram's Daughter Haran Married Milcah Nahor Nahor's Sarai Sar'ai Themselves Wife Wives

Jump to Next

Abram Abram's Daughter Haran Married Milcah Nahor Nahor's Sarai Sar'ai Themselves Wife Wives

Genesis 11

1. One language in the world.
2. The building of Babel.
5. It is interrupted by the confusion of tongues, and the builders dispersed.
10. The generations of Shem.
27. The generations of Terah, the father of Abram.
31. Terah, with Abram and Lot, move from Ur to Haran.

Berean Study Bible

And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves
This phrase introduces us to a significant moment in the lives of Abram and Nahor, two pivotal figures in the Genesis narrative. The act of taking wives signifies the continuation of family lines and the fulfillment of God's command to "be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1:28). In the Hebrew context, marriage was not only a personal union but also a communal and covenantal act, often involving familial arrangements and blessings. Abram, later known as Abraham, is a central patriarch in the Judeo-Christian tradition, and his marriage to Sarai sets the stage for the unfolding of God's covenantal promises.

The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai
The name "Sarai" is of Hebrew origin, meaning "my princess" or "noblewoman." This name reflects her esteemed position and the role she would play in the divine narrative. Sarai's journey, marked by faith and barrenness, is a testament to God's power and faithfulness. Her later renaming to "Sarah" signifies a transformation and the fulfillment of God's promise, as she becomes the mother of nations (Genesis 17:15-16).

and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah
Milcah, whose name means "queen" or "counsel," is an important matriarch in the Genesis account. Her marriage to Nahor, Abram's brother, highlights the interconnectedness of the patriarchal families. Milcah's lineage is significant, as she is the grandmother of Rebekah, who becomes the wife of Isaac, Abram's son. This connection underscores the providential weaving of family lines in God's redemptive plan.

the daughter of Haran
Haran, the father of Milcah, is also the brother of Abram and Nahor, making Milcah both a niece and a sister-in-law within the family. This familial relationship illustrates the close-knit nature of ancient Semitic tribes, where marriages often occurred within extended family networks to preserve heritage and property. Haran's mention also serves as a reminder of the familial ties that bind the patriarchs and their descendants.

the father of both Milcah and Iscah
The inclusion of Iscah, whose name means "to behold" or "to look out," adds depth to the genealogical record. While Iscah is not a central figure in the biblical narrative, her mention here suggests her importance within the family structure. Some Jewish traditions speculate that Iscah may be another name for Sarai, though this is not explicitly stated in the text. The genealogical details in this verse emphasize the importance of family lineage in the unfolding of God's covenantal promises, as each name and relationship plays a role in the broader narrative of redemption.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(29) Iscah.--Not the same as Sarai, for we learn in Genesis 20:12 that she was Abraham's half-sister--that is, a daughter of Terah by another wife. Nor was she Lot's wife, as Ewald supposed, for she was his full sister. Marriages between near relatives seem to have been allowed at this time, and were perhaps even common for religious reasons (see Genesis 24:3-4; Genesis 28:1-2), but not marriages between those actually by the same mother. Thus Abraham takes his half-sister to wife, and Nahor his niece. Iscah, like Naamah (Genesis 4:22), was probably eminent in her time, but for reasons not recorded.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 29. - And Abram and Nahor took them wives (cf. Genesis 6:2): the name of Abram's wife was Sarai. "My princess," from sarah, to rule (Gesenius, Lange); "Strife" (Kalisch, Murphy): "Jah is ruler" (Furst). The LXX. write Σάρα, changing afterwards to Σαῥῤα to correspond with Sarah. That Sarai was Iscah (Josephus, Augustine, Jerome, Jonathan) has been inferred from Genesis 20:12; but, though receiving apparent sanction from ver. 31, this opinion "is not supported by any solid argument" (Rosenmüller). And the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah (Queen, or Counsel), the daughter of Haran, i.e. Nahor's niece. Marriage with a half-sister or a niece was afterwards forbidden by the Mosaic code (Leviticus 18:9, 14). The father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah, whose name "Seer" may have been introduced into the narrative like that of Naamah (Genesis 4:22), as that of an eminent lady connected with the family (Murphy). Ewald's hypothesis, that Iscah was Lot's wife, is pure conjecture.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

And Abram
אַבְרָ֧ם (’aḇ·rām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 87: Abram -- 'exalted father', the original name of Abraham

and Nahor
וְנָח֛וֹר (wə·nā·ḥō·wr)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5152: Nochor

took
וַיִּקַּ֨ח (way·yiq·qaḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

wives {for themselves}.
נָשִׁ֑ים (nā·šîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

Abram’s
אַבְרָם֙ (’aḇ·rām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 87: Abram -- 'exalted father', the original name of Abraham

wife
אֵֽשֶׁת־ (’ê·šeṯ-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

was named
שֵׁ֤ם (šêm)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8034: A name

Sarai,
שָׂרָ֔י (śā·rāy)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 8297: Sarai -- a wife of Abram

and Nahor’s
נָחוֹר֙ (nā·ḥō·wr)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5152: Nochor

wife
אֵֽשֶׁת־ (’ê·šeṯ-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

was named
וְשֵׁ֤ם (wə·šêm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8034: A name

Milcah;
מִלְכָּ֔ה (mil·kāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4435: Milcah -- two Israelite women

she was the daughter
בַּת־ (baṯ-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1323: A daughter

of Haran,
הָרָ֥ן (hā·rān)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2039: Haran -- 'mountaineer', a brother of Abram, also an Israelite

the father
אֲבִֽי־ (’ă·ḇî-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1: Father

of both Milcah
מִלְכָּ֖ה (mil·kāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4435: Milcah -- two Israelite women

and Iscah.
יִסְכָּֽה׃ (yis·kāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3252: Iscah -- a daughter of Haran

Links

Genesis 11:29 NIV
Genesis 11:29 NLT
Genesis 11:29 ESV
Genesis 11:29 NASB
Genesis 11:29 KJV

Genesis 11:29 BibleApps.com
Genesis 11:29 Biblia Paralela
Genesis 11:29 Chinese Bible
Genesis 11:29 French Bible
Genesis 11:29 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Genesis 11:29 Abram and Nahor took wives (Gen. Ge Gn)