Lexical Summary Nachór: Nahor Original Word: Νάχωρ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Nachor. Of Hebrew origin (Nachowr); Nachor, the grandfather of Abraham -- Nachor. see HEBREW Nachowr NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Hebrew origin Nachor Definition Nahor, the grandfather of Abraham NASB Translation Nahor (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3493: ΝαχώρΝαχώρ, ὁ (נָחור from חָרַר, to burn; (Philo de cong. erud. grat. § 9 N. ἑρμηνεύεται φωτός ἀνάπαυσις; others besides; see B. D. American edition, under the word)), the indeclinable proper name, Nachor (or (more common but less accurately) Nahor) (Genesis 11:22), of one of the ancestors of Christ: Luke 3:34. Topical Lexicon Identity in Scripture Nahor is the name of two related patriarchs in the Book of Genesis. The first, Nahor son of Serug (Genesis 11:22–25), is the great-grandfather of Abraham. The second, Nahor son of Terah (Genesis 11:26–29), is Abraham’s older brother. Luke’s Gospel cites the first Nahor in the Messianic genealogy: “the son of Terah, the son of Nahor” (Luke 3:34). Both bearers of the name anchor the emerging Hebrew family within the post-Flood dispersion described in Genesis 10–11. Occurrences in Scripture New Testament: Luke 3:34. Old Testament: Genesis 11:22–29; Genesis 22:20–24; Genesis 24:10, 24; Genesis 29:5. Role in the Genealogy of Jesus Christ Luke traces the earthly ancestry of Jesus from Joseph back to Adam (Luke 3:23–38). By including Nahor, the Evangelist links the incarnation to God’s covenantal dealings with the patriarchs, underscoring continuity between the promises given to Abraham and their fulfillment in Christ. The single New Testament occurrence confirms both the historicity of Genesis and the unity of the biblical narrative. Historical and Cultural Context Nahor lived in the region of Mesopotamia, specifically in Ur and later Haran—commercial centers on routes that connected Sumer, Assyria, and the Levant. Archaeological data from the Early to Middle Bronze Age (circa twentieth–eighteenth centuries BC) reveal urban life, trade, and polytheistic cults, explaining why Joshua later recalls that “your fathers… worshiped other gods” (Joshua 24:2). This background illuminates the radical nature of God’s call to Abram to forsake idolatry and journey to Canaan. Family Connections and Narrative Significance • Nahor son of Terah married Milcah (Genesis 11:29) and fathered Bethuel, the eventual father of Rebekah (Genesis 22:23), making Nahor the grandfather of Isaac’s future wife and thereby weaving his line directly into the covenant family. Spiritual and Theological Themes 1. Preservation of the Seed: The mention of Nahor in Luke echoes the promise that through Abraham’s seed all nations would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). Luke’s genealogy testifies that the promise culminates in Jesus Christ. Ministry Applications • Genealogies Encourage Confidence in Scripture: The precise preservation of names such as Nahor demonstrates the accuracy of biblical records, reinforcing trust in the Word. Reflections in Later Jewish and Christian Tradition Rabbinic literature occasionally contrasts Abraham’s faith with the earlier idolatry of his ancestors, using Nahor as a turning point in salvation history. Early Christian writers cite Luke’s genealogy to defend the full humanity of Christ and His legal right to David’s throne. Medieval commentators highlight Rebekah’s descent from Nahor to illustrate divine providence in arranging the patriarchal marriages. Nahor, though mentioned only once in the Greek New Testament, stands as a significant link in the chain of redemption, reminding the Church that every individual and every generation is known to God and woven into His unfolding purpose. Forms and Transliterations Ναχωρ Ναχώρ Ναχὼρ Nachor Nachōr NachṓrLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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