Terah is identified as the paternal parent of the biblical patriarch Abraham. This lineage is consistently presented in Genesis 11:26-32, which details Terah’s family, including his sons Abram (later Abraham), Nahor, and Haran, and their respective journeys. The text establishes a clear genealogical link between Terah and Abraham, placing Terah within a broader ancestral line stemming from Shem, one of Noah’s sons.
Understanding this familial connection provides crucial context for Abraham’s narrative. It situates him within a specific historical and cultural framework, shedding light on his origins and inherited traditions. Terah’s decision to leave Ur of the Chaldeans, though ultimately unfinished as he settles in Haran, initiates the migratory movement that eventually leads Abraham to Canaan, the land promised to him by God. This patriarchal lineage is fundamental to the Abrahamic religionsJudaism, Christianity, and Islamcementing Abraham’s place as a foundational figure. His obedience to God’s call to leave his ancestral home sets in motion the chain of events leading to the establishment of the Israelites as a chosen people.
