And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
Read it in contextGenealogy from Shem to Abram
Start reading at Genesis 11:10 (Genesis 11:10 to Genesis 11:26).
An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
The opening establishes God as Creator, describes human rebellion and its consequences, and traces the nations before narrowing the account to Abram's family.
11:10These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:
11:11And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.
11:12And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah:
11:13And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.
11:14And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber:
11:15And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.
11:16And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:
11:17And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.
11:18And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:
11:19And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.
11:20And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug:
11:21And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters.
11:22And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor:
11:23And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.
11:24And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah:
11:25And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.
11:26And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Moses is the traditional Jewish and Christian author of Genesis as part of the Pentateuch. Genesis itself does not explicitly identify its writer. Biblical references: John 5:46; Mark 12:26. Historical source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b–15a (record of Jewish attribution, not contemporary proof). traditionally held
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Genesis 11:1–11:32): The Babel narrative concerns the people building the city and tower; the later genealogy follows Shem's line to Terah and Abram. These are narrated events rather than one continuous speech to a single audience. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Israel, the covenant people descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were the first community for whom this account of their origins was preserved. An exact first circulation date or named recipient is not established. Biblical references: Genesis 12:1; Genesis 17:7; Genesis 35:10. book background
What
What is the topic of this reading unit? Genealogy from Shem to Abram. Read Genesis 11:10 through Genesis 11:26 as a connected unit. interpretation
How does it contribute to the book? The opening establishes God as Creator, describes human rebellion and its consequences, and traces the nations before narrowing the account to Abram's family. interpretation
When
When are the events or message set? The narrative moves from creation through the generations of the patriarchs to Joseph's death. Those stages are narrated; a modern calendar for them requires additional chronological assumptions. book background
Where
What is the book’s geographic setting? The narrative ranges from the world of the opening chapters through Mesopotamia and Canaan to Egypt. The selected passage's own place names determine its local setting. book background
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in Genealogy from Shem to Abram (Genesis 11:10 to Genesis 11:26).
Start reading at Genesis 11:10. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? The later New Testament traces Jesus' genealogy through Abraham and connects the promise to Abraham with Christ. This is a canonical connection; it does not make every person or object in Genesis an explicit prediction of Jesus. See Matthew 1:1, Galatians 3:16. interpretation
How should this book guide our response? Read God's promises with their named recipients and the actions of those recipients. The family narratives encourage trust and obedience while also exposing deception and wrongdoing; narrative description alone does not authorize imitation. interpretation
Cited: Genesis 11:10, Genesis 11:26, Matthew 1:1, Galatians 3:16
Who wrote it, and how we know
Moses (traditional)From early tradition
What Scripture saysThe book does not name its author. Elsewhere Scripture attributes the Law to Moses, and Jesus calls it the book of Moses. Exodus 17:14Joshua 8:31Mark 12:26John 5:46
Early traditionJewish tradition (Talmud, Baba Bathra 14b) and the early church assign the first five books to Moses.
What is debatedSome scholars propose several later sources behind the Pentateuch. A few notes appear to be written after Moses, such as the list of kings in Genesis 36:31.
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Genesis 11
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Genesis introduces creation, the nations, and the ancestral family of Israel. It does not name a recipient or give a composition date. Read the promises to named people in their narrated settings before applying them to later readers. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. The opening establishes God as Creator, describes human rebellion and its consequences, and traces the nations before narrowing the account to Abram's family.
Connection to the wholeThe opening establishes God as Creator, describes human rebellion and its consequences, and traces the nations before narrowing the account to Abram's family.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. The narrative concentrates on God's promises to Abraham, the birth of Isaac, and the continuation of the family through whom the earlier promise is carried forward.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Genesis
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Genesis introduces creation, the nations, and the ancestral family of Israel. It does not name a recipient or give a composition date. Read the promises to named people in their narrated settings before applying them to later readers.
Connection to the wholeThe opening establishes God as Creator, describes human rebellion and its consequences, and traces the nations before narrowing the account to Abram's family.
Connection to the wholeThe narrative concentrates on God's promises to Abraham, the birth of Isaac, and the continuation of the family through whom the earlier promise is carried forward.
Connection to the wholeFamily rivalry, journeys, marriages, and reconciliation develop the promised line while also recording the related family of Esau.
Connection to the wholeJoseph's experiences lead to the preservation of Jacob's family in Egypt. The book closes with confidence about a future return, preparing the setting of Exodus.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.