Bible Word Study
תֶּרַח
Terach · Terach, the father of Abraham; also a place in the Desert
תֶּרַח
Terach, the father of Abraham; also a place in the Desert
Definition
תֶּרַח (Terach) is primarily known as the father of Abram (later Abraham), Nahor, and Haran, and the grandfather of Lot (Genesis 11:24-27). He led his family from Ur of the Chaldeans toward Canaan but settled in Haran, where he died (Genesis 11:31-32). In a distinct geographical sense, the name also refers to a location, Terah, which was a stopping point for the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings (Numbers 33:27-28).
Biblical Usage
The name is used 11 times in the Old Testament, almost exclusively in narrative contexts. Its primary usage is in Genesis 11-12, detailing Terach's lineage, journey, and death. The single non-Genesis occurrence is in Numbers 33:27, where it functions as a place name in the itinerary of the Exodus. The pattern shows a clear shift from a personal name to a toponym.
Etymology
The etymology of תֶּרַח is uncertain. Some scholars suggest a possible connection to the Hebrew root יָרַח (yāraḥ, H3394), meaning 'moon,' linking it to lunar worship practices in Mesopotamia, Terach's homeland. Others propose it may be related to a word for 'ibex' or 'wild goat.' Its precise derivation remains unclear, reflecting its likely foreign, non-Hebrew origin.
Semantic Range
Terach is a pivotal figure in salvation history as the immediate patriarch of Abraham, through whom God's covenant promises flow. His story in Genesis 11:31-32 highlights themes of partial obedience and divine patience; he begins the journey to the Promised Land but does not complete it, setting the stage for God's call to Abraham. Understanding him enriches the narrative of God's sovereign election, calling a people out of a pagan context. As a name of likely Mesopotamian origin, Terach reflects the pagan cultural setting of Ur, a center of moon-god (Sin) worship. His death in Haran, another city associated with lunar worship, underscores the idolatrous background from which God called Abraham (Joshua 24:2). The reuse of his name for a wilderness location may have served as a geographical reminder of Israel's own journey from a pagan past toward God's promises. אָב (ʾāv, H1) — A generic term for 'father,' whereas תֶּרַח is a specific personal/tribal name. אָבוֹת (ʾāvōt, H1) — The plural 'fathers' or 'ancestors,' referring to a lineage, while Terach is one specific forefather.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]