Nahor
Pronounced NAY-hor
- Meaning
- "Snorting; Fiery"
- Origin
- Hebrew
Nahor means "snorting" or "fiery" in Hebrew. Two men named Nahor appear in Genesis — Abraham's grandfather and Abraham's brother. Nahor the brother of Abraham settled in the city that bore his name in Mesopotamia. It was to the city of Nahor that Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac, resulting in the servant's meeting with Rebekah at the well. Nahor's family thus became intertwined with the covenant line through marriage. Nahor fathered twelve sons — paralleling Jacob's twelve sons who became the twelve tribes of Israel. His descendants included Laban, the father of Rachel and Leah, further connecting the family lines of the patriarchs.
Spiritual meaning
Nahor's family connections remind us that God weaves His redemptive purposes across generations. Even those on the margins of the biblical narrative play essential roles in God's unfolding plan.
Related verses (KJV)
"And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor."
Genesis 24:10 (KJV) →"Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor."
Genesis 22:20-23 (KJV) →