Read & explore together
From Shem to Abram: The Family Line
Genesis 11:10–26 traces a family line from Shem to Terah. It repeats a clear pattern of ages, later years, and additional children, then ends by naming Terah’s sons so Abram is placed within this family line.
Understanding the passage
Understanding this family record
The passage opens with “This is the history of the generations of Shem”. It begins with Shem and Arpachshad, includes a time note connected to the flood, and then lists each generation down to Terah. For each father, the text records the age at which a named son was born and the years lived afterwards.
Genesis 11:10–26Main takeaway
This genealogy carefully follows one line from Shem to Terah and ends by identifying Abram as part of Terah’s household.
See the shape of the family record
Follow the names in the order each passage gives them.
From Shem to Terah
Genesis 11:10–26The named line in this passage. Terah’s three sons are shown together at the end.
- Shem
- Arpachshad
- Shelah
- Eber
- Peleg
- Reu
- Serug
- Nahor
- Terah
- Abram
- Nahor
- Haran
Follow the family lines
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A marked beginning with ShemThe passage begins by identifying these as the generations of Shem. It also gives a time reference, “two years after the flood”.
Explanation
The passage begins by identifying these as the generations of Shem. It also gives a time reference, “two years after the flood”. Shem is one hundred years old when Arpachshad is born, and after that he lives five hundred more years and has more sons and daughters.
02A repeated pattern through the lineFrom Arpachshad to Nahor, each entry follows a similar form. The text names the father’s age when the next named son is born, then gives the years lived afterwards, and adds that there were more sons and daughters.
Explanation
From Arpachshad to Nahor, each entry follows a similar form. The text names the father’s age when the next named son is born, then gives the years lived afterwards, and adds that there were more sons and daughters. This repeated structure makes the line easy to trace.
03The ages are not all the sameThe numbers vary from person to person. Arpachshad is thirty-five when Shelah is born, Shelah is thirty when Eber is born, and Nahor is twenty-nine when Terah is born.
Explanation
The numbers vary from person to person. Arpachshad is thirty-five when Shelah is born, Shelah is thirty when Eber is born, and Nahor is twenty-nine when Terah is born. Their later years also differ, so the passage preserves individual details within the repeated pattern.
04Terah’s household begins the next stageThe final verse changes the pattern slightly. Earlier verses usually move from one named father to one named son in the line, but Terah is said to become the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
Explanation
The final verse changes the pattern slightly. Earlier verses usually move from one named father to one named son in the line, but Terah is said to become the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. The genealogy has now reached the household that leads into the next story.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What repeated pattern appears in the generations from Arpachshad to Nahor?
Look for the same kinds of details in each entry: age at the birth of a named son, years lived afterwards, and the note about more sons and daughters.
02What details about Shem make his entry stand out at the start?
Notice both his age when Arpachshad is born and the time note linked to the flood.
03What change do you see when the genealogy reaches Terah?
Observe the shift from one named son in the line to three named sons in Terah’s household.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Genesis 11:10–26
10This is the history of the generations of Shem: Shem was one hundred years old when he became the father of Arpachshad two years after the flood.
11Shem lived five hundred years after he became the father of Arpachshad, and became the father of more sons and daughters.
12Arpachshad lived thirty-five years and became the father of Shelah.
13Arpachshad lived four hundred three years after he became the father of Shelah, and became the father of more sons and daughters.
14Shelah lived thirty years, and became the father of Eber.
15Shelah lived four hundred three years after he became the father of Eber, and became the father of more sons and daughters.
16Eber lived thirty-four years, and became the father of Peleg.
17Eber lived four hundred thirty years after he became the father of Peleg, and became the father of more sons and daughters.
18Peleg lived thirty years, and became the father of Reu.
19Peleg lived two hundred nine years after he became the father of Reu, and became the father of more sons and daughters.
20Reu lived thirty-two years, and became the father of Serug.
21Reu lived two hundred seven years after he became the father of Serug, and became the father of more sons and daughters.
22Serug lived thirty years, and became the father of Nahor.
23Serug lived two hundred years after he became the father of Nahor, and became the father of more sons and daughters.
24Nahor lived twenty-nine years, and became the father of Terah.
25Nahor lived one hundred nineteen years after he became the father of Terah, and became the father of more sons and daughters.
26Terah lived seventy years, and became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.