Where is Haran in the Bible?
Haran, also known as Charan, was a significant city in Mesopotamia, located in modern-day Turkey. Haran appears in 15 verses across 5 books of the Bible.
The Bible uses the name Haran for 2 different entries. All 2 are below, each with its own passages.
Haran (Charan)
Haran, also known as Charan, was a significant city in Mesopotamia, located in modern-day Turkey. It played a crucial role in the life of Abraham and his family. After leaving Ur of the Chaldeans, Abraham, his father Terah, and his nephew Lot settled in Haran (Genesis 11:31). It was in Haran that Terah died (Genesis 11:32), and from there, Abraham departed for Canaan in response to God's call (Genesis 12:4-5). Later, when Israel (or 'Jacob') fled from his brother Esau, he sought refuge in Haran with his uncle Laban (Genesis 27:43; 28:10). Jacob lived in Haran for many years, marrying Laban's daughters, Leah and Rachel, and working for Laban (Genesis 29:4). Haran was known for its association with the worship of the moon god, Sin. In the Old Testament, Haran is mentioned as one of the places conquered by the Assyrian kings (2Ki.19.12; Isaiah 37:12) and as a trading partner of Tyre (Ezk.27.23). The city's strategic location along major trade routes contributed to its importance in the ancient Near East.
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
Haran, son of Terah
Haran was the son of Terah and the brother of Abraham and Nahor, as mentioned in Gen.11.26-31. He was born in Ur of the Chaldeans, where his family originally lived. Haran was the father of Lot, Milcah, and Iscah (Gen.11.27, 29). Milcah later married Haran's brother Nahor (Gen.11.29). Tragically, Haran died in the presence of his father Terah in Ur before the family's migration to Haran (Gen.11.28). After Haran's death, Terah took his son Abram (later known as Abraham), his grandson Lot, and his daughter-in-law Sarai (later known as Sarah) and set out from Ur to go to the land of Canaan. However, they settled in the city of Haran, which was named after Terah's deceased son (Gen.11.31). Haran's death in Ur was a significant event in the family's history, as it marked the beginning of their journey towards the land that God would later promise to Abraham and his descendants.
4 verses: Genesis 11:26, Genesis 11:27, Genesis 11:28, Genesis 11:29
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Where does Haran appear in the Bible?
Haran is referenced in 15 verses across 5 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- 2 Kings 19:12
- Acts 7:2
- Acts 7:4
- Ezekiel 27:23
- Genesis 11:32
- Genesis 12:4
- Genesis 12:5
- Genesis 27:43
- Genesis 28:10
- Genesis 29:4
- Isaiah 37:12
Showing the first 11 of 15.
Open all 15 references in ProtosWhat else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Haran.
Common questions
How many people in the Bible are called Haran?
Haran refers to 2 different entries in the Bible: Haran (Charan); Haran, son of Terah.
How many times does the Bible mention Haran?
Haran appears in 15 verses across 5 books, most often in Genesis, which accounts for 10 of them.
Which books of the Bible mention Haran?
Genesis, Acts, 2 Kings, Ezekiel, Isaiah.
Where can I read every verse about Haran?
This page lists 11 of them. Protos carries all 15, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.
