Who was Terah in the Bible?

TL;DR:

Terah was Abram’s father. Terah’s life shows us that family history or place of birth should not discourage us from responding to God.

Terah was the father of Abram (later named Abraham) in the Old Testament. Despite Terah's initial intent to go to Canaan, the family settled in Haran, where Terah died at the age of 205. Although Terah was not initially a worshiper of the true God, his son Abraham chose to obey God's call; he became the father of the nation of Israel. Terah's is also noted in Jesus' genealogy in Luke 3.

from the old testament

Terah was the father of Abram, later called Abraham. God established a covenant to bless all the families of the earth through Terah's son, Abram. The account of Terah's life can be found in Genesis chapter 11.
In the genealogy from Noah to Abraham, we learn that Terah was a descendant of Noah's son Shem. Terah had three sons by age seventy: Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
Terah and his family initially lived in Ur of the Chaldeans. After Haran died there, Terah decided to take Haran’s son, Lot, as well as his own son Abram and Abram's barren wife, Sarai, to go live in the land of Canaan. For unknown reasons, they stopped and settled in a place called Haran without ever reaching Canaan.
Terah died in Haran at the age of 205.
Because Terah was seventy years old when he had Abram and Abram was seventy-five when God called him to "go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you," we know that Abram, Sarai, and Lot left Terah in Haran about sixty years before he died (Genesis 12:1). While God did not make it clear at the outset, He was actually leading Abram to the land of Canaan where Terah had originally planned to go.
Joshua 24:2–3 mentions that "long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods. Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan, and made his offspring many." So we know that at least for some time Terah was not a worshiper of the one true God. He was not the person God wanted to lead into Canaan. Abraham, however, did choose to worship God and "by faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go . . . by faith he went to live in the land of promise" (Hebrews 11:8–9). Abraham's faith in God enabled him to obey the Lord and be led into the land of Canaan eventually becoming the "great nation . . . in [whom] all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:2–3).

from the new testament

Terah is mentioned in Jesus’ genealogy recorded in Luke 3 (Luke 3:34).

implications for today

Despite Abraham's family heritage and place of birth, he still had the opportunity to respond in faith to God's call on his life. Another important concept to understand is that God's call on a person's life may differ from his/her own desires and differ from his/her children's calling. Terah wanted to go to Canaan, but it was Abraham whom God called. Similarly, King David wanted to build a temple for God, but it was his son, Solomon, whom God chose for that job (1 Kings 8:18–19). God has unique callings for each of His people. Family history or place of birth should not discourage us from responding to God's call with a faith like Abraham's.

understand

Terah was the father of Abram (Abraham), through whom God established a covenant that would bless all the world.
Terah intended to move his family to Canaan but decided to settle in Haran, where he died.
Terah is mentioned in Jesus' genealogy as the father of Abraham.

reflect

Reflect on Terah's journey. How have you responded when God’s plans or desires have diverged from yours?
What do we learn about the difference between Terah and Abraham’s response to God?
In what ways can we identify and embrace God's unique callings for our lives, despite familial expectations or cultural influences?

engage

How does Terah's story challenge our understanding of God's sovereignty and the fulfillment of His promises, particularly in relation to Abraham's obedience?
Discuss the significance of Terah's decision to settle in Haran instead of continuing to Canaan. What lessons can we draw from this in terms of discerning God's will and navigating life's journeys?
Explore the implications of God's unique callings for individuals within the context of family and community. How can we support one another in discerning and following God's callings, even when they may differ from familial expectations or cultural norms?