Place Old and New Testament
Haran
Also known as Haran =ESV, KJV; Harran =NIV, Haran =ESV; Harran =NIV; Charran =KJV
Haran was a city in Mesopotamia where Abraham and his family settled after leaving Ur, and from where Abraham later departed for Canaan (Genesis 11:31-32; 12:4-5; 27:43; 28:10; 29:4; Act.7.2, 4). Mentioned in 12 verses across 5 books, first at Genesis 11:31.
Why it matters. A city in Mesopotamia, associated with Abraham and his family.
- Primary passages
- Location
- 36.864, 39.032 (approximate, within about 2 km)
Coordinates from STEPBible TIPNR (palopenmaps.org link). Approximate; not independently verified.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
About Haran
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.
Description from STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0, lightly reformatted. This is background reference material, not Scripture and not a FaithGraph editorial claim.
Connections
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Appears in Scripture
Named in 12 verses across 5 books. Occurrence data from STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0); references only, no translation text.