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Genesis 11:22

EOB (Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible):

When Serug was thirty years old, he became the father of Nahor.

EOB Footnote:

The MT includes “and he fathered sons and daughters” at the end of the verse, which is absent from the LXX manuscripts. The LXX reading “Serug” corresponds to the MT “Serug” with minor transliteration differences.

Other Translations:

KJV (King James Version):

And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor:

WEB (World English Bible):

Serug lived thirty years, and became the father of Nahor.

Benton LXX (Vaticanus):

And Sala lived thirty years, and begot Heber.

Douai-Rheims (Vulgate):

And Sarug lived thirty years, and begot Nachor.

Apostoliki Diakonia (LXX):

When Serug had lived thirty years, he became the father of Nahor.

YLT (Young Literal Translation )(MT):

And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor.

BBE (Bible in Basic English):

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EOB COMMENTARY:

EOB Commentary:

Genesis 11:22

And Serug lived thirty years and begot Nahor.

This verse continues the genealogical record leading from Shem to Abraham, placing Serug as the father of Nahor and thus the great-great-grandfather of Abraham. While appearing as a simple genealogical notation, this verse holds significance within the broader theological framework of salvation history as understood by the Orthodox Church.

Christological Significance:
Serug appears in the genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ as recorded by the Evangelist Luke (Luke 3:35). The inclusion of Serug in Christ’s lineage demonstrates the continuity of God’s providential plan from the post-flood patriarchs through to the Incarnation. Each generation mentioned, however briefly, represents a link in the chain of divine economy leading to the fullness of time when God would send forth His Son.

Patristic Interpretation:
Saint Augustine notes that these genealogies trace the City of God through particular individuals chosen by divine providence. The fathers understood that even in the midst of humanity’s dispersion following Babel, God preserved a faithful line through which blessing would come to all nations. Saint John Chrysostom emphasizes that Scripture’s careful recording of these names demonstrates God’s meticulous care for human history and His unwavering commitment to His salvific purposes.

Liturgical Connection:
The genealogies of Genesis find their liturgical echo in the reading of Christ’s ancestry during the Nativity season. The Orthodox Church reads the genealogy from Matthew’s Gospel on the Sunday before the Nativity, reminding the faithful that Christ entered into human history through real ancestors, including Serug. This grounds the Incarnation in concrete historical reality rather than myth.

Spiritual Reflection:
The brevity of information about Serug invites humility. Most of our ancestors in faith lived quiet lives, faithfully transmitting life and faith to the next generation without extraordinary deeds recorded for posterity. Orthodox spirituality values this hidden faithfulness, recognizing that sanctity often unfolds in ordinary circumstances. The monastic tradition especially honors those who labor in obscurity, trusting that God sees and remembers what human history forgets.

The name Serug has been connected by some scholars to the city of Sarugi in Mesopotamia, reminding us that these patriarchs lived in specific places amid pagan cultures, yet maintained the thread of true worship that would eventually produce Abraham, the father of faith.

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