Milcah, Wife of Nahor

Milcah was the sister of Lot, wife of Nahor, mother of Bethuel, and grandmother of Rebekah. Though the Bible provides no details about her beyond family relations, it does make a point to mention her numerous times.

Milcah is introduced in Genesis 11 as the wife of Nahor and the daughter of Haran, who was the brother of Abraham and Nahor. Based on the geneology account, we know that Haran died and then Milcah married her uncle.

When Terah took Abram, Sarai, and Lot to go with him from Ur of the Chaldeans to the land of Canaan, Nahor and Milcah stayed behind.

Years passed. Sarah bore Isaac. And then in Genesis 22:20, sandwiched between God testing Abraham’s faith and Sarah’s death, we’re told, “Now it came to pass after these things that it was told Abraham, saying, ‘Indeed Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor.’”

Abraham, who was by this point quite advanced in age, decided it was time to find a wife for Isaac, and he knew exactly where to find her. He sent his trusted servant back to the land of Ur to find a wife from his family.

When the servant got to the well in town, the first person he met was Rebekah, “born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother.” (Genesis 24:15) Rebekah introduced herself as “daughter of Bethuel, Milcah’s son, whom she bore to Nahor.” (Genesis  24;24)

The name Milcah means “queen.” Though the Bible provides few details about her, we can tell that she was revered by those who knew her.

We may never set the world afire, but if we live a life worthy of respect, we can make an impact on those around us.

Milcah in the Bible: Genesis 11:29; 22:20-23; 24:15, 24, 47