Haran, [Ha'ran]
Ancient city in Mesopotamia to which Terah and his family removed from Ur of the Chaldees, and where Abraham tarried, when on his way to the land of Canaan, until his father's death. Here also the descendants of Nahor, Abraham's brother, established themselves; hence the city was called the 'city of Nahor.' Genesis 24:10. The name occurs in Genesis 11:31, Genesis 1:11; Genesis 28:10; Genesis 29:4; Isaiah 37:12; Ezekiel 27:23, etc. It appears in its Greek form as CHARRAN in Acts 7:2, Acts 1:7. Its district is situated between the river Khabour and the Euphrates. There is still a town in the district called Harran, about 36 50' N, 39 E. The name signifies 'road' in Accadian. It was probably so called because the caravan routes of Syria, Assyria, and Babylonia crossed there. It was the seat of a bishopric in the fourth century, and there are still ruins of a cathedral.