Topical Encyclopedia
Peleg is a significant figure in the genealogical records of the Bible, appearing in the Book of Genesis as a descendant of Shem, one of Noah's sons. His name, Peleg, is traditionally understood to mean "division" or "to divide," which is reflective of a major event associated with his lifetime.
Biblical References:Peleg is first mentioned in
Genesis 10:25: "Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided, and his brother was named Joktan." . This verse is part of the Table of Nations, which outlines the descendants of Noah's sons and the spread of nations after the Flood.
Peleg is also listed in the genealogies of
Genesis 11:16-19, which provide a more detailed account of his lineage: "When Eber was 34 years old, he became the father of Peleg. And after he had become the father of Peleg, Eber lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters. When Peleg was 30 years old, he became the father of Reu. And after he had become the father of Reu, Peleg lived 209 years and had other sons and daughters." .
Historical and Theological Significance:The mention of the earth being "divided" during Peleg's time has been the subject of much interpretation and discussion among biblical scholars and theologians. Some conservative interpretations suggest that this division refers to the division of languages and the scattering of peoples at the Tower of Babel, as described in
Genesis 11:1-9. This event marked a significant turning point in human history, as it led to the formation of distinct nations and cultures.
Peleg's place in the genealogical record is also significant for tracing the lineage of the Hebrew people. He is an ancestor of Abraham, the patriarch of the Israelites, and thus plays a crucial role in the unfolding of God's covenantal promises. The genealogies in Genesis serve to connect the post-Flood world with the call of Abraham, highlighting the continuity of God's plan for humanity.
Cultural and Linguistic Considerations:The name Peleg itself, meaning "division," has been interpreted in various ways. Some suggest it may refer to a geological or geographical division, such as the separation of continents or the division of land masses. However, the biblical context and the association with the Tower of Babel narrative lend more weight to the interpretation of a linguistic and cultural division.
Genealogical Context:Peleg is part of the line of Shem, which is significant in the biblical narrative as the line through which the Messiah would eventually come. The genealogies in
Genesis 10 and 11 emphasize the importance of lineage and heritage in the biblical worldview, underscoring the belief in a divinely orchestrated history leading to the fulfillment of God's promises.
In summary, Peleg is a pivotal figure in the biblical genealogies, representing a time of division and dispersion that shaped the course of human history. His inclusion in the lineage leading to Abraham highlights the continuity of God's redemptive plan through specific individuals and families.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Pelegdivision
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Peleg(division, part), son of Eber and brother of Joktan. (Genesis 10:25;11:16) The only incident connected with his history is the statement that "in his days was the earth divided." an event embodied in the meaning of his name --"division." The reference is to a division of the family of Eber himself, the younger branch of which (the Joktanids) migrated into southern Arabia, while the elder remained in Mesopotamia.
ATS Bible Dictionary
PelegSon of Eber, and fourth in descent from Shem. He was called Peleg, division, because in his time the earth was divided,Genesis 10:25; 11:16.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Division, one of the sons of Eber; so called because "in his days was the earth divided" (
Genesis 10:25). Possibly he may have lived at the time of the dispersion from Babel. But more probably the reference is to the dispersion of the two races which sprang from Eber, the one spreading towards Mesopotamia and Syria, and the other southward into Arabia.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PELEGpe'-leg (pelegh, "watercourse," "division"): A son of Eber, and brother of Joktan. The derivation of the name is given: "for in his days was the earth divided" (niphleghah) (Genesis 10:25; compareLuke 3:35, the King James Version "Phalec"). This probably refers to the scattering of the world's population and the confounding of its language recorded inGenesis 11:1-9. In Aramaic pelagh and Arabic phalaj mean "division"; in Hebrew pelegh means "watercourse." The name may really be due to the occupation by this people of some well-watered (furrowed), district (e.g. in Babylonia), for these patronymics represent races, and the derivation inGenesis 10:25 is a later editor's remark.
S. F. Hunter
Greek
5317. Phalek --Peleg, a patriarch...Peleg, a patriarch. Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Phalek
Phonetic Spelling: (fal'-ek) Short Definition:
Peleg Definition:
Peleg...1443. Eber -- Heber, an ancestor of Christ
... Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Eber Phonetic Spelling:
(eb-er') Short Definition: Eber Definition: Eber, father ofPeleg and son of...
Strong's Hebrew
6389.Peleg -- a son of Eber... 6388, 6389.
Peleg. 6390 . a son of Eber. Transliteration:
Peleg Phonetic
Spelling: (peh'-leg) Short Definition:
Peleg. Word Origin
...6388.peleg -- a channel, canal
... 6387, 6388.peleg. 6389 . a channel, canal. Transliteration:peleg Phonetic
Spelling: (peh'-leg) Short Definition: streams.... 6387, 6388.peleg. 6389 ....
7466a. Reu -- son ofPeleg
... Reu. 7466b . son ofPeleg. Transliteration: Reu Short Definition: Reu. Word Origin
from raah Definition son ofPeleg NASB Word Usage Reu (5). 7466, 7466a....
8286. Serug -- a descendant ofPeleg
... Serug. 8287 . a descendant ofPeleg. Transliteration: Serug Phonetic Spelling:
(ser-oog') Short Definition: Serug.... ofPeleg NASB Word Usage Serug (5). Serug....
7466. R'uw -- son ofPeleg
R'uw. 7465, 7466. R'uw. 7466a . son ofPeleg. Transliteration: R'uw Phonetic
Spelling: (reh-oo') Short Definition: Reu. Reu For r...
Library
That the Original Language in Use among Men was that which was...
... Some one will say: If the earth was divided by languages in the days ofPeleg, Heber's
son, that language, which was formerly common to all, should rather have...
Of the Genealogy of Shem, in Whose Line the City of God is...
... unquestionably it is this which fulfills the promise I made, that it should appear
why it is said of the sons of Heber, "The name of the one wasPeleg, for in...
Jewish Chronology.
... of this Thare the father is Nachor, and of this Nachor the father is Serag, and
of this Serag the father is Reu, and of this Reu the father isPeleg, and of...
Chapter xi
... That the author was intending right along to treat of this confusion of tongues
appears from Genesis 10:25, where in connection withPeleg it is mentioned that...
The Twelve and the Seventy.
... According to the ideas of the Jews of that age there were seventy heathen nations;
[43:3] and it is rather singular that, omittingPeleg the progenitor of the...
Chapter x
... The first isPeleg, the second Joktan. 25.... For herePeleg and Joktan are distinctly
called "sons," and one is said to be the "brother" of the other....
C. The Genealogy of Jesus. Ch. 3:23-38
... 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the
son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son ofPeleg, the son...
Genealogy According to Luke.
... 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the
son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son ofPeleg, the son...
Of the Generations of the Three Sons of Noah.
... And Heber begat two sons, and called the onePeleg, which means "dividing;" and
Scripture subjoins the reason of this name, saying, "for in his days was the...
Hymns on the Nativity. Hymn i. This is the Day that Gladdened Them...
... InPeleg's days earth was divided into tongues, threescore and ten. [371]
For Him Who by the tongues, to His Apostles divided earth....
Thesaurus
Peleg (8 Occurrences)...PELEG. pe'-leg (pelegh, "watercourse," "division"): A son of Eber, and brother of
Joktan.
... SF Hunter. Multi-Version Concordance
Peleg (8 Occurrences).
...Eber (16 Occurrences)
... Eber, in Genesis; Obed, in Ch): (1) Occurs in the genealogies (Genesis 10:21, 25;
Genesis 11:14) as the great-grandson of Shem and father ofPeleg and Joktan....
Reu (6 Occurrences)
... REU. re'-u, roo (re`u, Rhagau): A son ofPeleg, a descendant of Shem (Genesis
11:18 1 Chronicles 1:25 Luke 3:35). Multi-Version Concordance Reu (6 Occurrences)....
Re'u (6 Occurrences)
... Luke 3:35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son ofPeleg, the son of Eber, the
son of Shelah, (See RSV).... 1 Chronicles 1:25 Eber,Peleg, Reu, (See RSV)....
Begetteth (52 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Genesis 11:16 And Eber liveth four and thirty years, and begettethPeleg.
(YLT).... (YLT). Genesis 11:18 AndPeleg liveth thirty years, and begetteth Reu....
Begot (119 Occurrences)
... (DBY JPS). Genesis 11:16 And Eber lived thirty-four years, and begotPeleg. (DBY
JPS).... (DBY JPS). Genesis 11:18 AndPeleg lived thirty years, and begot Reu....
Thirty (189 Occurrences)
... Genesis 11:16 Eber lived thirty-four years, and became the father ofPeleg.... Genesis
11:18Peleg lived thirty years, and became the father of Reu....
Joktan (6 Occurrences)
... Genesis 10:25 To Eber were born two sons. The name of the one wasPeleg, for in
his days the earth was divided. His brother's name was Joktan....
Phalec (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary (Luke 3:35)=Peleg (qv), Genesis 11:16. Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia. PHALEC. fa'-lek (Phalek, Westcott...
Begetting (20 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Genesis 11:17 And Eber liveth after his begettingPeleg four hundred
and thirty years, and begetteth sons and daughters. (YLT)....
Resources
In what way was the earth divided in Peleg's time? | GotQuestions.orgHow old was Adam when he died? | GotQuestions.orgIs the theory of Pangea possible? Does the Bible say that there was once a Pangea / Pangaea? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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