פַּלֻּאִי
𐤐𐤋𐤀𐤉
Palui
H6384 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A descendant of Pallu—specifically referring to a member or collectively the members of the clan or lineage descended from the individual Pallu, a son of Reuben. Used as an identifier for tribal subdivisions within the tribe of Reuben, typically in genealogical or census contexts in the Pentateuch.
Semantic Range
descendant of Pallu, member of the clan of Pallu, Palluite (gentilic formed from Pallu)
Root / Etymology
From the root פל א (p-l-ʾ), as realized in the personal name פַּלּוּא (Pallu). The suffix ־ִי (‑î) forms an adjectival or gentilic, denoting 'of' or 'belonging to' (in this case, 'of Pallu' or 'descended from Pallu'). The personal name Pallu is of uncertain etymology.
Historical & Contextual Notes
פַּלֻּאִי occurs in genealogical and census materials in Numbers (e.g., Num 26:5), specifically identifying lineage within the Reubenite tribal structure. The term does not appear outside these registers and is always found in lists denoting the subdivisions of Reuben. English translations frequently render it as 'Palluite' or 'descendant of Pallu.' The term functions as a patronymic classification, paralleling other tribal and clan identifiers (e.g., לְאֵלִי [Leelite], מִשְׁפַּחַת הַפַּלֻּאִי), and should be understood strictly as a genealogical marker rather than an ethnonym of broader significance. Standard English translations as 'Palluite' or 'descendant of Pallu' are accurate in conveying its referent, though the underlying Hebrew signals the Israelite approach to tribal subdivisions. There are no recorded developments of the term in exilic or post-exilic usage, as it is limited to the earlier lists in the Torah.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
patronymically from פַּלּוּא; a Palluite (collectively) or descendants of Pallu; Palluites.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
פלא (p-l-ʾ) — to be extraordinary, to distinguish, to set apart; as a proper name (Pallu)
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4652 | מִפְלָאָה | wonders of |
| H6381 | פָּלָא | in his extraordinary acts |
| H6382 | פֶּלֶא | extraordinary wonder |
| H6383 | פִּלְאִי | extraordinary one |
| H6411 | פְּלָיָה | Yah has distinguished |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6384-01 |
הַ/פַּלֻּאִֽי | hapalui | HTd/Ngmsa |
of the Palluites | the Pallu-descendant | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6384-01 |
Numbers 26:5 | הַ/פַּלֻּאִֽי | hapalui | HTd/Ngmsa |
of the Palluites | the Pallu-descendant |