פֶּלֶג
𐤐𐤋𐤂
Peleg
H6389 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Peleg: a personal name, primarily referring to a descendant of Shem listed in the genealogies of Genesis (specifically, son of Eber). The name itself is related to the idea of 'division' or 'split,' reflecting a notable event during his lifetime. Semantic range includes both the proper name Peleg and the association with dividing or splitting, derived from the root word but primarily used as a name.
Semantic Range
Peleg (as a personal name), division, splitting, separation, reference to an event of dividing (people, languages, territory)
Root / Etymology
From the root פלג (peleg), meaning 'to divide, split, separate, channel (of water).' The name is derived directly from this root, likely alluding to an event of division, as in Genesis 10:25: 'for in his days the earth was divided.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
Peleg is introduced in Genesis 10:25 and 1 Chronicles 1:19 as a significant ancestor within the Israelite genealogical tradition. The biblical narrative connects his name to the 'division of the earth,' which most likely refers to a significant migration or dispersal of peoples, rather than a physical earthquake as sometimes rendered in older translations. This association has influenced interpretive traditions but is not a technical term for a natural disaster. The root פלג typically refers to division or a channel/split in other Hebrew usage (e.g., streams or canals, Psalm 1:3), but as a proper name, Peleg serves primarily as a personal identifier. English translations render Peleg as a proper name and do not convey the embedded sense of division inherent in the Hebrew context. Compared to related terms (such as נחל for 'stream'), פלג emphasizes the act or result of division. There is no evidence for the use of 'Jew' or Judean identity in connection with Peleg, as his character is pre-monarchic and linked to early Israelite genealogies.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as פֶּלֶג; earthquake; Peleg, a son of Shem; Peleg.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
פ־ל־ג (Peleg) — to split, to divide, to separate
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6385 | פָּלַג | he split apart |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6389-03 |
פֶּ֗לֶג | peleg | HNp |
Peleg | Peleg | Peleg | 4 |
H6389-01 |
פֶ֖לֶג | feleg | HNp |
Peleg | Peleg | Peleg | 2 |
H6389-02 |
פָּֽלֶג | paleg | HNp |
Peleg | Peleg | Peleg | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6389-03 |
Genesis 10:25 | פֶּ֗לֶג | peleg | HNp |
Peleg | Peleg | Peleg |
H6389-02 |
Genesis 11:16 | פָּֽלֶג | paleg | HNp |
Peleg | Peleg | Peleg |
H6389-03 |
Genesis 11:17 | פֶּ֔לֶג | peleg | HNp |
Peleg | Peleg | Peleg |
H6389-01 |
Genesis 11:18 | פֶ֖לֶג | feleg | HNp |
Peleg | Peleg | Peleg |
H6389-01 |
Genesis 11:19 | פֶ֗לֶג | feleg | HNp |
Peleg | Peleg | Peleg |
H6389-03 |
1 Chronicles 1:19 | פֶּ֗לֶג | peleg | HNp |
Peleg | Peleg | Peleg |
H6389-03 |
1 Chronicles 1:25 | פֶּ֖לֶג | peleg | HNp |
Peleg | Peleg | Peleg |