פַּלּוּא
𐤐𐤋𐤅𐤀
Palu
H6396 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Personal name; likely meaning 'distinguished one' or 'set apart.' Pallûʾ is a proper noun referring to a specific individual listed as a son of Reuben and an ancestor of a clan within the tribe of Reuben. The semantic sense is primarily as a designation of a person known for being 'set apart' or 'notable' within the tribal structure.
Semantic Range
distinguished one (as a name), noted individual, proper name designating a Reubenite clan ancestor
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root פלה (פ־ל־ה), which means 'to distinguish, separate, set apart.' The form is likely a passive participle or a nominalized form meaning 'one who is distinguished' or 'set apart.' Used exclusively as a proper name in the biblical record.
Historical & Contextual Notes
פַּלּוּא (Pallûʾ) appears as a personal name in genealogical lists (e.g., Genesis 46:9; Exodus 6:14; Numbers 26:5,8; 1 Chronicles 5:3) designating a son of Reuben and eponymous ancestor of a Reubenite clan. The meaning, based on root analysis and naming conventions, suggests a person marked by distinction or prominence within the group. The Septuagint typically renders the name as Φαλου (Phalou), preserving the phonetics rather than translating the meaning. English translations often retain the transliteration ('Pallu'), but sometimes use alternative spellings (such as 'Phallu'). Note that the word is not used as a common noun or adjective in the Hebrew Bible, only as a proper name. Later Jewish tradition and English translations may refer to descendants of Pallûʾ as 'Jews' or 'Israelites,' but in biblical context the term designates clan or tribal membership.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from פָּלָה; distinguished; Pallu, an Israelite; Pallu, Phallu.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
פלה (p-l-h) — to distinguish, to separate, to set apart
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6396-03 |
וּ/פַלּ֖וּא | ufalu | HC/Np |
and Pallu | and Distinguished-One | 3 |
H6396-02 |
לְ/פַלּ֕וּא | lefalu | HR/Np |
of Pallu | to Distinguished-One | 1 |
H6396-01 |
פַלּ֖וּא | falu | HNp |
Pallu | Distinguished One | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6396-03 |
Genesis 46:9 | וּ/פַלּ֖וּא | ufalu | HC/Np |
and Pallu | and Distinguished-One |
H6396-03 |
Exodus 6:14 | וּ/פַלּוּא֙ | ufalu | HC/Np |
and Pallu | and Distinguished-One |
H6396-02 |
Numbers 26:5 | לְ/פַלּ֕וּא | lefalu | HR/Np |
of Pallu | to Distinguished-One |
H6396-01 |
Numbers 26:8 | פַלּ֖וּא | falu | HNp |
Pallu | Distinguished One |
H6396-03 |
1 Chronicles 5:3 | וּ/פַלּ֖וּא | ufalu | HC/Np |
and Pallu | and Distinguished-One |