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פָּלַח

𐤐𐤋𐤇

pâlach

H6398 verb

SILEX Entry

Root פלח to split, cleave, break open, pierce

Definition

To split, cleave, or break open by striking; to divide by cutting or piercing. In context, used of actions that involve physically penetrating, slitting, or rending an object, often in reference to violence or destruction. The term can also extend metaphorically to the idea of violently opening something up, such as rending or breaking through an obstruction.

Semantic Range

to split open, cleave as with a weapon, pierce or strike through, break apart, tear asunder

Root / Etymology

Root פּ־ל־ח (פלח), conveying the action of splitting or dividing by force. The verb form פָּלַח derives from the verbal root with a causative or active nuance and typically entails the idea of forceful partition or penetration. The root meaning is distinct from related roots such as פֶּצַע (petsa‘, to wound) and חָתַךְ (chathakh, to cut), which specify different aspects or methods of dividing or injuring objects or bodies.

Historical & Contextual Notes

פָּלַח occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible, mainly within poetic or archaic contexts, such as in the book of Job (Job 16:13) and poetic descriptions in Psalms. In these contexts, it most often denotes a forceful and violent striking that results in deep penetration or splitting—such as an arrow or weapon cleaving flesh. The imagery is sometimes applied to the actions of divine or human agents. The semantic field overlaps with but is less common than terms for general cutting (גָּזַר gazar), slaying (הָרַג harag), or wounding (פָּצַע patza’). In late Hebrew or Aramaic, cognate forms expand the meaning to more general splitting or even (in Aramaic) service or worship, but this sense is not present in biblical Hebrew. Later translations sometimes render the term as 'pierce' or 'strike through,' but the underlying Hebrew stresses the act of forceful division or penetration. English translations ranging from 'cleave' to 'strike through' may not fully capture the physicality and violence implicit in the term.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to slice, i.e. break open or pierce; bring forth, cleave, cut, shred, strike through.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

פלח (p-l-ḥ) — to split, cleave, break open, pierce

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6399 פְּלַח ministering ones
H6400 פֶּלַח slice of
H6401 פִּלְחָא Pilcha
H6402 פׇּלְחָן for ritual service of

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6398-04 יְפַלַּ֪ח yefalach HVpi3ms he pierces he forcefully splits open 2
H6398-01 פֹלֵ֣חַ folecha HVqrmsa one plows one who splits open 1
H6398-02 תְּפַלַּ֑חְנָה tefalachenah HVpi3fp they bring forth they will split open 1
H6398-03 וַ/יְפַלַּ֛ח vayefalach HC/Vpw3ms and cut them up and he split open 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6398-03 2 Kings 4:39 וַ/יְפַלַּ֛ח vayefalach HC/Vpw3ms and cut them up and he split open
H6398-01 Psalms 141:7 פֹלֵ֣חַ folecha HVqrmsa one plows one who splits open
H6398-04 Proverbs 7:23 יְפַלַּ֪ח yefalach HVpi3ms pierces he forcefully splits open
H6398-04 Job 16:13 יְפַלַּ֣ח yefalach HVpi3ms he pierces he forcefully splits open
H6398-02 Job 39:3 תְּפַלַּ֑חְנָה tefalachenah HVpi3fp they bring forth they will split open
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