Peleg פֶּ֫לֶג

Male Early Patriarch H6389 3 books

Descendant of Shem, ancestor of Abraham

Biography

Peleg was a descendant of Shem, the son of Noah, and an ancestor of Abraham, according to the genealogies in Gen.10.25, 11:16-19, and 1Ch.1.19,25. He was the son of Eber and the brother of Joktan. Peleg lived 239 years and became the father of Reu at the age of 30. The name Peleg means "division," and Gen.10.25 states that in his days the earth was divided. This event is not described in detail, but it may refer to the division of languages and peoples described in the Tower of Babel story (Gen.11.1-9). Peleg is also mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in Luk.3.35, emphasizing his role in the ancestral line of the Messiah.

Family

In Scripture

3 biblical books ; 2 with study content
Genesis 5 verses Study available
  • Genesis 10:25

    "To Eber were born two sons. The name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided. His brother’s name was Joktan."

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  • Genesis 11:16

    "Eber lived thirty-four years, and became the father of Peleg."

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  • Genesis 11:17

    "Eber lived four hundred thirty years after he became the father of Peleg, and became the father of more sons and daughters."

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  • Genesis 11:18

    "Peleg lived thirty years, and became the father of Reu."

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  • Genesis 11:19

    "Peleg lived two hundred nine years after he became the father of Reu, and became the father of more sons and daughters."

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1 Chronicles 2 verses
  • 1 Chronicles 1:19

    "To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan."

  • 1 Chronicles 1:25

    "Eber, Peleg, Reu,"

Luke 1 verse Study available
  • Luke 3:35

    "the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,"

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Names & Aliases

Form Language Script Strong's
Named Hebrew פֶּ֫לֶג H6389
Greek Greek Φάλεκ G5317
Encyclopedia Article

Peleg

ISBE 1915 (Public Domain)

; compare Lu 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 in Ge 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 in Ge 10:25 is a later editor's remark.

S. F. Hunter

(2) Son of Azmaveth, one of those who resorted to David at Ziklag while he was hiding from Saul (<ref osisRe