Genesis 11:16 — Word Study
WLCוַֽיְחִי־ עֵ֕בֶר אַרְבַּ֥ע וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֖וֹלֶד אֶת־ פָּֽלֶג׃
BSAWhen EberʻÊbêr [a great-grandson of Shem] waschâyâh▸ 34ʼarbaʻ years oldshâneh [four and thirty years] he became the father ofyâlad▸ [lived to beget, gave birth to] PelegPeleg [meaning division, a son of Eber]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַֽיְחִי־ | and he lived | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| עֵ֕בֶר | Eber | Noun proper masculine |
| אַרְבַּ֥ע | four | Adj |
| וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים | and thirty | Conjunction |
| שָׁנָ֑ה | year[s] | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| וַיּ֖וֹלֶד | and he fathered | Verb, Hiphil, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| פָּֽלֶג׃ | Peleg | Noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | When Eber was 34 years old, he became the father of Peleg. |
| KJV | And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg: |
| ASV | And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg: |
| YLT | And Eber liveth four and thirty years, and begetteth Peleg. |
| WEB | Eber lived thirty-four years, and became the father of Peleg. |
| BBE | And Eber was thirty-four years old when he became the father of Peleg: |
Where they part company is in the rendering of Eber's age — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured to first introduce Eber's age, followed by his role as a father, creating a clear chronological flow.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
subjectעֵבֶר
verbחָיָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Genesis 11:16
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Genealogy of Shemgenerated
Genesis 11:16 is part of the genealogy tracing the descendants of Shem, highlighting Eber's life and his role as the father of Peleg. This lineage is crucial for understanding the heritage of the Israelites and the unfolding biblical narrative. Eber's age at fatherhood and the names of his descendants are significant markers in the genealogical record, which continues through the generations until the time of Abraham.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 10:21–25 | And sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth; Shem was the forefather of all the sons of Eber. |
| 2 | Numbers 24:24 | Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus; they will subdue Asshur and Eber, but they too will perish forever.” |
| 3 | 1 Chronicles 1:19 | Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided, and his brother was named Joktan. |
| 4 | Luke 3:35 | the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — וַֽיְחִי־, vay.chi-generated
The verb חָיָה (chayah) means to live or have life, and it emphasizes the act of living as well as the sustaining of life. In this context, it indicates Eber's lifespan and his role in the continuation of his lineage.
The use of the verb in the sequential imperfect form indicates an ongoing action or state, marking Eber's life as part of the unfolding history of his descendants. This word carries the connotation of vitality and existence, underscoring the importance of Eber's life in the genealogical narrative.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb וַֽיְחִי־ governs the sentence, indicating Eber's state of life, followed by a noun phrase indicating his identity and an adverbial phrase specifying his age. The structure emphasizes the chronological aspect of Eber's life.
The sentence is constructed with a clear subject-verb-object order, where Eber is the subject, the verb describes his living, and the object indicates his role as the father of Peleg. This straightforward structure highlights the genealogical nature of the verse.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates וַֽיְחִי־ as ἔζησεν (ezēsen), which means 'he lived.' This choice reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew meaning, focusing on the act of living.
The translation of Eber's age as τριάκοντα (triakonta, meaning 'thirty') and τεσσαρα (tessara, meaning 'four') shows a similar numerical representation, though the order of the words differs from the Hebrew.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 11:16 tells us that when Eber was 34 years old, he became the father of Peleg. This verse is part of the genealogy of Shem, showing the lineage that leads to significant biblical figures.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Eber's name means 'the region beyond' and is associated with several individuals in the Bible.
Eber's age at 34 years highlights the generational timeline in the biblical narrative, marking an important point in the lineage.
Peleg was a son of Eber, and his name means 'division,' indicating a significant aspect of his lineage.
This verse is part of the genealogical record that traces the descendants of Shem, leading to key figures in the biblical narrative.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What significance does Eber's lineage hold in the context of biblical history?
- How can understanding genealogies in the Bible enhance our knowledge of its narrative?
- What does Peleg's name suggest about the events during his lifetime?
- In what ways do genealogies help us trace the fulfillment of God's promises?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 11:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd Eber lived thirty four years, and begat Peleg. Of Peleg, [See comments on Genesis 10:25].
Read John Gill on Genesis 11 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 11 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsGenesis 11:16 And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:Ver. 16. And begat Peleg.] Whether Peleg were Heber’ s firstborn, Buxtorf doubteth and disputeth; but without any just cause. But, cum errat eruditus, errat errore erudito , saith the Arabic proverb. Dissertat. 2 Thessalonians 75. Erpenius. Centuricae duae Prov. Arab., 82.
Read John Trapp on Genesis 11 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English ReadersTHE TÔLDÔTH SHEM.(10-26) These are the generations of Shem.—Here also, as in Genesis 5, there is a very considerable divergence between the statements of the Hebrew, the Samaritan, and the Septuagint texts. According to the Hebrew, the total number of years from Shem to the birth of Abram was 390, according to the Samaritan, 1,040, and according to the LXX., 1,270. These larger totals are obtained by adding, as a rule, one hundred years to the age of each patriarch before the birth of his eldest son, and the LXX. also insert Cainan between Arphaxad and Salah. The virtual agreement of two authorities, coming from such different quarters as the Samaritan transcript and the LXX. version is…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Genesis 11 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges16. Peleg] See note on Genesis 10:25. The geographer Kiepert compares a place Φαλιγά at the junction of the tributary Ḥ ?abor with the river Euphrates.
Read Cambridge on Genesis 11 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleThe Generations of Shem, Genesis 11:10-26. The narrative here again doubles back upon itself, returning over a century to take a new departure from the birth of Shem’s eldest son, two years after the flood.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Genesis 11 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
When Eber was 34 years old, he became the father of Peleg.
Eber lived thirty-four years, and became the father of Peleg.
When Eber was 34 years old, he became the father of Peleg.
When Eber had lived 34 years, he became the father of Peleg.
Tyndale line
And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:
And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:
And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:
And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:
Likewise Eber liued foure and thirtie yeres, and begate Peleg.
Strictly literal
And Eber lived thirty-four years, and begot Peleg.
And Eber liveth four and thirty years, and begetteth Peleg.
And Eber lives thirty-four years [[or one hundred and thirty-four years]], and begets Peleg.
And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg.
When Eber had lived thirty-four years, he became the father of Peleg.
From the Latin
And Heber lived thirty-four years, and begot Phaleg.
Simplified
When Eber was 34, he had Peleg.
And Eber was thirty-four years old when he became the father of Peleg:
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text states: וַֽיְחִי־ עֵ֕בֶר אַרְבַּ֥ע וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֖וֹלֶד אֶת־ פָּֽלֶג׃. The Septuagint matches 7 of the 8 words, while the Samaritan Pentateuch differs in two words: it uses מאת (hundred) and יוליד (bear) instead of the corresponding Hebrew terms.
וַֽיְחִי־ עֵ֕בֶר אַרְבַּ֥ע וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֖וֹלֶד אֶת־ פָּֽלֶג׃
7 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ויחי עבר ארבע ושׁלשׁים ומאת שׁנה ויוליד את פלג
2 words differ from the Masoretic Text: מאת (hundred), יוליד (bear)
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Genesis 11:16
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
חָיָה (chayah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to live or have life, encompassing both literal and figurative senses. It includes various nuances such as reviving, preserving life, and restoring health. The entries detail its use in different stems, with Qal focusing on living and being quickened, while Piel and Hiphil emphasize giving life and reviving. No specific verse references are provided.
חָיָה 283 vb. live
Qal 203
live
be quickened, revive
Pi.
preserve alive, let live
give life
quicken, revive, refresh
Hiph.
preserve alive, let live
quicken, revive
base
H2421 חָיָה live .. live
. be quickened, revive
. . preserve alive, let live
. give life
. quicken, revive, refresh
. . preserve alive, let live
. quicken, revive
2421 chayah khaw-yaw'
a primitive root (compare 2331, 2421); to live, whether
literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive:--keep
(leave, make) alive, X certainly, give (promise) life, (let,
suffer to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken,
recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, (X God) save
(alive, life, lives), X surely, be whole.
see HEBREW for 02331
see HEBREW for 02421
חָיָה (cha.yah) — to live.
1) to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to live
1a1a) to have life
1a1b) to continue in life, remain alive
1a1c) to sustain life, to live on or upon
1a1d) to live (prosperously)
1a2) to revive, be quickened
1a2a) from sickness
1a2b) from discouragement
1a2c) from faintness
1a2d) from death
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to preserve alive, let live
1b2) to give life
1b3) to quicken, revive, refresh
1b3a) to restore to life
1b3b) to cause to grow
1b3c) to restore
1b3d) to revive
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to preserve alive, let live
1c2) to quicken, revive
1c2a) to restore (to health)
1c2b) to revive
1c2c) to restore to life
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
The Hebrew word עֵ֫בֶר (*Eber*) refers to a name associated with several individuals in the Old Testament, including a patriarch, a Gadite chief, and various Benjamites. It is derived from a root meaning 'the region beyond.' Notably, Eber is the son of Shelah and the father of Peleg and Joktan, appearing in genealogies and historical contexts.
עֵ֫בֶר n.pr.m. Eber (perh. eponym of Hebrews)
‘son’ of Shelaḥ, and ‘grandson’ of Arpachshad
a Gadite chief
Benjamite names
a priest
base
H5677 עֵ֫בֶר Eber (perh. eponym of Hebrews) . ‘son’ of Shelaḥ, and ‘grandson’ of Arpachshad
. a Gadite chief
. Benjamite names
. a priest
5677 `Eber ay'-ber
the same as 5676; Eber, the name of two patriarchs and four
Israelites:--Eber, Heber.
see HEBREW for 05676
עֵ֫בֶר (e.ver) — Eber.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.21;
son of: Shelah (H7974);
father of: Peleg (H6389) and Joktan (H3355)
Also named: Eber (Ἐβέρ "Eber" G1443)
§ Eber or Heber = "the region beyond"
1) son of Salah, great grandson of Shem, father of Peleg and Joktan
2) a Gadite chief
3) a Benjamite, son of Elpaal and descendant of Sharahaim
4) a Benjamite, son of Shashak
5) a priest in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua
עֵ֫בֶר (e.ver) — Eber.
A man of the tribe of Gad living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.5.13;
son of: Abihail (H0032I);
brother of: Michael (H4317H), Meshullam (H4918I), Sheba (H7652), Jorai (H3140), Jacan (H3275) and Zia (H2127)
§ Eber or Heber = "the region beyond"
1) son of Salah, great grandson of Shem, father of Peleg and Joktan
2) a Gadite chief
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
e'-ber (`ebher; Eber, in Gen; Obed, in Ch):
(1) Occurs in the genealogies (Ge 10:21,25; 11:14 ff) as the great-grandson of Shem and father of Peleg and Joktan. The word means "the other side," "across," and the form "Hebrew," which is derived from it, is intended to denote the people or tribe who came "from the other, side of the river" (i.e. the Euphrates), from Haran (Ge 11:31), whence Abraham and his dependents migrated to Canaan.
Eber
Beyond. (1.). The third post-duluvian patriach after Shem (Gen. 10:24; 11:14). He is regarded as the founder of the Hebrew race (10:21; Num. 24:24). In Luke 3:35 he is called Heber.
(2.) One of the seven heads of the families of the Gadites (1 Chr. 5:13).
(3.) The oldest of the three sons of Elpaal the Benjamite (8:12).
(4.) One of the heads of the familes of Benjamites in Jerusalem (22).
(5.) The head of the priestly family of Amok in the time of Zerubbabel (Neh. 12:20).
(the region beyond). Son of Salah, and great-grandson of Shem. (Genesis 10:24; 1 Chronicles 1:19) (B.C. 2277-1813.) [For confusion between Eber and Heber see HEBER] Son of Elpaal and descendant of Sharahaim of the tribe of Benjamin. (1 Chronicles 8:12) (B.C. 1400). A priest in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua. (Nehemiah 12:20) (B.C. 445.)
See HEBER.
אַרְבַּע (arba) means 'four' in Hebrew. It is a masculine noun derived from the root associated with the number four. The entries consistently affirm this meaning without any significant disagreement among lexicons.
אַרְבַּע, אַרְבָּעָה four
base
H702 אַרְבַּע, אַרְבָּעָה four
702 'arba` ar-bah'
masculine oarbaah {ar-baw-aw'}; from 7251; four:--four.
see HEBREW for 07251
אַרְבַּע (ar.ba) — four.
four
Adj — AdjHAcbsa
for ('arba`; tessares): "Four" (cardinal number) was a sacred and complete number with the Hebrews, as well as with several other peoples. It occurs very frequently in the Old Testament and the New Testament.
(1) It indicates completeness. We have the four rivers of Paradise (Ge 2:10); the four winds of heaven (Eze 37:9; Da 7:2; 8:8; 11:4; Zec 6:5, the Revised Version, margin "spirits"; /APC 2Esdras 13:5); "the four winds" (Mt 24:31; Mr 13:27); "the four corners of the earth" (Isa 11:12;
שְׁלֹשִׁים (*shlowshiym*) means 'thirty' and can also refer to 'thirtieth' as an ordinal number. It is an indeclinable noun and is derived from the root word for 'three.' The entries indicate that it is used in various contexts, but there are no significant disagreements among the lexicons.
שְׁלֹשִׁים (very seldom שְׁלוֹשִׁים, שְׁלֹשִׁם) 174 n.indecl. thirty
bef. n. sg.
as ordin.
base
H7970 שְׁלֹשִׁים (very seldom שְׁלוֹשִׁים, שְׁלֹשִׁם) n. indecl. thirty . bef. n. sg.
. as ordin.
7970 shlowshiym shel-o-sheem'
or shloshiym {shel-o-sheem'}; multiple of 7969; thirty; or
(ordinal) thirtieth:--thirty, thirtieth. Compare 7991.
see HEBREW for 07969
see HEBREW for 07991
שְׁלֹשִׁים (she.lo.shim) — thirty.
thirty, thirtieth
Aramaic equivalent: te.la.tin (תְּלָתִין "thirty" H8533)
HC/Acmpa — ConjunctionHC/Acmpa
שָׁנָה (shaneh) means 'year' and is derived from the root meaning to change or revolve. It encompasses various aspects of time, including divisions of time, measures of age, and even a lifetime. The Aramaic equivalent is שְׁנָה (she.nah), also meaning 'year'.
שָׁנָה 877 n.f. year (etym. v. √[v.ek.aa])
base
H8141 שָׁנָה year (etym. v. √[8138a])
8141 shaneh shaw-neh'
(in plura or (feminine) shanah {shaw-naw'}; from 8138; a year
(as a revolution of time):--+ whole age, X long, + old,
year(X -ly).
see HEBREW for 08138
שָׁנָה (sha.neh) — year.
1) year
1a) as division of time
1b) as measure of time
1c) as indication of age
1d) a lifetime (of years of life)
Aramaic equivalent: she.nah (שְׁנָה "year" H8140)
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
The Hebrew word יָלַד (*yalad*) means to bear, bring forth, or beget, and it encompasses various forms of childbirth and lineage declaration. It can refer to both the act of giving birth and the role of a midwife. The entries also note its use in contexts of distress and wicked behavior, as well as in reference to birthdays.
יָלַד 497 vb. bear, bring forth, beget
Qal
bear, bring forth
less often beget
of both parents
Niph. be born
Pi. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife
Pu. be born
Hiph.
beget (a father a child)
bear
Hoph. day of one's being born = birthday
Hithp. declared their pedigree
base
H3205 יָלַד bear, bring forth, beget .. bear, bring forth
. less often beget
. of both parents
. be born
. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife
. be born
. . beget (a father a child)
. bear
. day of one's being born = birthday
. declared their pedigree
3205 yalad yaw-lad'
a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget;
medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show
lineage:--bear, beget, birth((-day)), born, (make to) bring
forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be
delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch,
labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be
the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).
יָלַד (ya.lad) — to beget.
1) to bear, bringforth, beget, gender, travail
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to bear, bring forth
1a1a) of child birth
1a1b) of distress (simile)
1a1c) of wicked (behaviour)
1a2) to beget
1b) (Niphal) to be born
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to cause or help to bring forth
1c2) to assist or tend as a midwife
1c3) midwife (participle)
1d) (Pual) to be born
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to beget (a child)
1e2) to bear (fig. -of wicked bringing forth iniquity)
1f) (Hophal) day of birth, birthday (infinitive)
1g) (Hithpael) to declare one's birth (pedigree)
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vhw3ms
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
פֶּ֫לֶג (Peleg) refers to a man from the time of the Patriarchs, specifically a son of Eber and brother of Joktan. The name is associated with the concept of 'division' and is first mentioned in Genesis 10:25. It is linked to the Hebrew root for 'earthquake,' suggesting a possible thematic connection.
פֶּ֫לֶג n.pr.m. son of Eber
base
H6389 פֶּ֫לֶג son of Eber
6389 Peleg peh'-leg
the same as 6388; earthquake; Peleg, a son of Shem:--Peleg.
see HEBREW for 06388
פֶּ֫לֶג (pe.leg) — Peleg.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.25;
son of: Eber (H5677);
brother of: Joktan (H3355);
father of: Reu (H7466)
Also named: Phalek (Φάλεκ "Peleg" G5317)
§ Peleg = "division"
son of Eber and brother of Joktan
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
pe'-leg (pelegh, "watercourse," "division"): A son of Eber, and brother of Joktan. The derivation of the name is given: "for in his days was the earth divided" (niphleghah) (Ge 10:25; 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
Peleg
Division, one of the sons of Eber; so called because “in his days was the earth divided” (Gen. 10:25). Possibly he may have lived at the time of the dispersion from Babel. But more probably the reference is to the dispersion of the two races which sprang from Eber, the one spreading towards Mesopotamia and Syria, and the other southward into Arabia.
(division, part), son of Eber and brother of Joktan. (Genesis 10:25; 11:16) The only incident connected with his history is the statement that "in his days was the earth divided." an event embodied in the meaning of his name --"division." The reference is to a division of the family of Eber himself, the younger branch of which (the Joktanids) migrated into southern Arabia, while the elder remained in Mesopotamia.
Son of Eber, and fourth in descent from Shem. He was called Peleg, division, because in his time the earth was divided, Ge 10:25; 11:16.