Peleg פֶּ֫לֶג
Descendant of Shem, ancestor of Abraham
Who is Peleg in the Bible?
Peleg was a descendant of Shem and an important ancestor of Abraham in the biblical genealogy recorded in Genesis 10:25 and 11:16-19. His name means "division," and Genesis 10:25 notes that during his lifetime the earth was divided, likely referring to the scattering of peoples and confusion of languages at the Tower of Babel described in Genesis 11:1-9. Peleg lived 239 years and fathered Reu at age 30, continuing the lineage that would eventually lead to Abraham and, ultimately, to Jesus Christ, whose genealogy in Luke 3:35 includes Peleg. His significance lies primarily in his role as a vital link in the messianic line and his association with the pivotal moment of human diversification described in early Genesis.
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
Siblings
In Scripture
3 biblical books ; 2 with study contentGenesis 5 verses
- Genesis 10:25
"Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided, and his brother was named Joktan."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 11:16
"When Eber was 34 years old, he became the father of Peleg."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 11:17
"And after he had become the father of Peleg, Eber lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 11:18
"When Peleg was 30 years old, he became the father of Reu."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 11:19
"And after he had become the father of Reu, Peleg lived 209 years and had other sons and daughters."
Study Genesis →
1 Chronicles 2 verses
- 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."
- 1 Chronicles 1:25
"Eber, Peleg, Reu,"
Luke 1 verse
- Luke 3:35
"the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,"
Study Luke →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | פֶּ֫לֶג | peleg | Peleg , a son of Shem |
| Greek | Greek | Φάλεκ | — | — |
Peleg
; 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