פָּלַג
to split (literally or figuratively)
Definition
The Hebrew verb פָּלַג (pâlag) fundamentally means 'to split' or 'to divide.' It is used in both literal and figurative senses. In its literal sense, it describes the physical act of dividing or creating channels, as seen in Job 38:25 where God speaks of dividing a channel for the torrents of rain. Figuratively, it describes the division of people or languages, most famously in the name 'Peleg' (Genesis 10:25, 1 Chronicles 1:19), because in his days the earth (or its people) was divided. In Psalm 55:9, the psalmist uses it metaphorically, wishing for God to 'divide' or 'confuse' the tongues of the wicked.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only four times in the Old Testament, appearing in narrative, poetic, and wisdom literature. In the historical books (Genesis 10:25, 1 Chronicles 1:19), it explains the name of Peleg, referencing the division of peoples or languages at Babel. In the poetic book of Job (Job 38:25), it is used literally in God's description of His sovereign control over weather, creating channels for rain. In the Psalms (Psalm 55:9), it is used in a prayer for divine intervention, asking God to divide and confuse the speech of adversaries, creating a link back to the Babel event.
Etymology
פָּלַג (pâlag) is a primitive root. It is related to the noun פֶּלֶג (peleg, H6388), meaning 'channel' or 'stream,' which derives from the verb's sense of dividing to create a watercourse. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Akkadian 'palāgu,' also meaning 'to divide.' The meaning consistently revolves around the concept of separation or splitting.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it is directly tied to the biblical narrative of human rebellion and division at Babel (Genesis 11). The naming of Peleg serves as a divine commentary on that event, marking a pivotal moment in human history where God divided humanity into separate language groups. In Job 38:25, it highlights God's sovereign power in ordering creation. In Psalm 55:9, the psalmist's plea echoes the judgment of Babel, asking God to bring confusion upon the wicked. Understanding this word enriches reading by connecting a personal name, a creation metaphor, and a prayer for justice to a single theme of divine division for purposes of judgment, sovereignty, or salvation.
In the ancient Near East, the division of languages and peoples was a catastrophic event that explained the world's ethnic and linguistic diversity. The name 'Peleg' served as an enduring cultural marker of this foundational story. The literal use regarding water channels (Job 38:25) reflects the critical importance of water management and irrigation in an arid environment, where dividing water for canals was a vital agricultural practice.
חָלַק (châlaq, H2505) — to divide, share, or apportion, often for distribution. בָּקַע (bâqaʿ, H1234) — to split or tear open, often with more violent force. פָּרַד (pârad, H6504) — to separate, divide, or scatter, often of people.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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