פְּלַג
a half
Definition
The Aramaic noun פְּלַג (pᵉlag) means 'a half' or 'a division.' In its single biblical occurrence in Daniel 7:25, it refers to a specific period of time—'a time, times, and half a time'—which is a symbolic division of a longer duration. This term denotes a portion or segment of a whole, specifically one of two equal parts. While its core meaning is mathematical, in its prophetic context, it carries a symbolic weight concerning a limited period of suffering or dominion.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in the Aramaic portion of the book of Daniel. It appears in a prophetic vision (Daniel 7:25) describing the duration of the persecution of the saints by a boastful king. The phrase 'a time, times, and half a time' uses פְּלַג to specify the final, divided portion of this period, indicating its limited and divinely measured nature.
Etymology
פְּלַג is an Aramaic noun derived from the root פלג (plg), meaning 'to split' or 'to divide.' It is directly related to the Hebrew verb פָּלַג (pālag, H6386), which carries the same sense of dividing. The noun form specifically denotes the result of that action: a half or a division. This root is also seen in place names like Peleg (פֶּלֶג, H6389), named because 'in his days the earth was divided' (Genesis 10:25).
Semantic Range
Though used only once, פְּלַג is theologically significant as it is embedded in a key apocalyptic time prophecy in Daniel. The 'half a time' signifies a divinely appointed limit to a period of tribulation, emphasizing God's ultimate sovereignty over history and the temporary nature of oppressive earthly powers. Understanding this term enriches the reading of Daniel 7 by highlighting the precision and certainty of God's prophetic timeline for the vindication of His people.
In the ancient Near East, the division of time into symbolic periods (like 'time, times, and half a time') was a common literary device in apocalyptic literature to convey divinely ordained epochs. The concept of a 'half' signified something incomplete, limited, or cut short. This differs from a modern, purely mathematical understanding by carrying a connotation of insufficiency or a period that does not reach its full, expected measure.
חֵצִי (ḥēṣî, H2677) — The common Hebrew word for 'half,' used frequently for literal divisions of objects, people, or time. פְּלַג is its Aramaic counterpart with a more specific prophetic usage.
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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