פֶּלֶךְ
a circuit (i.e. district); also a spindle (as whirled); hence, a crutch
Definition
The Hebrew word פֶּלֶךְ (pelek) has two primary meanings in the Old Testament. First, it most commonly refers to a 'district' or 'circuit,' specifically a defined administrative or geographical area, as seen in its repeated use for the districts of Jerusalem during the wall repairs under Nehemiah (e.g., Nehemiah 3:9, 12). Second, in a single, vivid metaphorical instance, it denotes a 'spindle' or 'whirling' instrument, used in the curse against Joab's house where it symbolizes a debilitating condition or 'crutch' (2 Samuel 3:29). Both senses connect to the core idea of something that turns or revolves.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in narrative and historical books. Its dominant usage is in Nehemiah 3, where it appears eight times to designate the specific 'district' or section of the wall of Jerusalem for which various leaders and groups were responsible (e.g., Nehemiah 3:14, 17). The sole other occurrence is in 2 Samuel 3:29, where it is used metaphorically in a curse, likely meaning 'one who leans on a crutch' or is afflicted with a wasting disease, drawing from the image of a spindle's whirling motion.
Etymology
פֶּלֶךְ derives from an unused Hebrew root meaning 'to be round' or 'to whirl.' This root concept connects both of its biblical meanings: a 'district' as a circular or bounded area, and a 'spindle' as a tool that spins. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Akkadian 'pilakku,' also relate to districts or administrative divisions, supporting this dual development from a core idea of circularity.
Semantic Range
While not a central theological term, פֶּלֶךְ offers insight into biblical community and covenant responsibility. In Nehemiah, understanding Jerusalem as organized into distinct 'districts' (pelakim) highlights the communal, organized effort in restoring the city as an act of covenant faithfulness and identity. The metaphorical use in 2 Samuel 3:29 underscores the serious, tangible consequences of violence and bloodguilt in the biblical worldview, where a curse manifests in physical affliction.
In its 'district' sense, פֶּלֶךְ reflects the administrative geography of post-exilic Judah, showing how the community was organized for large-scale civic projects. As a 'spindle,' it references a common domestic tool for spinning thread, making the curse in 2 Samuel 3:29 a culturally resonant image of helplessness or chronic infirmity, far removed from a modern understanding of a simple walking aid.
מְחוֹז (mechoz, H4082) — a more general term for a region or province. גּוֹרָל (goral, H1486) — a lot or allotment, often for inherited land, whereas פֶּלֶךְ is an administrative division.
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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