פְּלֻגָּה
Definition
פְּלֻגָּה (pᵉluggâh) is an Aramaic noun meaning 'division' or 'section,' specifically referring to a group of people organized for a particular purpose. In its sole biblical occurrence in Ezra 6:18, it denotes the priestly and Levitical divisions established by King David for temple service. The term implies an orderly, administrative grouping assigned specific duties. While used only once in the Aramaic portions of the Bible, its Hebrew counterpart (H6391) carries a similar sense of a divided group or class.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in the Aramaic section of Ezra 6:18. It describes the re-establishment of the priestly and Levitical 'divisions' for temple service according to the earlier instructions of King David. The context is the restoration of proper worship after the exile, emphasizing the reorganization of religious leadership and ritual duties in the rebuilt temple.
Etymology
פְּלֻגָּה is the Aramaic form corresponding to the Hebrew noun פְּלֻגָּה (H6391). Both derive from the root פלג (plg), meaning 'to divide' or 'to split.' The word inherently conveys the idea of separation into parts or groups. Its usage in administrative or organizational contexts, like priestly divisions, is a natural development from this core meaning of division.
Semantic Range
This word, though used only once, highlights the importance of divinely ordered worship and community structure. The re-establishment of the priestly divisions in Ezra 6:18 was not merely administrative but a theological act of restoring the covenant community's proper relationship with God through prescribed temple service. It connects the post-exilic restoration directly to the Davidic model, emphasizing continuity, order, and obedience to God's commands for worship.
In the ancient Near East, including Israel, the organization of priests and temple personnel into rotating divisions (1 Chronicles 24) was a practical system to manage duties and ensure continuous service. This Aramaic term reflects the administrative language of the Persian period, during which the Jewish community was reorganized under imperial authority. The concept signifies an official, recognized grouping within the religious and social structure.
מַחֲלֹקֶת (machălōqeth, H4256) — a more common Hebrew term for 'division' or 'course,' often used for priestly and Levitical service groups (e.g., 1 Chronicles 23:6).
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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