פְּלַגָּה

פְּלַגָּה

a runlet, i.e. gully

Definition

The Hebrew noun פְּלַגָּה (pᵉlaggâh) refers to a small, flowing stream of water, such as a runlet, rivulet, or gully. It describes a channel or division of water, likely seasonal or smaller than a major river. In its sole biblical occurrence in Job 20:17, it is used metaphorically to describe the fleeting prosperity of the wicked, which will not last like a reliable river but will vanish like a temporary stream. The word carries the core idea of something that is divided or split off from a larger source.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in the poetic book of Job. In Job 20:17, the wicked are said to not see 'the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.' Here, פְּלַגָּה is part of a list of water sources (alongside 'rivers' and 'floods') used in a metaphorical context to depict abundant blessings that the wicked will forfeit. Its usage is entirely poetic and figurative, emphasizing transience and loss.

Etymology

Derived from the root פָּלַג (pālag, H6385), meaning 'to split, divide, or cleave.' פְּלַגָּה is a feminine noun form indicating the result of that action—a 'division' of water. Cognate words include פֶּלֶג (peleg, H6388), meaning a channel or stream, and the related concept of dividing or distributing. The meaning developed from the basic act of splitting to denote a divided-off watercourse.

Semantic Range

Though used only once, פְּלַגָּה contributes to the rich imagery in the Book of Job concerning divine justice and the nature of temporal prosperity. It underscores the biblical theme that blessings apart from God are insubstantial and fleeting, like a seasonal brook that dries up. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Job 20:17 by highlighting the contrast between the wicked's expectation of perpetual abundance and the reality of its sudden disappearance. In the arid climate of the ancient Near East, small streams (פְּלַגּוֹת) were vital but often unreliable water sources, dependent on rain and seasonal flow. They differed from perennial rivers like the Jordan. This cultural reality made them a potent metaphor for something temporary and undependable, which is precisely how the poet in Job employs the term to critique misplaced confidence in wealth. פֶּלֶג (peleg, H6388) — a more common term for a stream or channel, often used for divisions of a river. נַחַל (nakhal, H5158) — a valley, wadi, or torrent, typically a seasonal stream bed. יְאֹר (yᵉ'ōr, H2975) — refers to the Nile or a major, canal-like river.

Word Details