Peleg
“Division; watercourse”
Summary
Peleg was the son of Eber and brother of Joktan, whose name memorializes an epoch in world history when 'the earth was divided' during his lifetime.
☩Lineage and Name
Peleg was the elder son of Eber and father of Reu, standing fourth in descent from Shem in the line leading to Abraham (Genesis 11:16-19). His brother Joktan became the ancestor of the Arabian tribes. The Hebrew word peleg means 'division' or 'watercourse,' and Genesis 10:25 explains that he was so named because 'in his days was the earth divided.' This name marks a significant epoch in post-flood history.
☩The Division of the Earth
The meaning of the 'division' has been interpreted various ways. Most commentators understand it to refer to the dispersion of nations at Babel, when God confused human language and scattered the peoples across the earth (Genesis 10:32; 11:1-9). Others see it specifically as the separation of the Joktanid branch of Eber's family, who migrated to southern Arabia while Peleg's line remained in Mesopotamia. Still others have suggested an actual geological division of continents or islands through volcanic activity, though this view finds less support. In the New Testament genealogy, Peleg appears as Phalec in Luke 3:35.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Peleg," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Peleg," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Peleg," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 4.George Morrish, "Peleg," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 5.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Peleg," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).