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Peleg

biblical_person theological_term standard

Peleg was a post-flood descendant of Shem in Genesis, remembered for the note that “in his days the earth was divided.”

At a Glance

A descendant of Shem and an ancestor in the line leading to Abram, Peleg is noted for a dividing event associated with his lifetime.

Key Points

Description

Peleg is a biblical person named in the post-flood genealogies of Genesis, specifically as the son of Eber and brother of Joktan (Gen. 10:25; 11:16–19; 1 Chr. 1:19, 25). Scripture records no individual actions or speeches from him. His importance lies in the genealogical note attached to his name: “in his days the earth was divided.” In conservative interpretation, this has most often been taken to refer to the division of humanity into nations and languages associated with Babel, though some have suggested a more literal territorial or geographical division. Because Genesis does not explain the phrase, the safest reading is to acknowledge the textual ambiguity while recognizing Peleg’s place in the line from Shem to Abram.

Biblical Context

Peleg stands within the early genealogies of Genesis after the flood and before the call of Abram. His line helps trace the narrowing focus of Scripture from the nations to the covenant family through which God’s redemptive purposes unfold.

Historical Context

Peleg belongs to the primeval genealogical framework of Genesis, where family lines mark major stages in early human history. The brief notice attached to his name suggests a significant division in that era, but Scripture does not supply historical detail beyond the genealogical record.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Jewish and later interpreters have often linked Peleg’s name and lifetime with the dispersion of peoples at Babel. That connection is plausible in light of Genesis 11, but it remains an interpretive conclusion rather than an explicit biblical explanation.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

The name Peleg is commonly associated with the Hebrew idea of “division” or “split,” which fits the biblical note that the earth was divided in his days.

Theological Significance

Peleg is a reminder that God governs the movements of nations and families in history. His place in the genealogy also shows the narrowing of the biblical storyline toward the covenant line that leads to Abraham.

Philosophical Explanation

The entry illustrates how a brief genealogical notice can carry theological weight without giving exhaustive explanation. Scripture often records history selectively, highlighting events that matter for the unfolding redemptive story.

Interpretive Cautions

The phrase “the earth was divided” should not be overread. Genesis does not define the division with precision, so dogmatic certainty about the exact event is unwarranted. The most likely connection is the dispersal of peoples at Babel, but the text itself allows for modest restraint.

Major Views

Most interpreters understand the division to refer to the scattering of nations and languages at Babel. A minority has proposed a physical or territorial division of the earth. The biblical text does not settle the issue beyond stating that a division occurred in Peleg’s days.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Peleg is a historical biblical person, not a doctrinal category. The entry should not be used to build speculative theories beyond what Genesis states.

Practical Significance

Peleg’s brief mention encourages humility before Scripture’s selective record and reminds readers that even obscure names may mark turning points in God’s providential rule over history.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Peleg

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