Genesis 10:25 kjv

And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name was Joktan.

Genesis 10:25 nkjv

To Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan.

Genesis 10:25 niv

Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan.

Genesis 10:25 esv

To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided, and his brother's name was Joktan.

Genesis 10:25 nlt

Eber had two sons. The first was named Peleg (which means "division"), for during his lifetime the people of the world were divided into different language groups. His brother's name was Joktan.

Genesis 10 verses

Genesis 10 25 Meaning

Genesis 10:25 states that two sons were born to Eber: Peleg, named because "in his days was the earth divided," and his brother, Joktan. This verse explicitly links Peleg's name to a significant global event – the division of the earth that occurred during his lifetime. The division primarily refers to the linguistic, territorial, and ethnic separation of humanity after the confusion of languages at Babel, leading to the formation of distinct nations and geographical spread across the globe.

Genesis 10 25 Context

Genesis chapter 10, often called the "Table of Nations," meticulously details the descendants of Noah's three sons—Japheth, Ham, and Shem—after the Great Flood. Its primary purpose is to trace the origins of all known nations of the ancient world, explaining how they dispersed and filled the earth in accordance with God's command to "be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth" (Gen 9:1). This genealogical record sets the stage for God's redemptive plan by showing humanity's origin from one family, their spread across the globe, and particularly, it highlights the lineage of Shem from whom Abraham, and eventually the Messiah, would come. Within this lineage, Gen 10:25 introduces Peleg, whose name explicitly points to a pivotal event—the division of humanity, understood most commonly as the linguistic and territorial dispersion at Babel (Genesis 11). This account serves as a theological statement on the sovereignty of God over human history, contrasting with contemporary pagan beliefs that attributed national origins to various regional deities, affirming that Yahweh alone established and bounded all nations.

Genesis 10 25 Word analysis

• And (וְ): The Hebrew conjunction waw functions as a simple connective, continuing the genealogical account of Eber's descendants, linking this verse to the preceding narrative flow within Shem's lineage.
• unto Eber (לְעֵבֶר): le'Ever. Eber (Hebrew: עֵבֶר), whose name means "region beyond" or "across," is a crucial figure. He is traditionally considered the ancestor of the "Hebrews" (עִבְרִי Ivri), implying a special connection or designation for Abraham and his descendants as those who crossed over or are from the "other side" (e.g., of the Euphrates). His line is distinct from the general lineage of Shem, pinpointing the ancestry of God's chosen people.
• were born (יֻלַּד): yullad. This is the Piel imperfect passive form of yalad (ילד), meaning "to be born" or "to beget." The passive voice emphasizes that the birth was an event that occurred to Eber, simply stating the fact of offspring rather than his active role in begetting.
• two sons: A specific numerical detail, indicating a precise and important continuation of Eber's lineage, with both sons playing roles in the broader human story.
• the name of the one (שֵׁם הָאֶחָד): Shem ha'echad. Shem means "name." The construction emphasizes the unique identity and significance assigned to this particular son through his naming.
• was Peleg (פֶלֶג): Peleg (Hebrew: פֶלֶג). The name directly means "division," "watercourse," or "canal." Its etymological root p_l_g (פ-ל-ג) carries the meaning of dividing, separating, or distributing. This name is unique in the Table of Nations for being immediately explained by a significant historical event, indicating its profound symbolic and historical weight.
• for (כִּי): ki. This conjunction introduces the reason or explanation for Peleg's name, signaling that the following clause provides the critical interpretive link to the preceding statement.
• in his days (בְיָמָיו): b'yamayv. This phrase indicates the specific temporal setting of the event; the division of the earth occurred concurrently with Peleg's lifetime, underscoring its historical proximity to the biblical genealogies. This direct statement of "when" adds significant historical anchoring.
• was the earth divided (נִפְלְגָה הָאָרֶץ): Niflegah ha'arets. Niflegah is the Niphal imperfect of palag (פלג), meaning "to be divided" or "to be split." The Niphal stem denotes a passive action, implying that the division was something that happened to the earth, often suggesting a divine agent. Ha'arets (הָאָרֶץ) refers to "the earth," which can denote the land or the entire globe. The phrase signifies a significant fragmentation or separation.
• and his brother's name (וְשֵׁם אָחִיו): Continues the pattern of naming, maintaining clarity in the genealogical record.
• was Joktan (יָקְטָן): Yoqtan (Hebrew: יָקְטָן). Derived from a root meaning "to be small" or "to be diminished," or perhaps "made small." While not explicitly explained in the text like Peleg, his descendants, listed in Gen 10:26-30, spread widely, forming a major part of the Southern Arabian peoples, illustrating the physical separation that resulted from the global division.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "unto Eber were born two sons, the name of the one was Peleg": This opening sequence carefully frames Peleg within the direct lineage of Eber, the forefather of the Hebrews. The immediate identification of Peleg by name signals his distinctive significance due to the extraordinary event tied to his birth.
• "for in his days was the earth divided": This pivotal clause explicitly provides the reason for Peleg's name, cementing a cause-and-effect relationship between the individual and a monumental global event. It confirms that "division" (peleg) is not merely an abstract concept but a concrete historical occurrence. This statement also points to the direct agency of God in scattering humanity, implied by the passive Niphal form "was divided," emphasizing divine initiation rather than human will. The "earth" (ha'arets) in this context primarily refers to the inhabited earth and its peoples, signifying a division of human populations into distinct groups by language and territory, consistent with the events of Babel (Gen 11) that directly follow in the narrative sequence.

Genesis 10 25 Bonus section

The direct connection between Peleg's name and the event "the earth was divided" makes this particular genealogical entry unique and highly significant within the Table of Nations. Unlike most names, it is given an immediate, explicit etiological explanation pointing to a major global phenomenon. This highlights God's purposeful action in history, shaping the course of humanity from a unified whole into diverse nations. It underscores the profound link between Gen 10, a chapter of geographical and ethnic dispersal, and Gen 11, the narrative explaining how that dispersal happened (the Tower of Babel event). Peleg's lifetime marks the period when this seminal division of languages and subsequent dispersion of peoples into their national territories occurred, illustrating God's sovereignty over humanity's social and geographical destiny.

Genesis 10 25 Commentary

Genesis 10:25 provides a pivotal interpretative key to understanding humanity's early history after the Flood. The explicit explanation for Peleg's name, "for in his days was the earth divided," ties his generation directly to a monumental event that shaped human geography and social structure. This division is overwhelmingly understood in biblical theology as the linguistic and territorial dispersion that occurred at the Tower of Babel (Gen 11). Prior to this event, humanity was united by one language and settled in one area (Shinar). Their rebellious ambition to build a tower to the heavens and make a name for themselves directly challenged God's command to fill the earth. Consequently, God confused their languages, forcing them to scatter across the globe, forming distinct nations with their own territories and languages, just as summarized in Gen 10:5, 20, 31-32.

Thus, Peleg's name is a prophetic memorial, pointing to God's sovereign hand in directing human history and ensuring His command for humanity to spread out was ultimately fulfilled, even through judgment. While some have suggested a geological or continental split, this interpretation lacks direct biblical support within the narrative context of Genesis. The immediate narrative in Genesis 11, coupled with the recurring motif of language and territory in the Table of Nations itself, strongly favors a division among peoples (linguistic, ethnic, territorial) rather than a physical splitting of continents. This verse serves as a reminder of God's governance over all nations, setting boundaries and determining their habitations, as later articulated in the New Testament (Acts 17:26).