Genesis 11:17 kjv

And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:17 nkjv

After he begot Peleg, Eber lived four hundred and thirty years, and begot sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:17 niv

And after he became the father of Peleg, Eber lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:17 esv

And Eber lived after he fathered Peleg 430 years and had other sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:17 nlt

After the birth of Peleg, Eber lived another 430 years and had other sons and daughters.

Genesis 11 verses

Genesis 11 17 Meaning

Genesis 11:17 states that Peleg lived for 209 years after the birth of his son, Reu, during which time he also fathered other sons and daughters. This verse is an integral part of the patriarchal genealogy from Shem to Abram, emphasizing the chronological sequence and the continuity of the divinely chosen lineage through which God's redemptive plan would unfold.

Genesis 11 17 Context

Genesis 11:17 is part of the "Toledot" (generations) section of Shem (Gen 11:10-26), meticulously tracing the lineage from Shem, a righteous son of Noah, down to Abram. This specific genealogy acts as a bridge from the global scattering and judgment at Babel (Gen 11:1-9) to the call of Abraham and the establishment of God's redemptive covenant (Gen 12). Within this section, each individual's entry follows a consistent formula: their age when they begat the next named successor, the duration they lived thereafter, and the general mention of their siring other "sons and daughters." The meticulous recording emphasizes the unbroken line of descent through which God maintained a remnant and planned to fulfill His promises, counteracting the dispersion and chaos introduced by human sin. This period also marks a continued decrease in human lifespans after the Flood.

Genesis 11 17 Word analysis

• And Peleg lived: (וַיְחִי פֶלֶג, vayechí Peleg).

  • וַיְחִי (vayechí): "and he lived." This is a recurring formula (Waw-consecutive imperfect) indicating chronological continuation. It highlights the longevity of the patriarchs and marks their existence within the sacred history. It stresses God's providential oversight in sustaining the lives through whom the redemptive line would pass.
  • פֶלֶג (Peleg): The name means "division" or "split." Gen 10:25 states that "in his days was the earth divided," referencing either the dispersion at Babel or the linguistic diversification, or potentially a geographical division. This verse directly follows that name's explanation in the broader biblical narrative.

• after he begat Reu: (אַחֲרֵי הוֹלִידוֹ אֶת־רְעוּ, acharey holido et Reu).

  • אַחֲרֵי (acharey): "after." Specifies the time frame of Peleg's life being recorded, which commenced after the significant event of fathering his designated heir.
  • הוֹלִידוֹ (holido): "his begetting" or "he caused to be born." Derived from יָלַד (yalad), "to bear," "to beget." This term is crucial for establishing direct, genealogical descent, underscoring the legal and biological continuity of the sacred line. It’s not just about procreation in general, but specifically the link to the next generation in the covenant family tree.
  • רְעוּ (Reu): The son's name, meaning "friend" or "shepherd." This marks the specific, divinely ordained heir through whom the main lineage, leading to Abram and eventually to Christ, continued.

• two hundred and nine years: (שְׁתַּיִם מֵאוֹת וְתֵשַׁע שָׁנִים, shetayim me'ot v'tesha shanim).

  • This numerical detail signifies a significant reduction in lifespan compared to the pre-Flood patriarchs (who often lived 800-900+ years) and even compared to early post-Flood figures like Shem (600 years). This shortening of lifespans throughout Genesis 11 highlights God's continued diminishing of human longevity, perhaps as a form of grace (limiting evil's duration) or judgment for ongoing sin post-Flood.

• and begat sons and daughters: (וַיּוֹלֶד בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת, vayyoled banim u'vanot).

  • וַיּוֹלֶד (vayyoled): "and he begat." Again from yalad. This distinguishes Reu as the main successor for the historical narrative, while acknowledging that Peleg had a complete family.
  • בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת (banim u'vanot): "sons and daughters." This phrase signifies ordinary fertility and family life, fulfilling the divine command to "be fruitful and multiply." It ensures that the record is not merely selective for the primary lineage but also acknowledges the natural increase of humanity, from whom other nations and tribes would emerge, distinct from the main covenant line.

Genesis 11 17 Bonus section

The detailed genealogical lists in Genesis are not mere chronicles of names and ages; they are theological statements affirming God's active involvement in human history and His meticulous preservation of a chosen lineage for His redemptive purposes. Unlike mythical genealogies common in the ancient Near East that were often designed to glorify rulers or connect them to deities without strict historical basis, biblical genealogies emphasize verifiable (even if abbreviated) historical succession. This specificity grounds the promises made to Abraham in a historical reality. The steady decrease in lifespan throughout Genesis 11's genealogies (from over 900 years before the Flood, to Shem's 600, then consistently lower to figures like Peleg's 209, leading eventually to Jacob's 147 and Moses' 120 years) is often interpreted as God's gradual regulation of human life, perhaps a mercy to limit the compounding of wickedness over very long lifetimes, or a consequence of a changed world post-Flood.

Genesis 11 17 Commentary

Genesis 11:17 serves as another precise brick in the foundation of sacred history, continuing the careful genealogy that bridges the gap between the chaotic dispersion at Babel and the call of Abraham. The repeated formula—naming the specific son for the direct line, stating the father's remaining lifespan, and noting the siring of "sons and daughters"—reinforces the divinely preserved continuity of a singular, special lineage amidst general human proliferation. While "Peleg" points to the divisions of his era, this verse underlines the orderly progression of God's plan through an unbroken line of chosen individuals. The mention of 209 years, compared to earlier patriarchs, subtly yet powerfully highlights the continuing decline in human longevity post-Flood, a reminder of the effects of sin and God's sovereign regulation of human life, even as fertility remains a blessing. The focus here is on divine selection, ensuring that despite widespread human sin and division, the seed promise would advance toward the ultimate redeemer.