| The Time of Peleg |
In this comparative study, doctrine is not in question; but historical fact andclarity are. It deals with the event that took place during the days of Peleg, a descendant ofShem. The versions compared are divided into four categories. They are as follows:
Three non-Bible sources are quoted. The differences appear to have arisen from theinterpretations of the translators. The passages are from Genesis 10: 25 and 1Chronicles 1: 19. For the serious Bible student, there probably is no problem indetermining what actually happened. For the person who does little studying and is confinedto any one version, there can be a problem.
| Versions Compared |
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| Genesis 10: 25 1 Chronicles 1: 19 |
| HBME | ...; and to Heber were born two sons, the name of the first, Peleg; because inhis days the Continent was split up; and his brother's name was Joktan. Footnote: "Peleg" means "split" in Hebrew. "Joktan" means in the Hebrew "Lessened,"probably referring to the "lessening" of the original continent by the "splitting" away of theAmerican continents. See Prof. C. A. L. Totten's works upon this great geological convulsion.If we take a map of the two Americas, in Mercator's projection, and cut out the Atlantic, theindentations of the Eastern Americas and Western Europe and Africa fit into place. -- F. F. |
| ...; and to Eber were born two sons. The name of the first Peleg, -- for in his days theearth was split in two. And the name of the other was Joktan. Footnote: "Peleg" or "Phleg" or "Fleg" in Hebrew was "Split or slit off." Thisprobably refers to the splitting off of the American Continents from Europe and Africa."Yaktan." "Lessened." To commemorate the lessening of the primeval single mass of land. -- F.F. |
| AB | To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg [meaning division],because [the inhabitants of] the earth were divided up in his days, and his brother's name wasJoktan. |
| To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg, because in his days [thepopulation of] the earth was divided [according to its languages], and his brother's name wasJoktan. | |
| LB | Two sons were born to Eber: Peleg (meaning "Division," forduring his lifetime the people of the world were separated and dispersed), andJoktan (Peleg's brother). |
| Eber had two sons: Peleg (which means "Divided," for it was during his lifetime that thepeople of the earth were divided into different language groups), and Joktan. | |
| MNT | Two sons were born to Eber, one called Peleg (Division) because the inhabitants of theearth were divided up in his day, and his brother called Joktan. |
| Two sons were born to Eber, one called Peleg (Division) because the inhabitants of theearth were divided up in his day, and his brother called Joktan. | |
| TEV | Eber had two sons: one was named Peleg, because during his time the people of the worldwere divided; and the other was named Joktan. Footnote: PELEG: This name sounds like the Hebrew word for "divide." |
| Eber had two sons; one was named Peleg, because during his time the people of the worldwere divided, and the other was named Joktan. Footnote: PELEG: This name sounds like the Hebrew word for "divide." |
| IB | And two sons were born to Eber; the name of the one was Peleg, for in his daysthe earth was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan. |
| And to Eber were born two sons. The name of the one was Peleg because in his days the earthwas divided; and his brother's name was Joktan. | |
| IV | ... And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one, Peleg, the other Joktan. And Pelegwas a mighty man, for in his days was the earth divided. [NOTE: This passage is recorded as Genesis 10: 15-16.] |
| And unto Eber was born two sons; the name of the one was Peleg; because in his days theearth was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan. | |
| KJV | And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earthdivided; and his brother's name was Joktan. |
| And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg; because in his days theearth was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan. | |
| KTC | Heber had two sons; one was called Phaleg, Division, because in his time the territory wasdivided up, and his brother's name was Jectan. |
| ..., who had two sons; one was called Phaleg, Division, because in his time the territorywas divided up, and his brother's name was Jectan. | |
| LXX | And to Heber were born two sons, the name of the one, Phaleg, because in his days theearth was divided, and the name of his brother, Jektan. |
| [Omitted.] | |
| NBV | Eber had two sons, one was named Peleg, because in his day the earth was divided; and hisbrother was called Joktan. |
| ..., who had two sons: one called Peleg, because it was during his days that the earth wasdivided; and his brother's name was Joktan. Footnote: [Peleg] -- "Division," probably referring to the confusion of languages atBabel [Gen. 11: 1-9]. | |
| NJPS | Two sons were born to Eber: the name of the first was Peleg, for in his days the earth wasdivided; and the name of his brother was Joktan. |
| Two sons were born to Eber: the name of the one was Peleg (for in his days the earth wasdivided), and the name of his brother, Joktan. | |
| SGAT | To Eber were born two sons, the name of the one being Peleg [division] (for in his timethe world was divided), and the name of his brother Joktan. |
| And to Eber were born two sons, the name of the one was Peleg, because in his days theearth was divided, and the name of his brother was Joktan. |
| NCV | Eber was the father of two sons -- one named Peleg, because the earth wasdivided during his life, and the other was named Joktan. Footnote: Peleg -- This name sounds like the Hebrew word for "divided." |
| Eber had two sons. One was named Peleg, because the people on the earth were divided intodifferent languages during his life. Peleg's brother was named Joktan. Footnote: Peleg -- This name sounds like the Hebrew word for "divided." | |
| NJB | To Eber were born two sons: the first was called Peleg, because it was in his time thatthe earth was divided, and his brother was called Joktan. |
| To Eber were born two sons; the first was called Peleg, because it was in his time thatthe earth was divided into two districts, and his brother was called Joktan. |
| Other Sources |
Antiquities of the Jews, by Josephus: (I. x. 4)
"Heber beget Joctan and Phaleg: he was called Phaleg, because he was born at the dispersion ofthe nations to their several countries; for Phaleg, among the Hebrews, signifies division."
Smith's Bible Dictionary: (page 496)
The following is an explanation for the name Peleg, which means division, or part. "The onlyincident connected with his history is the statement that 'in his days was the earth divided,'an event embodied in the meaning of his name -- 'division.' The reference is to a division ofthe family of Eber himself, the younger branch of which (the Joktanids) migrated into southernArabia, while the elder remained in Mesopotamia."
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible:
In the Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary, word #776, 'erets, has the following definition: "theearth (at large, or partitively a land): -- X common, country, earth, field, land, X nations,way, + wilderness, world."
| Commentary |
In the first group, it was definitely a geological division which took place.Since Peleg was born just over one hundred years after the flood, why is there no mention ofthe process of the division of land taking place until this time? The water had long previouslyreceded. Details of this process can be found elsewhere on the Internet. Although there is apossibility that the interpretation made by the translator has truth in it, I feel that othertranslators have come closer to telling what actually occurred.
In the second group, it was definitely a demographic division that took place.The story of the dispersion from the tower at Babel is described in Genesis 11. The passagewhich we are examining occurs in the previous chapter. Another genealogical list immediatelyfollows the story of Babel in chapter 11. Although long time spans are often recorded in onechapter, the demographic division is a possibility.
In the third group, either explanation is possible. Thus, the reader of onlyone version can decide that one is correct, according to the way that the passage isunderstood.
In the fourth group, there is a difference in translations in the two accounts.This discrepancy may be confusing, but may help the reader to decide one way.
The definition in Strong's Exhaustive Concordance is of little help inclarifying what really was divided. However, the reader may be inclined to accept thegeological division from what Strong said.
Smith is clear that it was a demographic division. However, he may havelimited the dispersion too much when he refers to Eber's family only.
Josephus is clear that it was people who were divided, implying the time ofthe time of the confusion of languages at the tower of Babel. He states that Peleg was born atthe time of the dispersal, thus, the reason for his so being named. There is a lack of clarityelsewhere as to the timing of his birth.
What was divided -- the whole earth, a nation of people, or the family of Eber?You decide. A simple statement, when transferred from one language and culture to anotherlanguage and culture, can take on more than one meaning. The differences are not the fault ofthe original writers, but of copyists and translators.