Genesis 11:16

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:

Complete Jewish Bible:

‘Ever lived thirty-four years and fathered Peleg.

Berean Standard Bible:

When Eber was 34 years old, he became the father of Peleg.

American Standard Version:

And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Eber^{H5677} lived^{H2421} four^{H702} and thirty^{H7970} years^{H8141}, and begat^{H3205} Peleg^{H6389}:

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for Genesis 11:16

Genesis 11:16 is a part of the genealogy described in the Bible immediately following the account of the Tower of Babel. This verse specifically mentions Eber, who is a significant figure in the biblical genealogies as he is an ancestor of both the Hebrews and the Israelites. Eber is a descendant of Shem, one of Noah's sons, and his lineage is particularly important because it leads to Abraham, the patriarch of the Jewish people.

The verse states, "And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg." This indicates that Eber fathered Peleg when he was 34 years old. The naming of Peleg is noteworthy because his name means "division" in Hebrew, which some interpret as a reference to the division of languages and peoples at the Tower of Babel. This event is described earlier in Genesis 11, where humanity's attempt to build a tower to reach the heavens results in God's confusion of their language, leading to the dispersion of people across the earth.

In terms of historical context, the genealogies in Genesis serve to connect the early history of the world, as recounted in the Bible, with the patriarchs of Israel. They provide a continuous line from Adam through to the nation of Israel, emphasizing the historical and theological connection between creation, the flood, and the covenant with Abraham. These genealogies would have been important to the ancient Israelites as they established their identity and understood their place in the world in relation to other peoples and to God's promises.

In summary, Genesis 11:16 is a verse that continues the biblical genealogy from post-flood times, highlighting the lineage from Shem to Eber and the birth of Peleg. It reflects the biblical interest in tracing the ancestry of the Israelites and connects the story of the Tower of Babel with the unfolding narrative of God's interaction with humanity, particularly through the line of Abraham, which will eventually lead to the formation of the nation of Israel.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H5677
   There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֵבֵר
   Transliteration: ʻÊbêr
   Pronunciation: ay'-ber
   Description: the same as עֵבֶר; Eber, the name of two patriarchs and four Israelites; Eber, Heber.
   
2. Strong's Number: H2421
   There are 235 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָיָה
   Transliteration: châyâh
   Pronunciation: khaw-yaw'
   Description: a primitive root (compare חָוָה, חָיָה); to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive; keep (leave, make) alive, [idiom] certainly, give (promise) life, (let, suffer to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken, recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, ([idiom] God) save (alive, life, lives), [idiom] surely, be whole.
   
3. Strong's Number: H702
   There are 383 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַרְבַּע
   Transliteration: ʼarbaʻ
   Pronunciation: ar-bah'
   Description: masculine אַרְבָּעָה; from רָבַע; four; four.
   
4. Strong's Number: H7970
   There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שְׁלוֹשִׁים
   Transliteration: shᵉlôwshîym
   Pronunciation: shel-o-sheem'
   Description: or שְׁלֹשִׁים; multiple of שָׁלוֹשׁ; thirty; or (ordinal) thirtieth; thirty, thirtieth. Compare שָׁלִישׁ.
   
5. Strong's Number: H8141
   There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁנֶה
   Transliteration: shâneh
   Pronunciation: shaw-neh'
   Description: (in plural or (feminine) שָׁנָה; from שָׁנָה; a year (as a revolution of time); [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly).
   
6. Strong's Number: H3205
   There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָלַד
   Transliteration: yâlad
   Pronunciation: yaw-lad'
   Description: a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage; bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).
   
7. Strong's Number: H6389
   There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פֶּלֶג
   Transliteration: Peleg
   Pronunciation: peh'-leg
   Description: the same as פֶּלֶג; earthquake; Peleg, a son of Shem; Peleg.