Genesis 11:18

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:

Complete Jewish Bible:

Peleg lived thirty years and fathered Re‘u.

Berean Standard Bible:

When Peleg was 30 years old, he became the father of Reu.

American Standard Version:

And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Peleg^{H6389} lived^{H2421} thirty^{H7970} years^{H8141}, and begat^{H3205} Reu^{H7466}:

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Genesis 11:18

1. **Themes:**
- **Genealogy:** The verse is part of the "begat" passages in Genesis that trace the lineage from Noah through Shem to Abraham, which is significant in establishing the patriarchal line leading to the nation of Israel.
- **Divine Plan:** The mention of Peleg and his son Reu is part of the broader theme of God's plan for humanity, specifically the line through which the Messiah would come, as promised in Genesis 3:15 and later fulfilled through Jesus Christ.
- **Human Longevity:** The verse also reflects the theme of human longevity in the early generations, with Peleg living to be 239 years old according to the preceding verse, which decreases significantly as the biblical narrative progresses.

2. **Historical Context:**
- **Post-Flood Era:** Genesis 11:18 is set in the post-Flood period, after God had destroyed all life on earth except for Noah and his family. This event is meant to have reset humanity, with Noah's descendants repopulating the earth.
- **Tower of Babel:** The chapter begins with the story of the Tower of Babel, where humanity, still unified by one language, attempts to build a tower to reach the heavens, leading to God's confusion of their languages and the dispersion of people across the earth. Peleg's name is interpreted as meaning "division," possibly reflecting this event.
- **Transition to Patriarchal Narratives:** This verse is part of the transition from the primeval history to the stories of the patriarchs, setting the stage for the call of Abram (later Abraham) in Genesis 12, which marks the beginning of the formation of the Israelite people.
- **Chronology:** The genealogy provided in these passages helps to establish a biblical timeline, connecting the Flood narrative to the patriarchal narratives. Peleg's life and the birth of Reu are used to mark time within this framework.

In summary, Genesis 11:18 is a verse that contributes to the biblical narrative by tracing the ancestry of Abraham, emphasizing the divine plan for humanity through the lineage of Shem, and providing a historical marker within the biblical chronology shortly after the dispersion of nations at Babel.

*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: 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.
   
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: 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.
   
4. 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).
   
5. 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).
   
6. Strong's Number: H7466
   There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רְעוּ
   Transliteration: Rᵉʻûw
   Pronunciation: reh-oo'
   Description: for רְעִי in the sense of רֵעַ; friend; Reu, a postdiluvian patriarch; Reu.