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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And unto Eber {H5677} were born {H3205} two {H8147} sons {H1121}: the name {H8034} of one {H259} was Peleg {H6389}; for in his days {H3117} was the earth {H776} divided {H6385}; and his brother's {H251} name {H8034} was Joktan {H3355}.

Complete Jewish Bible

To ‘Ever were born two sons. One was given the name Peleg [division], because during his lifetime the earth was divided. His brother’s name was Yoktan.

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 10:25 succinctly records the lineage of Eber, noting the birth of his two sons, Peleg and Joktan. The verse's profound significance lies in the etymological explanation for Peleg's name: "for in his days was the earth divided." This statement serves as a pivotal historical marker within the biblical narrative, alluding to a foundational event of human dispersion, most commonly understood as the linguistic and geographical partitioning of humanity following the events at the Tower of Babel.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Genesis 10:25 is situated within the "Table of Nations" (Genesis 10), a remarkable genealogical and ethnographic document detailing the descendants of Noah's three sons—Japheth, Ham, and Shem—after the Great Flood. This chapter meticulously traces the origins and early distribution of the world's peoples and nations, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding post-diluvian human history. The specific lineage of Eber, a descendant of Shem, is particularly significant as he is considered the eponymous ancestor of the Hebrew people. The brief, almost parenthetical, note concerning the earth's division in Peleg's days serves as a crucial chronological and thematic link, anticipating the narrative of the [Tower of Babel in Genesis 11](/genesis/11 "The Tower of Babel and the dispersion of peoples"), which immediately follows this genealogical record. This careful structuring highlights the theological importance of the division event.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The "Table of Nations" reflects an ancient understanding of ethnography, organizing peoples according to patriarchal descent and geographical distribution. In the ancient Near East, genealogies were not merely lists of names but served as vital historical, legal, and theological documents, establishing identity, rights, and relationships. The naming of children often carried deep significance, frequently commemorating events or expressing hopes and prophecies. The note that "in his days was the earth divided" points to a memory or tradition of a profound societal shift. While modern geological theories suggest continental drift occurred over vast eons, the biblical text, from a historical and cultural perspective, refers to a human-centric division—likely the separation of peoples into distinct linguistic and cultural groups, leading to their migration and settlement across different regions. This understanding aligns with the biblical worldview where human actions and divine interventions shape history.
* **Key Themes:** Genesis 10:25 contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Genesis and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Providence**, demonstrating God's active hand in shaping human history, including the formation and distribution of nations. Secondly, it introduces the theme of **Human Diversity**, providing a biblical explanation for the multiplicity of languages, cultures, and peoples globally, rooting it in a specific historical act of divine judgment and dispersion, as elaborated in the [Tower of Babel account](/genesis/11-7 "God confuses the languages at Babel"). Thirdly, despite the division, the "Table of Nations" reinforces the theme of **Shared Human Ancestry**, tracing all humanity back to a common source (Noah, and ultimately Adam), emphasizing the fundamental unity and shared heritage of all peoples as created in God's image. This verse also subtly introduces the theme of **Consequences of Rebellion**, hinting at the divine response to humanity's unified defiance against God's command to "fill the earth" (see [Genesis 9:1](/genesis/9-1 "God blesses Noah and his sons, commanding them to multiply")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Genesis 10:25, though a brief genealogical entry, carries immense historical and theological weight, providing a critical detail in the post-Flood narrative. It introduces two sons of Eber, Peleg and Joktan, with the former's name directly linked to a major historical event, a common biblical motif where a child's name reflects a significant occurrence during their lifetime.

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Peleg (Hebrew, _Peleg'_):** From H6389, meaning "earthquake; Peleg, a son of Shem." The name itself is derived from the root H6385 (pâlag), meaning "to split" or "divide." This direct correlation between the name and the event "the earth was divided" highlights the etymological significance and reinforces the historical veracity of the recorded event, suggesting a profound, impactful division.
* **divided (Hebrew, _pâlag'_):** From H6385, a primitive root meaning "to split (literally or figuratively)." This word is crucial as it describes the nature of the "division." While it can mean a physical splitting, in this context, especially when read in conjunction with [Genesis 11](/genesis/11 "The Tower of Babel and the dispersion of peoples"), it is most widely understood as a figurative splitting or partitioning of humanity, primarily through linguistic and subsequent geographical dispersion.
* **days (Hebrew, _yôwm'_):** From H3117, meaning "a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term)." The phrase "in his days" indicates that this significant division occurred during Peleg's lifetime, tying the event to a specific period in early human history rather than an abstract or timeless concept. This temporal marker grounds the event within the chronological framework of Genesis.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And unto Eber were born two sons:"** This clause continues the genealogical record, establishing Eber's direct lineage and setting the stage for the introduction of his offspring. Eber's position is significant as a progenitor of the Hebrew people.
* **"the name of one [was] Peleg;"** This identifies the first son and immediately prepares the reader for the explanation of his name, which is central to the verse's meaning. The naming convention is a deliberate literary device.
* **"for in his days was the earth divided;"** This is the pivotal explanatory clause, providing the etymological reason for Peleg's name. The phrase "the earth was divided" (Hebrew: נִפְלְגָה הָאָרֶץ, `niphlegah ha'aretz`) is most widely understood not as a geological or continental split, but as the linguistic and geographical dispersion of humanity, elaborated upon in the [Tower of Babel narrative](/genesis/11-9 "The confusion of languages at the Babel"). This division marks a significant turning point in early human history, leading to the formation of distinct nations and language groups.
* **"and his brother's name [was] Joktan."** This concludes the naming of Eber's two sons, providing the name of Peleg's sibling. While Joktan's lineage also leads to various peoples (Genesis 10:26-29), the focus of this particular verse remains on Peleg due to the profound event associated with his lifetime.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device employed in Genesis 10:25 is **Etiology**, the explanation of the origin of a name, custom, or phenomenon. Peleg's name is explicitly linked to the division of the earth that occurred "in his days," providing a foundational explanation for the diversification of humanity. This verse also functions as a **Proleptic Statement** or **Foreshadowing**, subtly hinting at the events of the [Tower of Babel in Genesis 11](/genesis/11 "The Tower of Babel and the dispersion of peoples") before they are fully narrated. The concise, almost parenthetical, nature of the "earth divided" phrase within a genealogical list also demonstrates **Conciseness** and **Economical Language**, packing profound historical and theological meaning into a few words.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 10:25 serves as a profound theological statement on God's active governance over human history and the origins of global diversity. It affirms that the vast tapestry of languages, cultures, and nations is not merely a random outcome but is intricately woven into God's sovereign plan, partly as a response to human rebellion and partly to facilitate the unfolding of His redemptive purposes. This verse, when read alongside the [Tower of Babel account](/genesis/11 "The Tower of Babel and the dispersion of peoples"), provides a biblical framework for understanding the origins of human ethnological differences while simultaneously upholding the foundational unity of humanity, all descended from a common ancestor. This divine division prevented a unified human rebellion from reaching its full, destructive potential, ensuring that humanity would spread across the earth as originally commanded (cf. [Genesis 9:1](/genesis/9-1 "God blesses Noah and his sons, commanding them to multiply")).

* [Genesis 11:7-9](/genesis/11-7-9 "God confuses the languages at Babel and scatters the people")
* [Deuteronomy 32:8](/deuteronomy/32-8 "When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance")
* [Acts 17:26](/acts/17-26 "God made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 10:25, though brief, offers profound insights for contemporary understanding of human diversity and God's sovereign hand in history. It challenges us to look beyond superficial differences and recognize the divine origin of the multiplicity of languages and cultures, understanding them as part of God's intricate design and a response to humanity's trajectory. This verse encourages us to appreciate the shared humanity that binds us all, despite our linguistic and cultural distinctions, fostering a call for unity and understanding among peoples under the one Creator. It reminds us that God is actively involved in the affairs of nations, shaping their destinies and guiding their movements, ultimately for His glory and the fulfillment of His redemptive plan.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the biblical explanation for the diversity of languages and cultures (as hinted in Genesis 10:25 and detailed in Genesis 11) shape your understanding of global relations today?**
* **In what ways can we, as individuals and communities, work towards unity and understanding among diverse peoples, reflecting God's ultimate desire for reconciliation?**
* **How does the concept of God's sovereignty over the division of the earth impact your view of historical events and the formation of nations?**

### FAQ
**What does "the earth was divided" mean in Genesis 10:25?**

Answer: While some historical interpretations have suggested a literal geological or continental split, the prevailing and most biblically consistent understanding links this division to the linguistic and subsequent geographical dispersion of peoples following the events at the [Tower of Babel](/genesis/11-9 "The confusion of languages at the Tower of Babel"). As described in [Genesis chapter 11](/genesis/11 "The Tower of Babel and the dispersion of peoples"), God confused humanity's languages, leading to the formation of distinct linguistic and cultural groups that then spread across the globe, fulfilling the divine command to "fill the earth." This "division" therefore primarily refers to the fracturing of human unity into diverse nations and tongues.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The division of humanity into diverse nations and languages, initiated in Peleg's days and solidified at Babel, finds its ultimate reversal and redemptive fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Where humanity was scattered by judgment, Christ gathers and unifies. Through His atoning work on the cross, Jesus breaks down the dividing walls of hostility that separate peoples ([Ephesians 2:14-16](/ephesians/2-14-16 "Christ is our peace, who has made both one and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility")). He creates one new humanity, a spiritual family drawn from "every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages" ([Revelation 7:9](/revelation/7-9 "A great multitude from every nation standing before the throne")). The miraculous outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, where disciples spoke in diverse languages and were understood by people from every nation under heaven ([Acts 2:6-11](/acts/2-6-11 "Every man heard them speak in his own language")), serves as a powerful foretaste and symbol of God's plan to reverse the effects of Babel, uniting a global people in worship and fellowship through the Gospel. This gathering of a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual church demonstrates God's sovereign purpose to reconcile all things to Himself in Christ, restoring the unity lost in humanity's rebellion.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Chronicles 1:19

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

Genesis 10:32

These [are] the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

Deuteronomy 32:8

When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.

Luke 3:35

Which was [the son] of Saruch, which was [the son] of Ragau, which was [the son] of Phalec, which was [the son] of Heber, which was [the son] of Sala,

Luke 3:36

Which was [the son] of Cainan, which was [the son] of Arphaxad, which was [the son] of Sem, which was [the son] of Noe, which was [the son] of Lamech,

Acts 17:26

And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

Genesis 11:16

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