Word Study for H6400 (פֶּלַח)

pelach /peh'-lakh/ Ask about this word

Meaninga slice

KJV usagepiece.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of pelach — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word pelach, represented by H6400, means a slice or piece. It appears 6 times across 6 unique verses in the Bible. This term is used to describe a fragment or portion of a larger object, whether it be food, a tool, or a fruit.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H6400 is used in several distinct contexts. It can describe a life-saving portion of food, as when a famished Egyptian is given "a piece of a cake of figs" to restore his spirit 1 Samuel 30:12. It is also used as an instrument of deadly force; Abimelech is killed when a woman casts a "piece of a millstone" on his head from a wall (Judges 9:53, 2 Samuel 11:21). The term is also used poetically in Song of Solomon, where the beloved's temples are compared to "a piece of a pomegranate" (Song of Solomon 4:3, Song of Solomon 6:7).

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help contextualize the meaning of a "piece":

H7393 rekeb (millstone): This is the object from which a deadly piece is broken. It is a heavy, hard object used for grinding, and a fragment of it proves fatal to Abimelech Judges 9:53 and serves as a metaphor for a hard heart Job 41:24.
H7416 rimmôwn (pomegranate): This fruit provides the basis for the poetic imagery in Song of Solomon, where a piece of it is used to describe the comely temples of the beloved Song of Solomon 4:3.
H1690 dᵉbêlâh (cake of figs): This is the food item from which a piece is given to restore a dying man, illustrating the word's connection to sustenance and provision 1 Samuel 30:12.

Theological Significance

The significance of H6400 is seen in its varied applications, where a small fragment holds great importance.

Instrument of Judgment: A piece of a millstone becomes a decisive weapon, used by a woman to execute judgment upon the wicked king Abimelech, demonstrating how God can use humble means to achieve his purposes (Judges 9:53, 2 Samuel 11:21).
Symbol of Provision: In a moment of desperation, a single piece of a fig cake is sufficient to revive a man from the brink of death, illustrating how even a small portion can be life-giving 1 Samuel 30:12.
Metaphorical Weight: The word is employed in similes to convey both delicate beauty ("a piece of a pomegranate") and unyielding hardness ("a piece of the nether millstone"), showing its role in creating vivid biblical imagery (Song of Solomon 4:3, Job 41:24).

Summary

In summary, pelach H6400 is a specific term for a slice or piece that carries surprising weight in its few appearances. From a fragment of a millstone used in judgment to a portion of food that saves a life, the word illustrates that the significance of an object is not always in its wholeness, but in the impact of its individual parts. It serves as a literal fragment, a life-giving provision, and a powerful poetic device.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 6 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

פֶלַח
פֶלַח

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 6 verses across 5 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Song of Solomon (2 verses); never once in the other 34.

Judges

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

Job

Song of Solomon

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.