Word Study for H6390 (פְּלַגָּה)

pᵉlaggâh /pel-ag-gaw'/ Ask about this word

Meaninga runlet, i.e. gully

KJV usagedivision, river.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of pᵉlaggâh — 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 pᵉlaggâh, represented by H6390, carries a dual meaning as either a runlet or a division. Its base definition is "from פָּלַג; a runlet, i.e. gully; division, river." This term, while appearing only 3 times in 3 unique verses, illustrates how a single word can describe both physical geography and the state of a community.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical text, H6390 is used in two distinct contexts. In Job, it describes a literal waterway, where the wicked man "shall not see the rivers" of honey and butter, a metaphor for immense prosperity Job 20:17. In contrast, in the Song of Deborah, the word is used twice to signify figurative rifts within the people of Israel. The text states, "For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart" Judges 5:15 and "For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart" Judges 5:16, highlighting the tribe's internal conflict and indecisiveness.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the two meanings of pᵉlaggâh:

H5104 nâhâr (flood, river): This word appears with pᵉlaggâh in Job 20:17, referring to floods or rivers as part of a landscape of abundance from which the wicked are barred.
H5158 nachal (brook, flood, river, stream, valley): Also used in Job 20:17, this term for a brook or winter torrent further defines the imagery of flowing water and prosperity.
H3820 lêb (heart): The figurative meaning of pᵉlaggâh is revealed through its connection to the heart. The "divisions" of Reuben directly led to great thoughts and searchings of heart, linking tribal disunity to internal conflict Judges 5:15-16.
H2714 chêqer (finding out, number, (un-) search(-able, -ed, out, -ing)): Translated as "searchings" in Judges 5:16, this term describes the deep deliberation and indecision that resulted from Reuben's internal divisions.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6390 is found in its contrasting applications.

Blessing and Judgment: In its literal sense, pᵉlaggâh is used to depict the blessings of abundance. To be denied a view of these rivers is a form of divine judgment against the wicked Job 20:17.
Consequences of Disunity: The use of pᵉlaggâh to describe the "divisions of Reuben" serves as a powerful commentary on the dangers of internal strife. Reuben's indecision and lack of unity during a key battle led to scrutiny and introspection, signified by the "great searchings of heart" Judges 5:16.
The Divided Heart: The link between the external "divisions" among the people and the internal "thoughts of heart" H2711 is significant. It demonstrates the biblical principle that communal disunity is often a reflection of a divided or unresolved heart.

Summary

In summary, H6390 pᵉlaggâh is a concise but potent term. It serves as a reminder of God's abundant blessings, pictured as flowing rivers, and as a warning about the consequences of human divisions. Whether describing a physical runlet or a fractured community, the word ultimately points to the states of blessing or conflict that arise from one's relationship to God and to others.

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 3 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.

פְלַגּוֹת
פְלַגּוֹת

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 3 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Judges (2 verses); never once in the other 37.

Judges

Job

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.