פֶּ֫לֶךְ (pe.lekh)
pe.lekh
district
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 9 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun pelek primarily denotes a district or administrative region, appearing nine times in the Old Testament with a notable concentration in Nehemiah and Proverbs. In these contexts, it refers to a defined geographical area under specific governance, such as the districts overseen by governors during the post-exilic restoration of Jerusalem.
Lexical sources also identify an older, more literal meaning related to the "whirl" or rotation of a spindle stick. This etymological root suggests a connection between circular motion and the concept of a circuit or boundary. While this archaic sense is not the primary usage in the biblical text, it provides insight into how ancient Hebrew speakers conceptualized defined spaces through the imagery of spinning or circling.
Translators typically render pelek as "district" or "province," reflecting its political and territorial function rather than its physical shape. The word helps readers understand the administrative structure of ancient Israel and Judah, highlighting how land was divided for governance and resource management in both monarchical and Persian-period settings.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word pelek refers to a district or administrative region, highlighting how ancient communities were organized under specific governance. In Nehemiah, this term describes the areas overseen by local leaders who took responsibility for rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls. This shows that faith was lived out in practical, communal ways, with individuals caring for their neighbors and shared spaces.
Understanding this concept helps us see God’s design for order and cooperation. Just as districts were defined for effective leadership and resource management, we too find strength when we work together within our communities. It reminds us that every person has a role to play in supporting one another, reflecting God’s care through structured love and mutual responsibility.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 9 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] district of7×
- on the/ spindle1×
- for/ district/ his1×
- [the] spindle1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- פֶּ֣לֶךְ4×
- פֶּ֥לֶךְ2×
- פָֽלֶךְ\׃1×
- פֶ֥לֶךְ1×
- לְ/פִלְכּֽ/וֹ\׃\ \ס1×
- בַּ/פֶּ֛לֶךְ1×
Key Verses
-
Nehemiah 3:9
Next to them, Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs.
This verse identifies Rephaiah as the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, showing how local leaders were assigned specific areas to oversee during the rebuilding effort.
-
Nehemiah 3:14
Malchijah the son of Rechab, the ruler of the district of Beth Haccherem, repaired the dung gate. He built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
Malchijah repairs the dung gate as the ruler of the district of Beth Haccherem, illustrating how administrative boundaries determined responsibility for city infrastructure.
-
Nehemiah 3:15
Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the spring gate. He built it, covered it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars; and he repaired the wall of the pool of Shelah by the king’s garden, even to the stairs that go down from David’s city.
Shallun leads the district of Mizpah in repairing the spring gate, demonstrating how governance extended to securing vital water sources for the community.