6392. peluggah
Lexical Summary
peluggah: divisions

Original Word: פְלֻגָּה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: pluggah
Pronunciation: peh-loo-gah
Phonetic Spelling: (pel-oog-gaw')
NASB: divisions
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) corresponding to H6391 (פְּלוּגָּה - sections)]

1. division

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
division

(Aramaic) corresponding to pluggah -- division.

see HEBREW pluggah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
(Aramaic) from pelag
Definition
a division
NASB Translation
divisions (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
מְּלֻגָּה noun feminine division; — suffix מְּלֻגָָּֽתְהוֺן Ezra 6:18.

Topical Lexicon
Biblical Occurrence

Ezra 6:18 records the sole appearance of פְלֻגָּה, rendered “divisions” in the Berean Standard Bible: “They installed the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their groups for the service of God at Jerusalem, according to what is written in the Book of Moses.”

Context in Ezra

The verse stands at the climax of the temple-rebuilding narrative. After years of opposition, Israel’s leaders completed the Second Temple (Ezra 6:14-15) and celebrated Passover (Ezra 6:19-22). Restoring priestly “divisions” signaled a decisive return to covenant order. The phrase looks back to prescriptions in the Pentateuch for priestly service (Numbers 3; Numbers 8) and to the detailed reorganization under King David (1 Chronicles 24). Thus, Ezra 6:18 anchors the post-exilic community to both Mosaic authority and Davidic precedent.

Historical Background

1. Mosaic Foundations: Moses distinguished Aaronic priests from Levites, assigning each clan specific tabernacle duties (Numbers 18).
2. Davidic Codification: David, with Zadok and Ahimelech, arranged twenty-four priestly courses to ensure continuous worship (1 Chronicles 24:1-19).
3. Exilic Disruption: Babylonian captivity dismantled this structure; many priests were killed or displaced (2 Kings 25:18-21).
4. Post-exilic Restoration: Under Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Haggai, and Zechariah, returning priests reclaimed their ancestral roles (Ezra 2:36-39). The re-establishment of divisions in Ezra 6:18 consummates that effort.

Priestly Organization

Placing priests “in their divisions” accomplished four goals:
• Continuity—linking the rebuilt temple to earlier worship patterns.
• Accountability—each division was responsible for a defined service period, preventing negligence (2 Chronicles 31:2).
• Unity—every family shared in ministry, forestalling rivalry (1 Chronicles 24:4-5).
• Holiness—orderly rotation emphasized that worship is according to divine prescription, not human improvisation (Leviticus 10:1-3).

Theological Themes

1. Covenant Fidelity: Faithful worship is inseparable from obedience to revealed structure (Deuteronomy 12:5-14).
2. Corporate Identity: Israel’s worship involved every tribe in harmonious service (Psalm 133:1).
3. Sacred Rhythm: Weekly, monthly, and festival cycles required disciplined priestly presence (Numbers 28-29).
4. Holiness of Service: Division implies consecration; priests were set apart both by lineage and by schedule (Malachi 2:4-7).

Practical Ministry Insights

• Ordered Ministry: Congregational life benefits from clearly defined roles that flow from Scripture rather than cultural trend (1 Corinthians 14:40).
• Shared Responsibility: Rotational service prevents burnout and promotes broad participation (Acts 6:1-6).
• Rebuilding after Ruin: Ezra’s model encourages modern churches emerging from crisis to restore biblical governance before expecting spiritual vitality (Revelation 2:5).

Intercanonical Connections

The priestly course of Abijah, mentioned in Luke 1:5, descends from David’s divisions, illustrating continuity from Old to New Testament worship. Jesus Christ, though from Judah, affirmed temple practices (Matthew 21:12-14) and ultimately fulfilled them as the great High Priest (Hebrews 7:26-28). Thus, פְלֻגָּה foreshadows the orderly priesthood of believers (1 Peter 2:9).

Contemporary Application

Churches today face the temptation of personality-driven or ad-hoc ministry. Ezra 6:18 reminds believers that God’s work prospers when conducted in reverent, Scripture-grounded order. Whether organizing worship teams, elder boards, or missionary rotations, the principle of “divisions” safeguards fidelity, fosters unity, and magnifies the Lord who “is not a God of disorder but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33).

Forms and Transliterations
בִּפְלֻגָּתְה֗וֹן בפלגתהון bifluggateHon bip̄·lug·gā·ṯə·hō·wn bip̄luggāṯəhōwn
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Ezra 6:18
HEB: וַהֲקִ֨ימוּ כָהֲנַיָּ֜א בִּפְלֻגָּתְה֗וֹן וְלֵוָיֵא֙ בְּמַחְלְקָ֣תְה֔וֹן
NAS: the priests to their divisions and the Levites
KJV: the priests in their divisions, and the Levites
INT: appointed the priests to their divisions and the Levites their orders

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 6392
1 Occurrence


bip̄·lug·gā·ṯə·hō·wn — 1 Occ.

6391
Top of Page
Top of Page