Lexical Summary pelek: District, region, circuit, or spindle Original Word: פֶלֶךְ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance distaff, participle From an unused root meaning to be round; a circuit (i.e. District); also a spindle (as whirled); hence, a crutch -- (di-)staff, participle NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition whorl of a spindle, a district NASB Translation distaff (1), district (8), spindle (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מֶּ֫לֶךְ noun [masculine] 1 whirl of spindle. 2 district (properly circle, circuit); — absolute ׳פ 2 Samuel 3:29, מָּ֑לֶךְ Proverbs 31:19; construct מֶּלֶךְ Nehemiah 3:9 +; suffix מִּלְכּוֺ Nehemiah 3:17; — 1 whirl of spindle, 2 Samuel 3:29 (probably, see Dr), Proverbs 31:19 ("" כִּישׁוֺר). 2 district, Nehemiah 3:9,12,14,15,16,17 (twice in verse); Nehemiah 3:18. Topical Lexicon Semantic Overview פֶלֶךְ (pelekh) is used for physical implements connected with support or manufacture (a spindle, distaff, or staff) and for territorial administration (a district or circuit). The common idea is a defined sphere—whether the turning sphere of a spindle, the supportive reach of a walking-stick, or the civic bounds of local government. Occurrences in Scripture 2 Samuel 3:29; Nehemiah 3:9, 3:12, 3:14, 3:15, 3:16, 3:17 (twice), 3:18; Proverbs 31:19. District Administration in Nehemiah Eight of the ten appearances cluster in Nehemiah 3, the chapter that itemizes those who repaired Jerusalem’s wall after the exile. The word designates a civic subdivision governed by a “ruler of half the district” (for example Nehemiah 3:9, 12). • Decentralized leadership: Each half-district supplied its own labor teams. The rebuilding succeeded because authority was exercised locally yet harmonized under Nehemiah’s overarching vision. Covenant Justice in 2 Samuel In David’s curse upon Joab’s household for murdering Abner the word refers to a “crutch” or supporting staff: “May the house of Joab never be without a man who has a discharge or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or falls by the sword or lacks bread.” (2 Samuel 3:29) Here פֶלֶךְ evokes perpetual weakness. The legal gravity of bloodguilt is expressed through a physical emblem of frailty, reminding readers that divine justice reaches the body as well as the soul. Domestic Wisdom in Proverbs 31 “She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.” (Proverbs 31:19) Used for the tool that twists fiber into thread, פֶלֶךְ illustrates the industrious excellence of the virtuous woman. The same term that marks public administration in Nehemiah pictures private diligence here, uniting household productivity with covenant faithfulness. Theological and Ministry Reflections • Wholeness of vocation: Whether governing a district, producing cloth, or supporting a crippled body, פֶלֶךְ shows that every sphere of human activity falls under divine observation. Scripture affirms the dignity of civic duty, domestic labor, and even the frailty that leans on a staff. Forms and Transliterations בַּפֶּ֛לֶךְ בפלך לְפִלְכּֽוֹ׃ לפלכו׃ פֶ֥לֶךְ פֶּ֣לֶךְ פֶּ֥לֶךְ פָֽלֶךְ׃ פלך פלך׃ bap·pe·leḵ bapPelech bappeleḵ Falech Felech lə·p̄il·kōw lefilKo ləp̄ilkōw p̄ā·leḵ p̄āleḵ pe·leḵ p̄e·leḵ Pelech peleḵ p̄eleḵLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Samuel 3:29 HEB: וּמְצֹרָ֞ע וּמַחֲזִ֥יק בַּפֶּ֛לֶךְ וְנֹפֵ֥ל בַּחֶ֖רֶב NAS: or who takes hold of a distaff, or who falls KJV: or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth INT: leper takes of a distaff falls the sword Nehemiah 3:9 Nehemiah 3:12 Nehemiah 3:14 Nehemiah 3:15 Nehemiah 3:16 Nehemiah 3:17 Nehemiah 3:17 Nehemiah 3:18 Proverbs 31:19 10 Occurrences |