H6390 H6390
Streams, divisions; channels of water or possibly subdivisions of a tribe
This word appears in Job 20:17 with clear reference to streams of oil and honey, representing luxurious abundance the wicked will never enjoy. The same form occurs in Judges 5:15-16 where it may mean either 'streams' or 'divisions' of Reuben—the ambiguity has prompted debate about whether Deborah is criticizing Reubenites for staying by their water channels or for remaining divided into factions. The root carries both senses of flowing water and splitting/dividing, making the dual meaning natural in Hebrew. In Job's context, the 'streams' imagery is unmistakable: rivers flowing with the richest substances.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Refers to streams or channels of liquid in Job 20:17, specifically 'streams of oil and honey'—an image of luxurious abundance that the wicked will never experience despite their temporary prosperity. The term evokes rivers flowing not with mere water but with the richest substances, representing the complete, overflowing blessing that comes from God alone. Zophar uses this imagery to contrast the fleeting pleasures of wickedness with the permanent joys reserved for the righteous. 1×
AR["أَنْهَارًا"]·ben["নদীতে"]·DE["[בפלגות]"]·EN["the-streams"]·FR["dans-בפלגות"]·heb["ב-פלגות"]·HI["धाराओं-को"]·ID["sungai-sungai"]·IT["in-il-streams"]·jav["ing-ilèn-ilèn"]·KO["시내들을"]·PT["em-correntes"]·RU["потоки"]·ES["los-arroyos,"]·SW["vijito-vya"]·TR["kanallarını"]·urd["نہروں-کو"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [פְּלַגָּה] n.f. 1. stream. 2. division;—pl. פְּלַגּוֹת: 1. streams Jb 20:17. 2. divisions, sections of tribe, פ׳ cstr. Ju 5:15, 16 (read perhaps פְּלֻגּוֹת, v. following), > streams.