Lexical Summary Pelalyah: Pelaliah Original Word: פְלַלְיָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Pelaliah From palal and Yahh; Jah has judged; Pelaljah, an Israelite -- Pelaliah. see HEBREW palal see HEBREW Yahh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom palal Definition "Yah has interposed," an Isr. priest NASB Translation Pelaliah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מְּלַלְיָה proper name, masculine (׳י hath interposed); — priest Nehemiah 11:12, Φαλ(λ)αλια(ς). Topical Lexicon Name Meaning and Theological Implications Pelaliah carries the sense of “Yahweh has judged” or “Yahweh intervenes.” The name itself proclaims divine sovereignty: the God of Israel is actively involved in vindicating His people and establishing righteousness. In the post-exilic community, such a confession would reassure returning Jews that the same God who judged them through exile now also judges in their favor by restoring them to the land. Biblical Occurrence Pelaliah appears once in Scripture, in Nehemiah 11:12, where he is listed within a priestly genealogy: “and their brothers who performed the work of the temple—eight hundred twenty-two; and Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah” (Nehemiah 11:12). Though only mentioned by name, Pelaliah stands in a chain of faithful priests that stretches from pre-exilic days into the early Persian period. Historical Context Nehemiah 11 records the repopulation of Jerusalem after the return from Babylonian captivity (circa 445 BC). Maintaining a healthy priestly presence in the rebuilt city was essential for temple service and national identity. The genealogy in which Pelaliah appears highlights families that willingly relocated to Jerusalem, sacrificing personal comfort to ensure regular worship and covenant instruction (compare Nehemiah 11:1-2). Priestly Lineage and Service 1. Line of Pashhur: Pelaliah’s descendant Adaiah is traced to “Pashhur.” The Pashhur family descended from the house of Aaron through Eleazar and Phinehas, entrusted with sacred duties (1 Chronicles 9:12). Contribution to the Restoration Era The post-exilic reforms under Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah required verified priestly pedigrees (Ezra 2:62). Pelaliah’s recorded lineage demonstrates the meticulous record-keeping necessary for legitimizing temple workers. His family’s presence in Jerusalem validated daily burnt offerings, festivals, and the reading of the Law before the people (Nehemiah 8:1-8). Connections with Broader Biblical Themes • Covenant Faithfulness: Genealogies like Pelaliah’s affirm God’s ability to preserve a remnant (Isaiah 10:20-22) and maintain the priesthood promised in Exodus 28:43. Lessons for Contemporary Believers 1. Unsung Faithfulness Matters: Even single-verse individuals contribute to God’s redemptive plan. Pelaliah, though briefly mentioned, stands as a witness to generational fidelity, the integrity of God’s judgment and mercy, and the vital role that ordinary servants play in the unfolding account of redemption. Forms and Transliterations פְּלַלְיָה֙ פלליה pə·lal·yāh pelalYah pəlalyāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Nehemiah 11:12 HEB: יְרֹחָ֤ם בֶּן־ פְּלַלְיָה֙ בֶּן־ אַמְצִ֣י NAS: the son of Pelaliah, the son KJV: the son of Pelaliah, the son INT: of Jeroham the son of Pelaliah the son of Amzi 1 Occurrence |
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