For a good while, the earth was one solid land mass. We know that because God did not break the earth into continents until Peleg’s lifetime. The Bible identifies Peleg as a descendant of Shem.
Unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.
Genesis 10:25
Peleg
Names in the Bible usually mean something. In Peleg’s case, his name means “division” and “earthquake.”
The fact that an earthquake effected the division of the earth, that the word “divided” most likely does not refer to languages.
God confounded languages because of the Tower of Babel, a condition humanity has sought to reverse ever since.
Divide
In Genesis 10:25, “divided” has inseparable ties to the division of land, separating it by bodies of water. Judging from the meaning of Peleg’s name (earthquake), God used an earthquake to create distinct land masses separated by water.
