מָלַט

properly, to be smooth, i.e. (by implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness); causatively

Definition

The Hebrew verb מָלַט (mâlaṭ) fundamentally means 'to escape' or 'to slip away,' carrying the vivid imagery of something smooth or slippery eluding grasp. This core idea extends to the active sense of 'to deliver' or 'to rescue' someone from danger, as seen when Lot is told to flee to the mountains to 'escape' (Genesis 19:17). In a causative sense, it means 'to release' or 'to let go,' such as when Saul tries to 'let David go' from his spear (1 Samuel 19:10). In rare, specialized contexts, it can refer to the physical act of bringing forth or emitting, like sparks flying (Job 5:7) or giving birth (Job 39:3).

Biblical Usage

מָלַט is used 85 times, primarily in narrative and poetic books. Its most common usage is in contexts of physical deliverance from imminent danger, often in warfare or judgment. For example, Ehud 'escaped' after assassinating King Eglon (Judges 3:26), and the Israelites were 'delivered' from Moab (Judges 3:29). It frequently appears in divine rescue narratives, where God is the implied agent of deliverance, even when the verb is used in a simple active voice. The causative sense ('to let go') is less frequent but significant in stories of personal conflict.

Etymology

מָלַט is a primitive root. Its core meaning relates to being smooth or slippery, which metaphorically developed into the concept of escape—slipping away from danger or capture. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic and Arabic, support this sense of deliverance or escape. The semantic range expanded from the intransitive 'to escape' to the transitive 'to deliver' and the more physical 'to emit.'

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it often describes God's active intervention to save His people from peril. While the word itself does not always name God as the subject, its use in narratives of rescue (e.g., Judges 3:29) points to divine providence and deliverance. Understanding מָלַט enriches reading by highlighting the tangible, often urgent, nature of biblical salvation—it is not just spiritual but frequently physical rescue from concrete threats, forming a foundational layer for the concept of redemption.

In its ancient Near Eastern context, escape often meant survival from warfare, natural disaster, or royal persecution. The imagery of 'slipperiness' would resonate in a culture familiar with hunting, capture in battle, and the precariousness of life. The concept of being 'let go' could reflect legal or social release from obligation or threat, differing from modern, more abstract notions of freedom.

nāṣal (H5337) — emphasizes snatching or tearing away from a powerful force. yāšaʿ (H3467) — a broader term for salvation/deliverance, often with a more permanent or victorious connotation. pālaṭ (H6403) — to bring to safety or cause to escape, closely related and sometimes interchangeable.

Word Details

Scripture References