פָּלַט
to slip out, i.e. escape; causatively, to deliver
Definition
The verb פָּלַט (pālaṭ) primarily means 'to escape' or 'to slip away,' describing a narrow or sudden deliverance from danger. In its causative form (Hiphil), it means 'to deliver' or 'to bring to safety,' often depicting God's active intervention to rescue His people. For example, in Psalm 18:2, David calls God his 'deliverer' (מְפַלְטִי), while in Job 21:10, the word describes livestock giving birth ('calve') safely, a metaphorical escape from danger. Thus, the core idea is a successful exit from a threatening or confining situation.
Biblical Usage
This verb appears 23 times, predominantly in poetic and wisdom literature (Psalms, Job, 2 Samuel 22). It is frequently used in contexts of divine rescue, especially in the Psalms and David's song of deliverance (2 Samuel 22:2, 44). In the Hiphil (causative) stem, it almost exclusively describes God as the agent who delivers the psalmist or king from enemies (Psalm 17:13, 18:48). The rarer Qal stem appears in contexts of physical escape, like cattle calving (Job 21:10) or a prisoner's plea for justice (Job 23:7).
Etymology
פָּלַט is a primitive root. It is related to the Akkadian word 'palāṭu,' meaning 'to fear' or 'to be in awe,' suggesting a possible original nuance of a sudden, fearful escape. In Hebrew, the meaning settled firmly on the physical act of slipping away or being brought out safely, with no direct connection to the emotion of fear remaining in biblical usage.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it vividly portrays God's role as a personal deliverer. It emphasizes the active, often dramatic nature of divine salvation from tangible threats like enemies, death, and injustice. Understanding פָּלַט enriches reading by highlighting that biblical deliverance is not abstract but a concrete rescue, a theme central to the prayers of the Psalms and foundational to the concept of a Messiah who 'saves his people from their sins' (Matthew 1:21).
In an ancient Near Eastern context where warfare, captivity, and sudden animal loss were constant threats, the concept of a narrow 'escape' or a powerful figure who could 'deliver' was deeply practical and urgent. The use of the same word for military rescue and safe animal birth reflects an agrarian society where both types of 'deliverance' were vital for survival and prosperity.
נָצַל (nāṣal, H5337) — to snatch away, often from a stronger power; יָשַׁע (yāšaʿ, H3467) — to save or give victory, broader in scope; מָלַט (mālaṭ, H4422) — to slip away, escape, a very close synonym sometimes used interchangeably.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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