פַּלְטִי

פַּלְטִי

Palti, the name of two Israelites

Definition

Palti is a proper name given to two distinct individuals in the Old Testament, both Israelites. The name means 'delivered' or 'my deliverance,' derived from the Hebrew root פָּלַט (pālaṭ). The first Palti appears as a representative from the tribe of Benjamin among the twelve spies sent into Canaan (Numbers 13:9). The second Palti, also called Phalti, was the son of Laish from Gallim, to whom King Saul gave David's wife Michal after David fled (1 Samuel 25:44). Both men bear a name signifying deliverance, though their biblical roles are quite different.

Biblical Usage

The name Palti is used only twice in the Old Testament, each for a different person. It appears first in the historical narrative of the wilderness wanderings in Numbers 13:9, identifying Palti the spy from Benjamin. Its second use is in the historical books of Samuel, in 1 Samuel 25:44, identifying Palti (Phalti) as the man who temporarily became the husband of Michal. There is no pattern of usage beyond these two distinct personal identifications.

Etymology

Palti is a derivative of the Hebrew verb פָּלַט (pālaṭ, H6403), which means 'to escape, deliver, slip out.' The name is likely a shortened form, meaning 'my deliverance' or 'delivered of the Lord.' It belongs to a common category of Hebrew names that are theophoric or express a characteristic, in this case, the concept of being rescued or saved.

Semantic Range

While the name itself is theologically rich, meaning 'delivered,' the biblical characters bearing it are not central to major doctrines. However, the name serves as a reminder of a key theme in Israel's identity: God as deliverer. The first Palti, as a spy, was part of a generation that failed to trust God's deliverance into the Promised Land. The second Palti's marital situation highlights the political turmoil and personal consequences during Saul's conflict with David, indirectly pointing to the need for God's deliverance in messy human affairs. In ancient Israelite culture, names were often meaningful and descriptive. Giving a child a name like Palti ('my deliverance') could express parental gratitude for a safe birth, hope for God's protection, or commemorate a time of rescue. The alternate spelling 'Phalti' in 1 Samuel 25:44 (KJV) reflects a common variation in the transmission of personal names. Yeshua (yēšûaʿ, H3442) — A name meaning 'he saves' or 'salvation,' sharing the core concept of deliverance but with a more active sense of saving. Palet (pālêṭ, H6405) — A participle meaning 'escaped one' or 'fugitive,' directly from the same root, describing a state of having been delivered.

Word Details