Lexical Summary Putiel: Putiel Original Word: פוּטִיאֵל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Putiel From an unused root (probably meaning to disparage) and 'el; contempt of God; Putiel, an Israelite -- Putiel. see HEBREW 'el NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom Put and el Definition Eleazar's father-in-law NASB Translation Putiel (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מּוּטִיאֵל proper name, masculine Eleazar's father-in-law Exodus 6:25, Φουτιηλ. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence Exodus 6:25 records the sole mention of Putiel: “Eleazar son of Aaron married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas”. Although brief, this notation anchors Putiel within the foundational genealogy of Israel’s priesthood. Genealogical Role Putiel stands at a strategic generational junction. Through his unnamed daughter’s marriage to Eleazar, he became the maternal grandfather of Phinehas. Consequently, every later priest descended from Phinehas—prominently referenced in Numbers, Joshua, Judges, Ezra, and 1 Chronicles—traces lineage to Putiel as well as to Aaron and Levi. Scripture’s inclusion of his name, despite the brevity, secures legal continuity for the priestly line, underscoring that the zeal of Phinehas (Numbers 25:11-13) issued from a fully legitimate union. Connections to the Priesthood 1. Authenticity of the High-Priestly Succession: Listing Putiel corroborates Eleazar’s marriage and legitimizes Phinehas, whose covenant of perpetual priesthood (Numbers 25:13) passes through Putiel’s bloodline. Historical and Cultural Insights Exodus 6 forms part of Moses’ genealogy inserted before the plagues narrative. Israel, still in bondage, needed reassurance that its divinely appointed leaders possessed solid ancestral credentials. Mentioning lesser-known figures such as Putiel mirrors ancient Near-Eastern record-keeping practices and shows the biblical writer’s concern for precision. It also suggests that by Moses’ era, family records remained intact despite slavery’s hardships—a testimony to God’s preserving hand (compare Exodus 1:7). Traditional Identifications Jewish commentators have offered two main possibilities for Putiel’s background: While Scripture does not confirm either view, both traditions recognize that the priestly lineage could incorporate godly outsiders without jeopardizing covenant faithfulness, foreshadowing the later inclusion of Rahab, Ruth, and the Gentile believers of Acts 10. Theological and Ministry Implications 1. God Values Faithful Obscurity: Putiel receives only one mention, yet his place in salvation history is secure. The Lord honors unseen obedience that shapes future generations (Hebrews 6:10). Lessons for Today • Celebrate Hidden Faithfulness: Many believers serve unnoticed, yet their quiet fidelity may nurture the next Phinehas. Thus, though Putiel’s name surfaces only once, his significance echoes throughout the priestly account and challenges contemporary believers to value generational faithfulness, covenant integrity, and the transforming power of seemingly minor acts within God’s grand design. Forms and Transliterations פּֽוּטִיאֵל֙ פוטיאל pū·ṭî·’êl pūṭî’êl putiElLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 6:25 HEB: ל֨וֹ מִבְּנ֤וֹת פּֽוּטִיאֵל֙ ל֣וֹ לְאִשָּׁ֔ה NAS: of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore KJV: him [one] of the daughters of Putiel to wife; INT: took of the daughters of Putiel to wife bore 1 Occurrence |
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