6406. Palti
Lexical Summary
Palti: Palti

Original Word: פַלְטִי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Paltiy
Pronunciation: pahl-TEE
Phonetic Spelling: (pal-tee')
KJV: Palti, Phalti
NASB: Palti
Word Origin: [from H6403 (פָּלַט - deliver)]

1. delivered
2. Palti, the name of two Israelites

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Palti, Phalti

From palat; delivered; Palti, the name of two Israelites -- Palti, Phalti.

see HEBREW palat

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from palat
Definition
"escape," two Isr.
NASB Translation
Palti (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
II. מַּלְטִי proper name, masculine Φαλτει (perhaps abbreviated from מַּלְטִיאֵל; —

1 Benjamite Numbers 13:9.

2 second husband of Michal 1 Samuel 25:44 (= מַּלְטִיאֵל 2 Samuel 3:15).

Topical Lexicon
Meaning of the Name

Palti derives from a Hebrew root that conveys the idea of “deliverance” or “escape.” The name itself therefore points to the gracious act of God in rescuing or making a way of escape, a theme that finds rich resonance throughout the whole of Scripture.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Numbers 13:9 – Palti son of Raphu, one of the twelve men sent by Moses to spy out Canaan.
2. 1 Samuel 25:44 – Palti (later called Paltiel in 2 Samuel 3:15) son of Laish, to whom King Saul gave David’s wife Michal.

Though the name appears only twice under this exact spelling, its bearers are found in two pivotal biblical narratives: the reconnaissance of the promised land and the royal conflicts surrounding David’s rise to the throne.

Palti Son of Raphu: A Spy from Benjamin

“from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti son of Raphu” (Numbers 13:9).

Palti’s selection as Benjamin’s representative among the twelve spies underscored both his leadership standing and the tribe’s close connection to Judah—Benjamin’s territory bordered Judah’s, and the two tribes would later form the southern kingdom. Unfortunately, beyond the bare listing, Scripture does not record Palti’s personal words. The broader narrative reveals that ten spies brought back a faithless, discouraging report (Numbers 13:31–33), leading to Israel’s forty years of wilderness wandering. By implication, Palti appears to have aligned with that majority. If so, his life provides a sober warning about the cost of unbelief: forfeiture of immediate entrance into God’s promise and eventual death in the wilderness with his generation (Numbers 14:29–30).

Palti Son of Laish (also called Paltiel): Husband of Michal

“But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti son of Laish, who was from Gallim.” (1 Samuel 25:44)

After David fled Saul’s court, the king broke covenant by giving Michal to another man. Palti thus entered a complicated marriage that Scripture views as illegitimate because Michal was already David’s lawful spouse (1 Samuel 18:27). Years later, when David demanded Michal’s return as a condition of peace, Ishbosheth complied: “So Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband Paltiel son of Laish.” (2 Samuel 3:15). The next verse paints a poignant scene: Palti followed her “weeping all the way” until ordered home by Abner.

Palti’s grief is striking—he loved Michal sincerely—yet the narrative emphasizes David’s rightful claim and the need to restore what Saul had unlawfully severed. Palti’s sorrow illustrates the painful consequences of sin and political manipulation: innocent people suffer when God-ordained covenants are violated.

Theological and Historical Reflections

1. Covenant Faithfulness. In both accounts the name Palti stands in contrast to actual outcomes. The spy named “deliverance” participated in a report that delayed Israel’s deliverance; the husband named “deliverance” was required to relinquish Michal so that covenant order could be restored. God’s purposes, however, were not thwarted. Israel still inherited the land, and David’s kingship—through which ultimate Deliverance would come—was safeguarded.
2. Human Responsibility. Scripture records choices, not merely names. Palti the spy chose fear over faith; Palti the husband accepted a royal arrangement that contravened Torah. Their accounts underscore that bearing a godly name or being placed in a privileged position does not exempt anyone from the call to personal obedience.
3. Foreshadowing Christ. The failures in these episodes heighten longing for a perfect Deliverer. Jesus, the true Son of David, embodies the meaning of Palti in flawless fashion: He trusted the Father where the spies faltered and kept covenant integrity where Saul’s household failed.

Ministry Implications and Lessons

• Guard the report you bring. Leaders profoundly shape the faith or fear of those who follow them (Numbers 13–14; Hebrews 3:12–19).
• Uphold covenant commitments. Whether in marriage or church ministry, violating God-ordained covenants breeds sorrow (Malachi 2:14; Matthew 19:6).
• Let grief drive you to God. Palti’s tears remind believers that God sees and cares, even when tangled circumstances cannot be immediately resolved (Psalm 56:8).
• Trust the ultimate Deliverer. Names may testify, but only Christ effectually delivers. Our confidence rests in Him who fulfills every promise of God (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Forms and Transliterations
לְפַלְטִ֥י לפלטי פַּלְטִ֖י פלטי lə·p̄al·ṭî lefalTi ləp̄alṭî pal·ṭî palTi palṭî
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Numbers 13:9
HEB: לְמַטֵּ֣ה בִנְיָמִ֔ן פַּלְטִ֖י בֶּן־ רָפֽוּא׃
NAS: of Benjamin, Palti the son
KJV: of Benjamin, Palti the son
INT: the tribe of Benjamin Palti the son of Raphu

1 Samuel 25:44
HEB: אֵ֣שֶׁת דָּוִ֑ד לְפַלְטִ֥י בֶן־ לַ֖יִשׁ
NAS: wife, to Palti the son
KJV: wife, to Phalti the son
INT: wife David's to Palti the son of Laish

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6406
2 Occurrences


lə·p̄al·ṭî — 1 Occ.
pal·ṭî — 1 Occ.

6405
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