6407. Palti

Lexical Summary

Palti: Paltite

Original Word: פַלְטִי
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: Paltiy
Pronunciation: PAL-tee
Phonetic Spelling: (pal-tee')
KJV: Paltite
NASB: Paltite
Word Origin: [patronymically from H6406 (פַּלטִּי - Palti)]

1. a Paltite or descendant of Palti

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Paltite

Patronymically from Paltiy; a Paltite or descendant of Palti -- Paltite.

see HEBREW Paltiy

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from palat
Definition
"escape," a descriptive title for one of David's men
NASB Translation
Paltite (1).

Topical Lexicon

Overview

The name rendered “Paltite” in 2 Samuel belongs to a small yet significant circle of Davidic history. Although it surfaces only once, its inclusion in the inspired record links it to the exploits of Israel’s greatest king and to the wider biblical theme of divine deliverance embedded in the root from which the designation is formed.

Biblical Occurrence

2 Samuel 23:26 places the title within the roll call of David’s elite warriors: “Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite” (Berean Standard Bible). The presence of the definite article (“the Paltite”) shows that the term functions as a gentilic—either marking Helez as a descendant of an otherwise unrecorded patriarch named Palti or as a native of a locality associated with that name.

Helez the Paltite and David’s Mighty Men

1. Role among the Thirty. The list in 2 Samuel 23 and its parallel in 1 Chronicles 11 commemorate “the Thirty,” the inner cadre whose courage undergirded David’s rise and consolidated his reign. Inclusion in that roster signals recognized prowess, tested loyalty, and covenantal solidarity with the anointed king.
2. Comparison with Chronicles. 1 Chronicles 11:27 identifies the same warrior as “Helez the Pelonite,” while 1 Chronicles 27:10 records him as commander for the seventh month “of the sons of Ephraim.” The variation suggests (a) interchangeable gentilic spellings, (b) scribal harmonization over time, and (c) the possibility that the clan of Palti relocated within Ephraim’s territory. The apparent difference underscores the complementary nature of Samuel and Chronicles rather than any contradiction; together they furnish a fuller portrait of Helez’s background and service.
3. Strategic placement. The list in 2 Samuel crescendos toward the exploits of the three most honored men, but even the less-detailed entries (such as Helez’s) reinforce the collective might God raised up around David (2 Samuel 23:8–39). Palti’s descendant stands shoulder to shoulder with warriors from Judah, Benjamin, Moab, and beyond, illustrating the unifying reach of the Davidic kingdom.

Relationship to Other Names Derived from the Same Root

Numbers 13:9 records “Palti son of Raphu” among the tribal spies. Though the consonantal form is slightly different, the shared root points to a family line acquainted with deliverance. Such recurrence—spanning the wilderness era to David’s monarchy—signals generational continuity in Israel’s testimony of salvation. It is plausible, though not provable, that Helez’s epithet preserves remembrance of that earlier Palti, thus honoring ancestral faithfulness.

Theological and Devotional Reflections

1. Deliverance embodied. The lexical root carries the nuance of “escape” or “deliverance.” Helez the Paltite personifies that idea, serving the king through whom God delivered Israel from surrounding enemies (2 Samuel 7:1).
2. Covenant loyalty. By standing with David before the throne was secure, the Paltite illustrates steadfast allegiance to God’s chosen instrument, foreshadowing the church’s call to unwavering fidelity to the Messiah.
3. Quiet faithfulness. Scripture expends no narrative space on Helez’s personal acts, yet memorializes his name forever. The record reminds believers that obscurity in human eyes never hinders divine acknowledgment (Hebrews 6:10).

Lessons for Ministry Today

• God often advances His purposes through unnamed locations and little-known lineages; faithful service, not fame, secures eternal remembrance.
• Variations in biblical nomenclature invite deeper study rather than doubt, demonstrating the complementary richness of parallel passages.
• The testimony of one occurrence can encourage modern disciples to embrace their own limited platforms as arenas for courageous loyalty and catalytic deliverance under the greater Son of David, Jesus Christ.

Forms and Transliterations

הַפַּלְטִ֔י הפלטי hap·pal·ṭî happalTi happalṭî

Englishman's Concordance

2 Samuel 23:26
HEB: חֶ֚לֶץ הַפַּלְטִ֔י עִירָ֥א בֶן־
NAS: Helez the Paltite, Ira the son
KJV: Helez the Paltite, Ira the son
INT: Helez the Paltite Ira the son

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 6407
1 Occurrence

hap·pal·ṭî — 1 Occ.