פַּלְטִיאֵל (pal.ti.el)
pal.ti.el
Paltiel
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Paltiel, meaning "God delivers," appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, identifying two distinct men whose lives intersect with pivotal moments in Israel’s history. In Numbers 34:26, he is listed as a prince of the tribe of Issachar and one of the twelve leaders chosen to help divide the Promised Land among the tribes.
The second mention occurs in 2 Samuel 3:15, where he is identified as the son of Laish from Gallim. After King Saul gave his daughter Michal to David, she was later given in marriage to Paltiel while David was in exile. This brief reference places him at the center of a complex political and personal conflict during the transition of power.
Though the text offers no further details about either individual, their names serve as reminders of divine intervention in human affairs. The first Paltiel participates in the fulfillment of God’s promise to give land to His people, while the second finds himself caught in the turbulent aftermath of royal ambition and familial duty.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Paltiel carries a simple but powerful meaning: "God delivers." It appears in Scripture to mark moments where human plans meet divine intervention. In Numbers, a leader named Paltiel helps distribute the land God promised to Israel. This act reminds us that God faithfully fulfills His promises, even when the process involves many people and careful steps.
In 2 Samuel, another Paltiel finds his life upended by political shifts. He was married to Michal, but she was taken from him during a time of turmoil. While we do not know his full story, his name stands as a quiet witness that God sees those caught in the currents of history. His experience shows that deliverance is not always about changing circumstances immediately, but about trusting God's presence within them.
When life feels unstable or when our own plans are disrupted, we can look to these names. They remind us that God is at work even in complex human situations. We may not see the full picture, but we can trust that He delivers His people according to His wisdom and timing.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Paltiel2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- פַּלְטִיאֵ֥ל1×
- פַּלְטִיאֵ֖ל1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 34:26
Of the tribe of the children of Issachar a prince, Paltiel the son of Azzan.
This verse highlights Paltiel's role in the tangible fulfillment of God's promise to give land to Israel, showing divine provision through human leadership.
-
II Samuel 3:15
Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, Paltiel the son of Laish.
Here, Paltiel is caught in a painful political transition, illustrating how personal lives are often affected by larger shifts in God's sovereign plan.