Dictionary Home / P

Paltiel

biblical_person theological_term standard

Paltiel is a biblical person in the Old Testament, best known as the man to whom Saul gave Michal after separating her from David.

At a Glance

An Old Testament man who was given Michal in marriage after Saul took her from David.

Key Points

Description

Paltiel is a minor Old Testament figure whose name belongs in a Bible person entry rather than a theological term entry. He is mentioned in the narrative concerning Michal, Saul’s daughter and David’s wife. After Saul had given Michal away, she was associated with Paltiel; later, when David had Michal brought back, Paltiel followed her weeping until he was told to return. The account belongs to the larger history of Saul’s house, David’s rise, and the tensions surrounding royal succession. Scripture does not develop Paltiel as a doctrinal theme; his significance is narrative and historical.

Biblical Context

Paltiel appears in the Old Testament storyline surrounding Saul, David, and Michal. The account shows the personal and political disorder in Saul’s household and the suffering that came from the breakup and reordering of royal relationships.

Historical Context

In the monarchic setting of ancient Israel, marriages could be tied to household authority and political signaling. Paltiel’s brief appearance sits within the larger transition from Saul’s dynasty to David’s kingship.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Ancient Near Eastern marriage and household arrangements often reflected family authority and social standing. The biblical narrative presents Paltiel only within this specific historical crisis and does not expand his role beyond it.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

The Hebrew name is commonly understood to mean something like “God has delivered” or “God is my deliverance.” A related shortened form, Palti, appears in the narrative.

Theological Significance

Paltiel himself is not a theological doctrine, but his brief account contributes to the Bible’s portrayal of the cost and disorder that followed Saul’s house and the establishment of David’s kingdom.

Philosophical Explanation

This entry is fundamentally historical and narrative rather than conceptual. It identifies a real person in the biblical record and locates him within the moral and political tensions of the story.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not treat Paltiel as a doctrinal category. Also note the spelling variation Palti in the biblical text, and avoid overreading the passage beyond its narrative purpose.

Major Views

There is no major doctrinal debate about Paltiel; the main editorial issue is correct classification as a biblical person rather than a theological term.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Paltiel should be read as a historical/narrative figure in Scripture. His story does not establish doctrine and should not be used to infer moral approval of Saul’s actions or of the marital arrangement itself.

Practical Significance

The passage reminds readers that sin and political manipulation can wound real people, and that biblical history often records such suffering without endorsing it.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Paltiel

↑ Top