Lexical Summary
Pelatyahu or Pelatyah: Pelatiah
Original Word: פְלַטְיָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Platyah
Pronunciation: pe-lat-yaw'-hoo or pe-lat-yaw'
Phonetic Spelling: (pel-at-yaw')
KJV: Pelatiah
NASB: Pelatiah
Word Origin: [from H6403 (פָּלַט - deliver) and H3050 (יָהּ - LORD)]
1. Jah has delivered
2. Pelatjah, the name of four Israelites
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Pelatiah
Or Platyahuw {pel-at-yaw'-hoo}; from palat and Yahh; Jah has delivered; Pelatjah, the name of four Israelites -- Pelatiah.
see HEBREW palat
see HEBREW Yahh
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
peletahDefinition"Yah has delivered," three Isr.
NASB TranslationPelatiah (5).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
, , (), etc.: —
-, a prince of people Ezekiel 11:1,13.
-, grandson of Zerubbabel 1 Chronicles 3:21, perhaps = Nehemiah 10:23.
-, Simeonite 1 Chronicles 4:42.
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Theological Emphasis The name Pelatiah means “Yahweh has delivered” or “Yahweh is deliverance,” a reminder that salvation and rescue originate in the covenant God. The diverse contexts in which Pelatiah appears—royal genealogy, military expedition, covenant renewal, and prophetic judgment—showcase the breadth of divine deliverance: preservation of a royal line, victory in battle, restoration of worship, and even judgment that purifies a remnant.
Individuals Named Pelatiah
• Pelatiah the Davidic Descendant – 1 Chronicles 3:21 lists Pelatiah among the post-exilic sons of Pedaiah, a branch of King Jeconiah’s line. Though the monarchy was in exile, the chronicler traces the continuing seed of David, underscoring the Lord’s commitment to His promise that “a lamp” would not be extinguished for David’s house. Pelatiah thus represents the quiet preservation of messianic hope during the darkest era of Judah’s history.
• Pelatiah of Simeon – 1 Chronicles 4:42-43 names Pelatiah as one of the chiefs of Simeon who led a force of five hundred men against the remnant of Amalek in the hill country of Seir, securing peaceful pastureland. His leadership illustrates the Lord’s ongoing deliverance from Israel’s ancient enemies and provides an example of courageous obedience that reclaimed territory originally allotted by God.
• Pelatiah the Covenanter – Nehemiah 10:22 includes Pelatiah among the priests who sealed the renewed covenant after the return from Babylon. Signing the document bound him to keep “all the commandments of the Lord,” signaling personal and communal submission to the Law. His presence among the signatories reflects a priestly commitment to spiritual reformation and defense against syncretism.
• Pelatiah son of Benaiah, Prince in Jerusalem – Ezekiel 11:1 portrays Pelatiah as one of twenty-five leaders “who devise wicked counsel and give evil advice in this city.” In the prophetic vision, Ezekiel announces judgment; and “while I was prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah died” (Ezekiel 11:13). His sudden death validates the prophet’s message that unrepentant leaders would not escape the coming fall of Jerusalem. Yet even this act serves the name’s meaning, for God’s judgment delivers the city from corrupt leadership and ultimately prepares the way for restoration (Ezekiel 11:17-20).
Patterns and Lessons in Scripture
1. Divine deliverance is multifaceted—sometimes preserving a family line, sometimes granting military victory, sometimes purifying through judgment.
2. Human leadership carries grave responsibility. When leaders honor the covenant (as in Nehemiah 10), they become agents of blessing; when they promote rebellion (as in Ezekiel 11), they face swift retribution.
3. The continuity of the Davidic promise through obscure descendants like Pelatiah quietly anticipates the ultimate Deliverer, Jesus Christ, who secures final salvation.
Ministry Reflections
• Genealogies matter: they testify that God keeps His word across generations, encouraging believers to trust His faithfulness in their own family histories.
• Spiritual leadership demands covenant loyalty: pastors, elders, and ministry heads must model the humility shown in Nehemiah’s covenant and avoid the self-serving counsel condemned in Ezekiel.
• Judgment as deliverance: when God disciplines His people He is not contradicting His mercy; He is rescuing them from deeper ruin. The name Pelatiah invites believers to see both mercy and judgment as instruments of divine deliverance.
Forms and Transliterations
וּפְלַטְיָ֡ה וּפְלַטְיָ֥הוּ ופלטיה ופלטיהו פְּלַטְיָ֣ה פְּלַטְיָ֥ה פְּלַטְיָ֥הוּ פלטיה פלטיהו pə·laṭ·yā·hū pə·laṭ·yāh pelatYah pəlaṭyāh pelatYahu pəlaṭyāhū ū·p̄ə·laṭ·yā·hū ū·p̄ə·laṭ·yāh ufelatYah ufelatYahu ūp̄əlaṭyāh ūp̄əlaṭyāhū
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
