### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **pᵉlêyṭâh**, represented by `{{H6413}}`, denotes **deliverance** or an **escaped portion**. As the feminine of פָּלִיט, it refers concretely to a remnant that has escaped. The term appears 28 times in 28 unique verses, often highlighting a group or individual who has survived a catastrophe or judgment.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H6413}}` is used to describe both the act of escaping and the resulting group of survivors. It is a central element in the story of Joseph, who explains that God sent him to Egypt "to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great **deliverance**" [[Genesis 45:7]]. The term is also prominent in prophecies concerning Israel and Judah, where the "remnant that is **escaped** of the house of Judah" is promised restoration and future fruitfulness ([[Isaiah 37:31]], [[2 Kings 19:30]]). In contexts of divine judgment, the word's absence signifies complete destruction, as when the command against Babylon is to "let none thereof **escape**" [[Jeremiah 50:29]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help define the scope of escape and survival:
* `{{H4422}}` **mâlaṭ** (to escape, deliver, save): This verb describes the action of getting away. It is used in parallel with `{{H6413}}` to show that those who call on the LORD will be **delivered** {H4422}, for in Mount Zion there will be **deliverance** {H6413} [[Joel 2:32]].
* `{{H7611}}` **shᵉʼêrîyth** (remnant, posterity): This noun refers to the final, surviving portion of a people. It is often used to identify the group that has escaped, such as the **remnant** {H7611} that goes forth from Jerusalem and "they that **escape** {H6413}" from Mount Zion [[2 Kings 19:31]].
* `{{H8300}}` **sârîyd** (survivor, remnant): This term, meaning a survivor, is used to describe those who remain. The promise of deliverance in Joel specifies that it will be for the **remnant** {H8300} whom the Lord calls [[Joel 2:32]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H6413}}` is significant, highlighting God's sovereignty over judgment and salvation.
* **Divine Preservation:** The concept of an "escaped portion" is fundamentally an act of God's grace. In Ezra's prayer, he acknowledges that God has granted them "such **deliverance** as this" by leaving a remnant to escape judgment ([[Ezra 9:13]], [[Ezra 9:8]]). The survival of this remnant is attributed to the "zeal of the LORD of hosts" [[Isaiah 37:32]].
* **Focus on Zion:** Deliverance is frequently tied to a specific, holy location. Prophets declare that "upon mount Zion shall be **deliverance**" [[Obadiah 1:17]] and that out of Jerusalem and Mount Zion will come those who **escape** ([[2 Kings 19:31]], [[Joel 2:32]]). This connects physical survival to a spiritual center.
* **The Escaped as a New Beginning:** The survivors are not merely spared; they are the foundation for the future. "The remnant that is **escaped** of the house of Judah" is prophesied to once again take root and bear fruit [[2 Kings 19:30]]. The "escaped of Israel" are described as the beautiful and glorious branch of the LORD [[Isaiah 4:2]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6413}}` is more than a term for simple survival. It encapsulates the theological concept of a divinely preserved remnant, saved from judgment to carry on God's purposes. Whether describing a "great deliverance" in Genesis or the promise of an escaped portion from Zion, the word illustrates God's power to spare, save, and restore His people even in the face of overwhelming destruction.
TRV