Lexical Summary miphlat: Refuge, Escape Original Word: מִפְלָט Strong's Exhaustive Concordance escape From palat; an escape -- escape. see HEBREW palat NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom palat Definition an escape or (place of) escape NASB Translation place of refuge (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מִפְלָט noun [masculine] escape (Hup Bae) or place of escape (We Du); — Psalm 55:9 si vera 1.; ᵐ5 Che מְפַלֵּט deliverer. מְּלִי, מְּלָיָה see פלא. פלך (√ of following; compare Arabic Topical Lexicon Definition and Core Idea A concrete or figurative “escape, refuge, shelter” that delivers a person from danger and places him in safety. Biblical Occurrence Psalm 55:8 is the sole appearance. In a psalm of David composed under crushing betrayal, the king cries, “I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the raging wind and tempest”. The term pictures a secure location David believes he could reach if only he possessed wings like a dove (Psalm 55:6-7). Historical and Cultural Background In the Ancient Near East, “escape” often meant flight to a walled city, a high crag, or a fortified wilderness stronghold. David himself had hidden in caves such as Adullam and Engedi (1 Samuel 22–24), experiences that shaped his vocabulary of refuge. While מִפְלָט is distinct from מִקְלָט (miqlat, “city of refuge”), the concept overlaps: both envisage a protected zone where the pursued are safe from avengers. The imagery would resonate with Israelites who lived amid political intrigue, regional warfare, and blood-revenge customs. Theological Significance 1. God as Ultimate Refuge David’s longing for an earthly shelter is inseparable from his confidence that God is that shelter. Other psalms reinforce the truth: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1). The single usage of מִפְלָט thus contributes to the broader biblical portrait of the Lord as the only reliable place of safety. 2. Deliverance in Covenant History From the exodus (“stand still and see the salvation of the LORD,” Exodus 14:13) to the return from exile, Yahweh repeatedly provides a “way of escape.” מִפְלָט in Psalm 55 anchors David’s personal plea within that covenant storyline. 3. Christological Fulfillment Jesus Christ embodies the refuge anticipated in the psalm. He invites, “Come to Me, all you who are weary” (Matthew 11:28), and His atoning death rescues believers from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:10). Hebrews 6:18—“we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us”—echoes the flight imagery and declares its fulfillment in the Gospel. Intercanonical Parallels • Psalm 91:2 “He is my refuge and my fortress.” Together these texts trace a canonical thread: God not only provides a haven but also the means to reach it. Ministry and Pastoral Application • Counseling: Psalm 55 speaks to those wounded by betrayal. Direct sufferers to the reality that refuge is relational before it is locational; it is found in the Lord Himself. Worship and Devotional Use Psalm 55 can shape corporate lament and personal devotion. Singing or reciting the psalm trains the heart to run to God first when turmoil rises. Incorporating the language of “escape” into prayers reinforces dependence on divine protection. Eschatological Dimension The final deliverance for which David yearned finds consummation in the New Jerusalem, where nothing unclean or threatening shall enter (Revelation 21:27). The “escape” theme therefore stretches from temporal rescue to eternal security. Key Takeaways • מִפְלָט emphasizes the reality and accessibility of divine shelter. Forms and Transliterations מִפְלָ֣ט מפלט mifLat mip̄·lāṭ mip̄lāṭLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 55:8 HEB: אָחִ֣ישָׁה מִפְלָ֣ט לִ֑י מֵר֖וּחַ NAS: I would hasten to my place of refuge From the stormy KJV: I would hasten my escape from the windy INT: hasten to my place wind the stormy 1 Occurrence |