Girl Old Testament Known
Michal
who is perfect?
מִיכַל mi.khal
Michal (Hebrew: מִיכַל, mi.khal) means “who is perfect?”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 16 verses across 3 books of the Bible. In 2025 it was given to 48 children in the United States. Around 7,813 Americans have been given it since 1880. Appears with Abinadab in 1 Samuel 14.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Michal
daughter of King Saul
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 16 across 3 books
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- United Monarchy
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 48 | Steady |
| All-time total | 7,813 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 158 in 1985 | Its highest year on record |
| Strongest state | NY | Highest share relative to births |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | 1 Samuel 14:49 |
| Last appears | 1 Chronicles 15:29 |
| Cross-references | 222 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Laish co-occurrence Appears with Laish in 1 Samuel 25.
- Palti co-occurrence Appears with Palti in 1 Samuel 25.
- Merab co-occurrence Appears with Merab in 1 Samuel 14.
- Saul co-occurrence Appears with Saul in 2 Samuel 6.
- Ishvi co-occurrence Appears with Ishvi in 1 Samuel 14.
- Abinadab co-occurrence Appears with Abinadab in 1 Samuel 14.
- Malchi-shua co-occurrence Appears with Malchi-shua in 1 Samuel 14.
- Ish-bosheth co-occurrence Appears with Ish-bosheth in 2 Samuel 3.
Origin & meaning
A woman of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.14.49;
daughter of: Saul (H7586G) and Ahinoam (H0293); married to David (H1732) and Palti (H6406H);
sister of: Jonathan (H3083H), Abinadab (H0041H), Malchi-shua (H4444) and Merab (H4764);
half-brother of: Ish-bosheth (H0378), Armoni (H0764) and Mephibosheth (H4648H)
§ Michal = "who is like God"
daughter of king Saul, sister of Jonathan, wife of king David, and mother of five; given to David as wife for the bride price of 100 Philistine foreskins; while still married to David, her father gave her in marriage to another, Phaltiel; at the death of Saul, David forced her to return
Michal, the younger daughter of King Saul, became David's wife and helped him escape from Saul's attempts to kill him.
The biblical story
Michal was the younger daughter of King Saul and became the first wife of David, Israel's future king. She first appears in the genealogy of Saul (1Sa.14.49) and is later mentioned as loving David (1Sa.18.20). Saul, seeking to ensnare David, offered Michal's hand in marriage, demanding a bride price of 100 Philistine foreskins. David fulfilled this requirement, and Michal became his wife (1Sa.18.27-28). When Saul attempted to kill David, Michal helped him escape through a window and deceived Saul's messengers by placing an idol in David's bed (1Sa.19.11-17). During David's exile, Saul gave Michal in marriage to Palti (1Sa.25.44). After Saul's death, David demanded that Michal be returned to him as a condition for peace with Abner (2Sa.3.13-14). Later, when David danced before the ark of the Lord, Michal despised him in her heart (2Sa.6.16; 1Ch.15.29). She confronted David, criticizing his behavior, but David rebuked her (2Sa.6.20-21). As a result, Michal remained childless until her death (2Sa.6.23). Michal's story illustrates the complex relationships and conflicts within Saul's family and the early years of David's rise to power.
Key verses
Michal appears in 16 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchi–shua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:
1 Samuel 14:49 -
And Michal Saul’s daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
1 Samuel 18:20 -
Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king’s son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.
1 Samuel 18:27 -
And Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal Saul’s daughter loved him.
1 Samuel 18:28 -
Saul also sent messengers unto David’s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David’s wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.
1 Samuel 19:11
Show all 16 references
1 Samuel (9)
- 1 Samuel 14:49
- 1 Samuel 18:20
- 1 Samuel 18:27
- 1 Samuel 18:28
- 1 Samuel 19:11
- 1 Samuel 19:12
- 1 Samuel 19:13
- 1 Samuel 19:17
- 1 Samuel 25:44
2 Samuel (6)
- 2 Samuel 3:13
- 2 Samuel 3:14
- 2 Samuel 6:16
- 2 Samuel 6:20
- 2 Samuel 6:21
- 2 Samuel 6:23
1 Chronicles (1)
- 1 Chronicles 15:29