Ματταθά
Mattathá
G3160 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper name referring to an individual named Mattatha. The core meaning, derived from its Hebrew counterpart, is 'Gift of YHWH.' In Greek texts, Ματταθά serves specifically as a personal name, without additional lexical meanings beyond personal identification.
Semantic Range
personal name Mattatha; transliteration of Hebrew Mattathah; used exclusively as a proper noun in genealogical contexts
Root / Etymology
Greek Ματταθά is a transliteration of the Hebrew מַתַּתָּה (Mattathah or Mattathya), itself a shortened form akin to מַתִּתְיָהוּ (Mattityahu), meaning 'gift of YHWH.' The etymon comprises the Hebrew root נ-ת-ן (to give) and forms expressive of 'gift.' The Greek form reflects adaptation to Hellenistic phonology.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the New Testament, Ματταθά appears only in Luke 3:31 as part of Yeshua's (Jesus') ancestry, reflecting the Second Temple Jewish practice of retaining ancestral Hebrew names within Greek genealogical conventions. In the Septuagint and other Jewish-Greek literature, such transliterated names identify earlier Israelite figures and signal their Judean lineage or scriptural significance. English translations often directly transliterate the name (e.g., 'Mattatha') or approximate its Hebrew source. The underlying meaning, 'gift of YHWH,' is not reflected in common English renderings. The Greek spelling preserves distinctive Semitic features, underscoring the foreign (Hebrew) origin. No broader usage or figurative sense is attested for Ματταθά beyond personal identification. Related names include Ματταθίας (G3161, G3162), which similarly transmit the idea of divine gift in the context of personal names. The name is not attested in pre-Hellenistic Greek literature.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably a shortened form of Ματταθίας (compare מַתַּתָּה); Mattatha (i.e. Mattithjah), an Israelite:--Mattatha.
Root Family
Ματταθά (Mattatha) — proper name, gift, give
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3160-01 |
Ματταθὰ | mattatha | N GEN M SG |
Mattatha | of Mattatha | Mattatha | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3160-01 |
Luke 3:31 | Ματταθὰ | mattatha | N GEN M SG |
Mattatha | of Mattatha | Mattatha |