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מַתְּנַי

𐤌𐤕𐤍𐤉

Matenay

H4982 noun

SILEX Entry

Root נתן to give, grant, bestow

Definition

A personal name meaning 'gift of Yah' or 'Yahweh gives,' used for several individuals in postexilic biblical texts. The name reflects the notion of a divinely granted gift, specifically one attributed to YHWH.

Semantic Range

given by (the deity), gift of YHWH, Yahweh has given (as a personal name); not used outside personal names

Root / Etymology

Derived from the Hebrew root נתן (n-t-n), 'to give,' with the theophoric suffix -י ('-ai' or '-y'), indicating possession or relationship, here, referring to the deity (YHWH). Thus, מַתְּנַי structurally means 'gift of YHWH' or 'YHWH has given.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

מַתְּנַי appears as the name of three Judahites returning from exile (see Ezra 10:33; 10:37; Neh 12:19, 12:35). This name type, featuring a root indicating a positive attribute or action and a theophoric suffix, was common in the postexilic period to emphasize gratitude to the deity for a child or other benefit. The meaning is not simply 'liberal,' as implied by Strong's, but corresponds to a standard pattern of names meaning '[deity] has given' or '[deity's] gift.' Translating or interpreting the name as simply 'liberal' or as the English 'Mattenai' often fails to convey the theophoric nuance or the familial hope embedded in the original usage. Related names include מַתָּן (Mattan, 'gift') and מַתִּתְיָהוּ (Mattithyahu, 'gift of YHWH'), the latter being later rendered as 'Matthew.' The name is specific to individuals from the postexilic community and is distinct from earlier Israelite personal names featuring other theophoric elements.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from מַתָּן; liberal; Mattenai, the name of three Israelites; Mattenai.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נתן (n-t-n) — to give, grant, bestow

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3129 יוֹנָתָן in Yahweh-has-given
H4976 מַתָּן Mattan
H4977 מַתָּן Gift
H4978 מַתְּנָא gifts
H4979 מַתָּנָה with their gifts

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4982-01 מַתְּנַ֤י matenay HNp Mattenai Yah has given 3

Occurrences in Scripture

3 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4982-01 Ezra 10:33 מַתְּנַ֤י matenay HNp Mattenai Yah has given
H4982-01 Ezra 10:37 מַתְּנַ֖י matenay HNp Mattenai Yah has given
H4982-01 Nehemiah 12:19 מַתְּנַ֔י matenay HNp Mattenai Yah has given
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