🔼The name Matthat: Summary
- Meaning
- Gift
- Etymology
- From the noun מתת (mattat), gift, from the verb נתן (natan), to give.
🔼The name Matthat in the Bible
There are two men named Matthat in the Bible, both in the Lucan genealogy of Jesus the Nazarene. Luke traces the genealogy of Jesus through Nathan, son of David, and deems one of the two men named Matthat the great-grandfather of Jesus (Luke 3:24). The other Matthat lived 28 generations earlier (Luke 3:29).
The Greek name Matthat is a transliteration of the Hebrew name Mattat. This name does not occur in the Hebrew Bible.
🔼Etymology of the name Matthat
The name Matthat is derived from the verb נתן (natan) meaning to give, or more precisely, the noun מתת (mattat), meaning gift or reward:
נתן
The shape-shifting verb נתן (natan) means to give in a broad bouquet of senses, from regular giving or bestowing, to setting or putting, to transforming one thing or situation into another.
This verb's three nouns מתן (mattan), מתנה (mattana) and מתת (mattat) all mean gift, again broadly ranging from a regular present to an offering to an innate talent (being "gifted").
🔼Matthat meaning
The name Matthat means Gift.