Lexical Summary Matthat: Matthat Original Word: Μαθθάτ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Mathat. Probably a shortened form of Mattathias; Matthat (i.e. Mattithjah), the name of two Israelites -- Mathat. see GREEK Mattathias NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originvariant reading for Maththat, q.v. NASB Translation Matthat (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3158: ΜαθθάτΜαθθάτ, see Ματθάτ. STRONGS NT 3158: ΜατθάτΜατθάτ (Tdf. Μαθθάθ (see references s. v: Ματθαῖος)), ὁ (מַתָּת, from נָתַן), Matthat; 1. one of Christ's ancestors, the son of Levi: Luke 3:24. 2. one of the ancestors of the man just spoken of: Luke 3:29 (here Tr WH Μαθθάτ (see as above)). Matthat is a Hellenized rendering of a Hebrew name that conveys the idea of a “gift” granted by the LORD. The recurrence of this root in Old Testament names such as Mattathias and Mattithiah underlines a common Israelite practice of expressing gratitude to God through personal names. Although the Gospel of Luke preserves the Greek form, the underlying Hebrew sense reminds readers that every successive generation in the Messiah’s line was ultimately a gracious bestowal from God. Biblical Occurrences The name surfaces only twice in the New Testament, both times in Luke’s genealogy of Jesus Christ (Luke 3:24; Luke 3:29). Each reference denotes a different individual: • Luke 3:24: “the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,” Although sharing the same name, the two men lived generations apart, connected only by their inclusion in the ancestral record of the Savior. Historical Context Luke records seventy-seven names from Jesus back to Adam, covering roughly two millennia of Israelite history. The first Matthat (3:24) apparently lived in the late Persian or early Hellenistic period, after Judah’s return from exile but before the rise of the Hasmoneans. The second Matthat (3:29) belongs to an even earlier slot, likely sometime during the waning centuries of the Davidic monarchy. These eras were marked by foreign domination, cultural flux, and—especially after the exile—theological questions about God’s ongoing commitment to His covenant promises. By preserving these otherwise unknown individuals, Luke attests that God was quietly preserving the messianic line amid geopolitical upheaval. Role within Luke’s Genealogy 1. Continuity of Promise. The two Matthats serve as links that bind successive generations, illustrating Luke’s larger aim of tracing an unbroken chain from Jesus back to “Adam, the son of God” (Luke 3:38). Theological Significance • Divine Faithfulness. Generations remembered solely by a name demonstrate that God’s redemptive plan does not hinge on human fame. He works through ordinary people—sometimes entirely forgotten by history—to fulfill extraordinary promises. Legacy in Church Tradition Early Christian writers rarely comment on Matthat, precisely because Scripture reveals nothing beyond his name. That silence itself became instructive: Church fathers such as Eusebius emphasized that the reliability of the gospel record does not depend on the prominence of every individual listed but on the Spirit-guided preservation of the entire lineage. Practical Implications for Ministry 1. Value of Genealogies. Modern readers may be tempted to skim genealogies, yet Matthat reminds us that every name bears witness to God’s historical dealings. Preaching through passages like Luke 3 can foster awe at divine providence. Key References Luke 3:24; Luke 3:29; 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Isaiah 11:1; Luke 3:38 Englishman's Concordance Luke 3:24 NGRK: τοῦ Μαθθὰτ τοῦ Λευὶ NAS: the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, KJV: Which was [the son] of Matthat, which was [the son] of Levi, INT: of Matthat of Levi Luke 3:29 N |
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