3158. Matthat
Lexical Summary
Matthat: Matthat

Original Word: Μαθθάτ
Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable
Transliteration: Matthat
Pronunciation: mat-thät'
Phonetic Spelling: (mat-that')
KJV: Mathat
NASB: Matthat
Word Origin: [probably a shortened form of G3161 (Ματταθίας - Mattathias)]

1. Matthat (i.e. Mattithjah), the name of two Israelites

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 Origin
variant reading for Maththat, q.v.
NASB Translation
Matthat (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3158: Μαθθάτ

Μαθθάτ, see Ματθάτ.

STRONGS NT 3158: ΜατθάτΜατθάτ (Tdf. Μαθθάθ (see references s. v: Ματθαῖος)), (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)).

Topical Lexicon
Etymology and Meaning

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,”
Luke 3:29: “the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,”

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).
2. Emphasis on the Nathanic Line. Luke follows the branch descending from David through Nathan rather than Solomon. Both Matthats appear on this lesser-known branch, highlighting God’s sovereignty in choosing non-royal yet faithful descendants to carry forward the messianic heritage.
3. Verification of Messianic Credentials. Luke’s careful record corroborates Old Testament prophecy that the Messiah would emerge from David’s house (2 Samuel 7:12-16; Isaiah 11:1). Even obscure ancestors such as Matthat contribute to the legal and biological credentials of Jesus.

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.
• Universality of Salvation. By taking the genealogy all the way to Adam, Luke underscores Christ’s mediatorial role for all humanity. The presence of two Matthats, otherwise lost to history, underscores the inclusivity of God’s saving purposes.
• Encouragement for Everyday Believers. Matthat illustrates how unseen obedience in one generation can bear fruit centuries later. Parents and grandparents who walk with God may never witness the ultimate impact of their faithfulness, yet their place in God’s account is secure.

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.
2. Assurance of Hidden Faithfulness. Congregations can be encouraged that unnoticed acts of obedience today may shape future generations in ways only God foresees.
3. Hope amid Uncertainty. Both Matthats lived in politically tumultuous times. Their inclusion in Christ’s ancestry assures believers that God’s purposes advance even when circumstances appear unstable.

Key References

Luke 3:24; Luke 3:29; 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Isaiah 11:1; Luke 3:38

Forms and Transliterations
Μαθθατ Μαθθάτ Μαθθὰτ Ματθατ Ματθάτ Maththat Maththát Maththàt
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Luke 3:24 N
GRK: 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
GRK: Ἰωρὶμ τοῦ Μαθθάτ τοῦ Λευὶ
KJV: which was [the son] of Jorim, which was [the son] of Matthat, which was [the son] of Levi,
INT: of Jorim of Matthat of Levi

Strong's Greek 3158
2 Occurrences


Μαθθὰτ — 2 Occ.

3157
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