Matthat
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Topical Encyclopedia
Matthat is a biblical figure mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Gospel of Luke. He is noted as an ancestor of Jesus, appearing in the lineage that traces Jesus' descent through His mother, Mary. This genealogy is distinct from the one presented in the Gospel of Matthew, which traces Jesus' legal lineage through Joseph, His earthly father.

Genealogical Context

In the Gospel of Luke, Matthat is listed as the son of Levi and the father of Heli. The relevant passage is found in Luke 3:23-24 : "Jesus Himself was about thirty years old when He began His ministry. He was regarded as the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi..." This genealogy is significant as it underscores Jesus' human ancestry and His fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah's lineage.

Historical and Theological Significance

The genealogy in Luke is often understood to represent Mary's lineage, providing a biological connection to King David, which is essential for the messianic prophecies. Matthat, therefore, plays a crucial role in this lineage, linking Jesus to the house of David through Mary. This connection is vital for affirming Jesus' rightful claim to the throne of David, as prophesied in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Name and Meaning

The name "Matthat" is of Hebrew origin, and it is a shortened form of "Mattathias," which means "gift of God." This name reflects a common theme in biblical nomenclature, where names often carry significant meanings or reflect divine attributes or blessings.

Biblical Context

While Matthat himself is not a prominent figure in biblical narratives, his inclusion in the genealogy of Jesus highlights the importance of every individual in God's redemptive plan. Each name in the genealogy serves as a testament to God's faithfulness in preserving the line through which the Savior of the world would come.

Conclusion

Matthat, though a relatively obscure figure, is an integral part of the genealogy of Jesus Christ as presented in the Gospel of Luke. His place in the lineage underscores the fulfillment of messianic prophecies and the divine orchestration of history to bring about the birth of Jesus, the Messiah.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Matthat

(gift of God), a form of the name Matthan.

  1. son of Levi, in the genealogy of Christ. (Luke 3:20) (B.C. after 623.)
  2. Grandfather of the Virgin Mary. (Luke 3:21)
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Gift of God.

(1.) The son of Levi, and father of Heli (Luke 3:24).

(2.) Son of another Levi (Luke 3:29).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
MATTHAT

mat'-that (Matthat, Maththat): The name of two ancestors of Jesus in Luke's genealogy (Luke 3:24, 29), one being the grandfather of Joseph, the husband of Mary.

Greek
3158. Matthat -- Mathat.
... 3157, 3158. Matthat. 3159 . Mathat. Part of Speech: Proper Noun,
Indeclinable Transliteration: Matthat Phonetic Spelling: (mat ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3158.htm - 6k

3103a. Maththat -- Matthat, an Israelite
... Matthat, an Israelite. Transliteration: Maththat Short Definition: Matthat. Word
Origin of Hebrew origin Definition Matthat, an Isr. NASB Word Usage Matthat (1) ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3103a.htm - 5k

3103. Mathousala -- Matthat, an Israelite
... Matthat, an Israelite. Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration:
Mathousala Phonetic Spelling: (math-oo-sal'-ah) Short Definition: Methuselah ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3103.htm - 5k

Library

Writing iii. But in Order that what I have Said May be Made ...
... [1043] But in our text in Luke 3:23, 24, and so, too, in the Vulgate,
Matthat and Levi are inserted between Heli and Melchi. It ...
/.../africanus/the writings of julius africanus/writing iii but in order.htm

C. The Genealogy of Jesus. Ch. 3:23-38
... himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as
was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of ...
/.../erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/c the genealogy of jesus.htm

Genealogy According to Luke.
... may mean that Jesus was grandson of Heli, or that Joseph was counted as a son of
Heli because he was his son-in-law] of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/iv genealogy according to luke.htm

The Alleged Discrepancy in the Gospels in Regard to the Genealogy ...
... [112] Melchi, who is here given as the third from the end, is in our present texts
of Luke the fifth (Luke 3:24), Matthat and Levi standing between Melchi and ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter vii the alleged discrepancy in.htm

Ancestors of the Blessed virgin
... Joachim's father was called Matthat [19] and was the stepbrother of Jacob (father
of St. Joseph) and of Joses. Matthat had settled in the valley of Zabulon. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/i ancestors of the blessed.htm

The Immaculate Conception
... St. Joseph) took as her second husband Levi, of the line of Nathan, and
had by him Matthat, the father of Heli or Joachim. Thus ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/ii the immaculate conception.htm

Answer to Eunomius' Second Book .
Gregory of Nyssa: Dogmatic Treatises, Etc. <. ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/answer to eunomius second book.htm

Thesaurus
Matthat (2 Occurrences)
... (2.) Son of another Levi (Luke 3:29). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
MATTHAT. ... Multi-Version Concordance Matthat (2 Occurrences). ...
/m/matthat.htm - 7k

Levi (79 Occurrences)
... Exodus 6:16). (2.) The father of Matthat, and son of Simeon, of the ancestors
of Christ (Luke 3:29). (3.) Luke 3:24. (4.) One of ...
/l/levi.htm - 35k

Jannai (1 Occurrence)
... Jannai (1 Occurrence). Luke 3:24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of
Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, (WEB WEY ASV BBE NAS NIV). ...
/j/jannai.htm - 7k

Jorim (1 Occurrence)
... Luke 3:29 the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat,
the son of Levi, (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/j/jorim.htm - 6k

Joreim (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Joreim (1 Occurrence). Luke 3:29 of Joses,
of Eliezer, of Joreim, of Matthat, of Levi, (DBY). ...
/j/joreim.htm - 6k

Jose (1 Occurrence)
... Jose (1 Occurrence). Luke 3:29 the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim,
the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, (WEB KJV DBY WBS YLT). ...
/j/jose.htm - 6k

Jan'na-i (1 Occurrence)
... Luke 3:24 the 'son' of Eli, the 'son' of Matthat, the 'son' of Levi, the 'son'
of Melchi, the 'son' of Janna, the 'son' of Joseph, (See RSV). ...
/j/jan'na-i.htm - 6k

Joses (7 Occurrences)
... laid. (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Luke 3:29 of Joses,
of Eliezer, of Joreim, of Matthat, of Levi, (DBY). Acts 4 ...
/j/joses.htm - 9k

Janna (1 Occurrence)
... Luke 3:24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai,
the son of Joseph, (Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). ...
/j/janna.htm - 6k

Elie'zer (14 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Elie'zer (14 Occurrences). Luke 3:29 the 'son' of Jose,
the 'son' of Eliezer, the 'son' of Jorim, the 'son' of Matthat, (See RSV). ...
/e/elie'zer.htm - 10k

Resources
Who was Levi in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Matthat (2 Occurrences)

Luke 3:24
the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 3:29
the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Matthat

Matthat: Father of Heli, and Ancestor of Joseph

Matthat: Father of Jorim, and Ancestor of Joseph

Related Terms

Levi (79 Occurrences)

Jannai (1 Occurrence)

Jorim (1 Occurrence)

Joreim (1 Occurrence)

Jose (1 Occurrence)

Jan'na-i (1 Occurrence)

Joses (7 Occurrences)

Janna (1 Occurrence)

Elie'zer (14 Occurrences)

Eliezer (14 Occurrences)

Matthanias

Melki (1 Occurrence)

Melchi (2 Occurrences)

Eli (36 Occurrences)

Matthew (5 Occurrences)

Matthan (1 Occurrence)

Joseph (248 Occurrences)

Matthanias
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