מַטְרִי
Matri, an Israelite
Definition
Matri is a proper name identifying an individual from the tribe of Benjamin. The name appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in 1 Samuel 10:21, where Saul is selected by lot as the first king of Israel. Matri is listed as the head of a family or clan within the tribe, from which Saul was ultimately chosen. The name itself is likely derived from the Hebrew word for 'rain,' suggesting a possible connection to fertility or blessing, but its primary function in scripture is simply as a personal identifier.
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively as a proper noun in the Old Testament. It occurs only in 1 Samuel 10:21, within the narrative of Saul's public selection as king at Mizpah. The context is a genealogical listing where the lot falls first on the tribe of Benjamin, then on the clan of Matri, and finally on Saul himself. There are no other occurrences or patterns of usage.
Etymology
The name Matri (מַטְרִי) is a patronymic or gentilic form derived from the Hebrew root מָטַר (māṭar, H4305), meaning 'rain.' It likely means 'belonging to Matar' or 'of the rainy one,' possibly referring to a progenitor or a characteristic of the clan. It is related to the common noun for rain, suggesting an origin connected to agriculture or natural blessing.
Semantic Range
While the name Matri itself is not theologically loaded, its single appearance is significant within the larger narrative of God's providence in Israel's monarchy. In 1 Samuel 10:21, the seemingly random casting of lots that identifies Saul's clan demonstrates God's sovereign guidance in the selection of Israel's first king, even as the narrative later critiques the people's desire for a king like the nations. Understanding this name anchors the event in a specific familial lineage within God's covenant people.
In ancient Israelite culture, personal and clan names often carried meaning related to nature, God, or hoped-for characteristics. A name derived from 'rain' would evoke ideas of fertility, blessing, and life, which were paramount in an agricultural society. The listing of Matri as a clan head reflects the social and tribal structure of Israel, where identity and inheritance were deeply tied to one's lineage and family group.
There are no direct synonyms for this proper name. It is a unique identifier for a specific Benjaminite clan.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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