מַתַּנְיָה
Mattanjah, the name of ten Israelites
Definition
Mattanyah is a Hebrew proper name meaning 'gift of Yahweh' or 'gift of the Lord.' It is borne by ten different individuals in the Old Testament, most notably the last king of Judah, whom the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar renamed Zedekiah (2 Kings 24:17). Other bearers include Levitical musicians and gatekeepers (1 Chronicles 25:4, 16), a prophet who encouraged King Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:14), and priests and laymen during the post-exilic period (Ezra 10:26-27). While the name's core meaning remains consistent, its bearers hold diverse roles, from royalty to religious functionaries.
Biblical Usage
The name Mattanyah appears 16 times across historical and post-exilic books: Kings, Chronicles, and Ezra. It is used exclusively for male Israelites. A key pattern is its association with Levitical service, particularly in the musical worship of the temple (1 Chronicles 25). The most significant usage is for King Zedekiah before his name was changed, marking a pivotal moment in Judah's history (2 Kings 24:17). In Ezra, it identifies men who had married foreign wives, highlighting issues of covenant fidelity after the exile.
Etymology
The name is a compound of two Hebrew elements: 'mattan' (H4976), meaning 'gift,' and 'Yah' (H3050), a shortened form of the divine name Yahweh (the LORD). The full form, Mattanyah, or the longer Mattanyahu, literally translates to 'gift of Yah.' It is a theophoric name, common in Israelite culture, which explicitly acknowledges God as the source of blessing and provision.
Semantic Range
As a theophoric name meaning 'gift of Yahweh,' Mattanyah reflects the foundational Israelite belief that every good thing—including children, leadership, and talent—is a gracious provision from God. The most famous bearer, the king renamed Zedekiah ('Yahweh is my righteousness'), illustrates God's sovereign authority over human rulers and destiny, even in judgment. The name reminds readers that individuals in biblical narrative, from kings to musicians, are part of God's larger story of covenant and redemption.
In ancient Israel, names were deeply significant, often expressing a parent's hopes or acknowledging God's character. A name like Mattanyah ('gift of Yahweh') was a public declaration of faith and gratitude. The act of Nebuchadnezzar renaming Mattanyah to Zedekiah (2 Kings 24:17) was a common ancient Near Eastern practice to assert dominance and redefine a vassal's identity, stripping the original name's theological meaning and imposing a new political allegiance.
Nethanyahu (H5418) — A similar name meaning 'given of Yahweh,' borne by the prophet Jeremiah's father. Yonathan (H3083) — Means 'Yahweh has given,' another theophoric name emphasizing God as the giver (e.g., Jonathan, son of Saul).
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.
Full methodology & sources →