Ματθίας
Matthias
Definition
Matthias is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Mattithiah, meaning 'gift of Yahweh.' In the New Testament, it refers specifically to the disciple chosen by lot to replace Judas Iscariot among the Twelve Apostles (Acts 1:23-26). This selection restored the apostolic group to its symbolic number of twelve, representing the renewed twelve tribes of Israel. The name itself carries the same meaning as the apostle Matthew (Matthaios), but they are distinct individuals.
Biblical Usage
The name Ματθίας is used only twice in the New Testament, both occurrences in Acts 1. It appears first when two men, Joseph called Barsabbas and Matthias, are proposed as candidates to succeed Judas (Acts 1:23). It appears again when Matthias is selected by lot and 'was numbered with the eleven apostles' (Acts 1:26). The usage is strictly as a proper name for this specific individual in the context of apostolic succession.
Etymology
Ματθίας (Matthias) is a Greek adaptation of the Hebrew name מַתִּתְיָהוּ (Mattithyahu), which combines 'mattan' (gift) and the shortened form of the divine name Yahweh. Thus, it means 'gift of Yahweh.' It is a theophoric name, common in Second Temple Judaism, and is essentially a variant of the name Ματθαῖος (Matthaios, Matthew).
Semantic Range
Matthias is significant theologically as the one chosen to complete the Twelve, a number Jesus himself established (Luke 6:13). His selection by lot after prayer (Acts 1:24-26) demonstrates the early church's reliance on God's sovereign guidance in leadership decisions, prior to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It underscores the importance of apostolic witness to Jesus's entire ministry, from his baptism to his ascension (Acts 1:21-22).
In first-century Jewish culture, names like Matthias that incorporated the divine name (Yahweh) expressed piety and identity. The practice of casting lots (Acts 1:26) was an accepted method in ancient Israel for discerning God's will (e.g., Proverbs 16:33), used for appointing leaders or dividing land. This action connected the new Christian community with its Jewish roots in seeking divine direction.
Ματθαῖος (Matthaios, G3156) — The apostle Matthew, a different individual who shares the same Hebrew name origin and meaning.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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