Who was Mattaniah in the Bible?

Mattaniah was a Levite, recorded as the grandfather of the prophet Jahaziel. His grandson delivered a crucial prophecy of victory to King Jehoshaphat and the army of Judah (2 Chronicles 20:14).

Why is Mattaniah significant in the Bible?

His significance comes from his lineage, as he was the ancestor of Jahaziel, a prophet God used to deliver a message during a national crisis. This highlights how God works through faithful family lines.

What key events was Mattaniah part of?

The Bible does not record specific events in Mattaniah's life. His mention establishes the priestly genealogy of his grandson, Jahaziel, who prophesied before a major battle (2 Chronicles 20:1-30).

Mattaniah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleLevite

Mattaniah, a Levite, was the grandfather of Jahaziel, who prophesied during King Jehoshaphat's reign (2Ch.20.14).

Mattaniah

Biography

Mattaniah was a Levite who lived during the period of the divided monarchy and is remembered as the grandfather of Jahaziel, the prophet who delivered a pivotal oracle during the reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah (2 Chronicles 20:14). When a vast coalition of Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites marched against Judah, Jehoshaphat led the nation in prayer and fasting. In response, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, who stood in the assembly and declared that the battle belonged to the Lord. Though Mattaniah himself does not appear as an active figure, his Levitical lineage established the prophetic credentials of his descendant Jahaziel at a moment of national crisis.

Significance

Mattaniah's significance is realized through his grandson Jahaziel's prophetic ministry at one of the most dramatic moments in Judah's history. The careful recording of Jahaziel's four-generation genealogy back to Mattaniah served to authenticate the prophecy by establishing the speaker's legitimate Levitical credentials. This episode illustrates the biblical principle of multigenerational faithfulness: Mattaniah's devotion as a Levite bore fruit generations later when his descendant became the vessel through whom God spoke deliverance to an entire nation. The battle of Jehoshaphat, won through worship rather than weapons, remains one of Scripture's most powerful demonstrations that spiritual lineage and faithful service create a heritage through which God works in extraordinary ways.

Verse Appearances (1)

2Chr

2Chr 20:14

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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