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Ματθαῖος

Matthaîos

G3156 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Matthaîos is a proper noun referring specifically to a personal name. In the New Testament, it designates an individual known as Matthaîos, one of the twelve close followers of Jesus; by extension, the name may also refer to other individuals named Matthew in Greek sources. The core function of the word is as a personal name, without inherent descriptive or adjectival meaning.

Semantic Range

personal name referring to a specific individual called Matthew; can denote other individuals bearing the name Ματθαῖος, particularly Judeans or Israelites in the Second Temple period; indicates a Hellenized form of a Hebrew theophoric name

Root / Etymology

Greek Ματθαῖος is a shortened or Hellenized form of Ματταθίας (Mattathias), itself derived from the Hebrew מַתִּתְיָה (Mattityahu), meaning 'Gift of YHWH.' The transition from Hebrew to Greek involves adaptation to Greek phonology and morphology. Ultimately, the root derives from the Hebrew נתן (n-t-n, 'to give') and יה (Yah, a theophoric element referring to YHWH).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the New Testament, Ματθαῖος (Matthaîos) refers to the individual traditionally identified as a toll collector and one of the twelve followers (disciples) of Jesus. The name was common among Israelites and Judeans of the Second Temple period, especially in Greek-speaking contexts, as reflected in both the Septuagint and extra-biblical Jewish literature. While later Christian tradition uses the English 'Matthew,' this transliteration does not capture the underlying Hebrew meaning or the process of linguistic adaptation into Greek. The use of Ματθαῖος in Hellenistic and Roman-period Judean contexts reflects patterns of name adaptation, with Hebrew theophoric names being rendered in Greek with both shortened and full forms (cf. Ματταθίας for Mattathias).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a shorter form of Ματταθίας; Matthæus (i.e. Matthitjah), an Israelite and a Christian:--Matthew.

Root Family

Ματθ- (Matthaîos) — personal name, gift of YHWH (in origin)

Root Ματθ- personal name, gift of YHWH (in origin)
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G3158 Ματθάτ of Matthat

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3156-01 Μαθθαῖον maththaion N ACC M SG Matthew Matthew Matthaios 3
G3156-02 Μαθθαῖος maththaios N NOM M SG Matthew Matthaios Matthaios 2

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3156-01 Matthew 9:9 Μαθθαῖον maththaion N ACC M SG Matthew Matthew Matthaios
G3156-02 Matthew 10:3 Μαθθαῖος maththaios N NOM M SG Matthew Matthaios Matthaios
G3156-01 Mark 3:18 Μαθθαῖον maththaion N ACC M SG Matthew Matthew Matthaios
G3156-01 Luke 6:15 Μαθθαῖον maththaion N ACC M SG Matthew Matthew Matthaios
G3156-02 Acts 1:13 Μαθθαῖος maththaios N NOM M SG Matthew Matthaios Matthaios
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