Ματθαῖος (Matthaios)
Matthaios
Matthew
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The name Matthaios means "gift of Jehovah." It appears five times in the New Testament, primarily as part of the Gospel title and in lists of the twelve apostles found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts.
Lexical sources identify this figure as the son of Alphaeus. The name itself is a shortened form of Mattathiah, preserving the theological weight of divine gift within a personal identity that marks him among the earliest followers.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Matthaios carries a simple but profound meaning: "gift of Jehovah." In the Gospels, we meet this man sitting at his tax collector’s desk, a position that often isolated him from his community. When Jesus called him, Matthew did not hesitate to leave his old life behind and follow. This moment reminds us that no one is too far gone for God’s grace, and that every person is seen as a precious gift by the Creator.
As we read through the lists of the twelve apostles in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts, we see Matthaios named alongside fishermen, zealots, and others. His inclusion shows that Jesus values diverse backgrounds and uses ordinary people for extraordinary purposes. Whether you feel defined by your past or your current role, this word invites you to trust that God can transform your life into something new when you respond to His call.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Matthew4×
- Matthew,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Μαθθαῖον3×
- Μαθθαῖος,1×
- Μαθθαῖος1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 9:9
As Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him, “Follow me.” He got up and followed him.
This verse captures the pivotal moment of calling, where Jesus invites Matthew to leave his profession and follow Him, highlighting the personal nature of divine grace.
-
Matthew 10:3
Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus; Lebbaeus, who was also called Thaddaeus;
Here, Matthew is explicitly identified as a tax collector in the apostolic list, underscoring how Jesus chose individuals from socially marginalized backgrounds to lead His church.
-
Mark 3:18
Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot;
The inclusion of Matthew among the twelve in Mark’s account reinforces the unity of the apostolic group despite their varied social and economic histories.