🔼The name Matthias: Summary
- Meaning
- Gift Of Yah
- Etymology
- From (1) the noun מתת (mattat), gift, from the verb נתן (natan), to give, and (2) יה (yah), the shortened name of the Lord.
🔼The name Matthias in the Bible
There's only one man named Matthias in the Bible, although this name is very similar to that of Matthaios, or Matthew. Matthias was one of two candidates to replace Judas Iscariot; the other one was Joseph Barsabbas, also known as Justus (Acts 1:23). The lot fell to Matthias (Acts 1:26) and although we may assume that he engaged his apostolic ministry with vigor, we never hear from him again.
🔼Etymology of the name Matthias
The name Matthias appears to be a transliteration of a Hebrew name, probably מתיה (Mattaiah), which doesn't occur in the Hebrew Bible. This name would consist of two elements, the final one being יה (Yah) = יהו (Yahu) = יו (Yu), which in turn are abbreviated forms of the Tetragrammaton יהוה, YHWH, or Yahweh.
The first part of the name Matthias comes from the verb נתן (natan) meaning to give:
נתן
The shape-shifting verb נתן (natan) means to give in a broad bouquet of senses, from regular giving or bestowing, to setting or putting, to transforming one thing or situation into another.
This verb's three nouns מתן (mattan), מתנה (mattana) and מתת (mattat) all mean gift, again broadly ranging from a regular present to an offering to an innate talent (being "gifted").
🔼Matthias meaning
The name Matthias means Gift Of The Lord, or more specifically: Gift Of Yah.