Who was Mattithiah in the bible?
Mattithiah is a name borne by four Israelites, appearing in 1 Chronicles 9, 15–16, 25; Ezra 10; and Nehemiah 8.
Temple Music Roles
In David’s organization of singers, Mattithiah is listed among “their brothers of the second rank” (1 Chronicles 15:18). He is named “with harps tuned to the eight-stringed lyre, to lead” (1 Chronicles 15:21).
Learn More →Name Meaning
The name Mattithiah (Mattithyah) is derived from terms meaning “a present” and “Jah,” yielding the sense “gift of Jah” (Strong’s H4993). Another Mattithiah appears among “the sons of Jeduthun” in a group that “prophesied in giving thanks and praising Yahweh with the harp” (1 Chronicles 25:3).
Learn More →Mattithiah (Mattithyah) is a Hebrew name meaning “gift of Jah,” and it is borne by multiple Israelites in Scripture. The verses presented mention Mattithiah as a Levite with a specific duty, as a musician involved in bringing up God’s ark, as a son of Jeduthun, as one listed among the sons of Nebo, and as a man standing beside Ezra at a public reading.
Mattithiah in Scripture
The earliest reference given describes a Levite named Mattithiah with a particular responsibility and a stated family connection.
“Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the office of trust over the things that were baked in pans.” (1 Chronicles 9:31)
In the account of bringing up Yahweh’s ark, Mattithiah appears among Levites associated with music and with the ordered personnel surrounding the event. The chapter’s setting is introduced with David’s preparations and his insistence that the Levites carry the ark.
“David made himself houses in David’s city; and he prepared a place for God’s ark, and pitched a tent for it.” (1 Chronicles 15:1)
“Then David said, ‘No one ought to carry God’s ark but the Levites. For Yahweh has chosen them to carry God’s ark, and to minister to him forever.’” (1 Chronicles 15:2)
David assembled Israel at Jerusalem and gathered the sons of Aaron and the Levites, speaking to the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites and calling for their sanctification for the task.
“David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem, to bring up Yahweh’s ark to its place, which he had prepared for it.” (1 Chronicles 15:3)
“and said to them, ‘You are the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites. Sanctify yourselves, both you and your brothers, that you may bring the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel, up to the place that I have prepared for it.’” (1 Chronicles 15:12)
The narrative emphasizes that the earlier failure to carry the ark properly led to divine anger, and that the priests and Levites sanctified themselves so the ark could be brought up as commanded.
“For because you didn’t carry it at first, Yahweh our God broke out in anger against us, because we didn’t seek him according to the ordinance.” (1 Chronicles 15:13)
“So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel.” (1 Chronicles 15:14)
“The children of the Levites bore God’s ark on their shoulders with its poles, as Moses commanded according to Yahweh’s word.” (1 Chronicles 15:15)
David also directed the appointment of singers with instruments. In this setting, Mattithiah is named among “their brothers of the second rank” and, more specifically, among those assigned to lead with harps tuned to a particular mode.
“David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers with instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, sounding aloud and lifting up their voices with joy.” (1 Chronicles 15:16)
“and with them their brothers of the second rank, Zechariah, Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the doorkeepers.” (1 Chronicles 15:18)
“and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps tuned to the eight-stringed lyre, to lead.” (1 Chronicles 15:21)
The chapter continues with named doorkeepers for the ark and priests who blew trumpets before God’s ark, concluding with the joyful procession as all Israel brought up the ark of Yahweh’s covenant “with shouting” and a full ensemble of instruments.
“Thus all Israel brought the ark of Yahweh’s covenant up with shouting, with sound of the cornet, with trumpets, and with cymbals, sounding aloud with stringed instruments and harps.” (1 Chronicles 15:28)
Mattithiah appears again in a later list of appointed musicians in connection with Asaph and others playing instruments.
“Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, with stringed instruments and with harps; and Asaph with cymbals, sounding aloud;” (1 Chronicles 16:5)
Another Mattithiah is named among the sons of Jeduthun, in a description that links their service with giving thanks and praising Yahweh with the harp.
“Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising Yahweh with the harp.” (1 Chronicles 25:3)
The name also appears in the listing of a particular course or division.
“for the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;” (1 Chronicles 25:21)
In Ezra, Mattithiah is listed among “the sons of Nebo,” without further description in the cited line beyond the names.
“Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Iddo, and Joel, Benaiah.” (Ezra 10:43)
In Nehemiah, Mattithiah is among those standing beside Ezra the scribe during a public reading, located on Ezra’s right hand.
“Ezra the scribe stood on a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah,” (Nehemiah 8:4)
Multiple Bearers
The name Mattithiah is explicitly associated (by the lexicon gloss) with more than one Israelite, and the verses present several distinct contexts.
One Mattithiah is a Levite with a stated lineage and a defined duty:
“Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the office of trust over the things that were baked in pans.” (1 Chronicles 9:31)
Another Mattithiah is named among Levites in David’s arrangements for singers and musicians connected with bringing up the ark, including leadership “with harps tuned to the eight-stringed lyre” (1 Chronicles 15:21), and he appears again in the later list of musicians with “stringed instruments and with harps” (1 Chronicles 16:5).
“and with them their brothers of the second rank… Mattithiah…” (1 Chronicles 15:18)
“and Mattithiah… with harps tuned to the eight-stringed lyre, to lead.” (1 Chronicles 15:21)
“…Jehiel, Mattithiah… with stringed instruments and with harps…” (1 Chronicles 16:5)
A further Mattithiah is one of the sons of Jeduthun, described within a group that served “under the hands of their father Jeduthun,” connected with “giving thanks and praising Yahweh with the harp” (1 Chronicles 25:3), and another notice assigns “for the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve” (1 Chronicles 25:21).
“…Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising Yahweh with the harp.” (1 Chronicles 25:3)
“for the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;” (1 Chronicles 25:21)
Ezra 10:43 presents Mattithiah as one named among “the sons of Nebo,” and Nehemiah 8:4 presents Mattithiah as one standing beside Ezra at the reading, but these brief references do not supply enough detail in the cited lines to connect them with the Levitical musicians above.
Name and Meaning
The name is written in Hebrew as מַתִּתְיָה, transliterated Mattithyah, and pronounced mat-tith-yaw’. Its sense is given as “gift of Jah,” derived from words meaning a “present” (mattath) and “Jah” (Yahh), the sacred divine name element.
Observation
Across the passages, the name Mattithiah is repeatedly associated with ordered service—whether “the office of trust” (1 Chronicles 9:31), leading music “with harps” (1 Chronicles 15:21), or standing alongside Ezra during a public reading (Nehemiah 8:4).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Mattithiah mean?
Mattithiah means “gift of Jah.”
How many times does Mattithiah appear in the Bible?
Mattithiah occurs 8 times.
Who was Mattithiah in the Bible?
Mattithiah is the name of four Israelites. One Mattithiah was a Levite who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite and had a trusted office over things baked in pans (1 Chronicles 9:31).
What role did a Mattithiah have among the musicians in 1 Chronicles?
Mattithiah is listed among those who played and led with harps tuned to the eight-stringed lyre (1 Chronicles 15:21).
Explore Further
If you found this page about Mattithiah interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.
Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).
