Mattan מַתָּן
Father of Shephatiah, an opponent of Jeremiah.
Who is Mattan in the Bible?
Mattan was the father of Shephatiah, a prominent official during the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah who opposed the prophet Jeremiah (Jer. 38:1). Shephatiah, along with other officials, accused Jeremiah of discouraging the people and convinced the king to execute him, resulting in the prophet being thrown into a cistern where he sank into mud. Though Mattan himself is not directly quoted or described beyond this genealogical connection, his son's actions represent the political and religious opposition that Jeremiah faced from Judah's leadership during the final days before Jerusalem's fall. Mattan's brief mention in scripture illustrates how family ties connected the various power players who resisted Jeremiah's warnings of judgment.
Biography
Mattan was the father of Shephatiah, a prominent official during the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah. Shephatiah, along with other officials, accused the prophet Jeremiah of discouraging the people and urged the king to put him to death. As a result, Jeremiah was thrown into a cistern, where he sank into the mud. However, Ebed-Melech, an Ethiopian eunuch, rescued Jeremiah with the king's permission (Jer.38.1-13). Mattan is only mentioned in this context as the father of Shephatiah, one of Jeremiah's opponents.
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentJeremiah 1 verse
- Jeremiah 38:1
"Now Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malchijah heard that Jeremiah had been telling all the people:"
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | מַתָּן |