Mattaniah מַתַּנְיָ֫הוּ
Descendant of Zattu, who divorced his foreign wife.
Who is Mattaniah in the Bible?
Mattaniah was a descendant of Zattu who lived during the time of Ezra's religious reforms following the Jewish return from Babylonian exile. According to Ezra 10:26, Mattaniah had married a foreign woman, which violated the covenant practices that Ezra sought to restore among the Israelite community. As part of Ezra's efforts to purify the nation and prevent a return to the idolatry that had caused their exile, Mattaniah was required to divorce his foreign wife. His inclusion in the list of those who made this separation demonstrates the communal commitment to religious faithfulness during this critical period of restoration and covenant renewal.
Biography
Mattaniah was a man from the family of Zattu who had married a foreign woman during the time of Ezra. As part of Ezra's reforms to purify the Jewish community after their return from Babylonian exile, Mattaniah and others who had married foreign wives were required to divorce them (Ezr.10.26). This action was taken to ensure that the Israelites remained faithful to the Lord and did not fall into the same sins that had led to their exile.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 10:26
"From the descendants of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | מַתַּנְיָ֫הוּ |