Mattaniah מַתַּנְיָ֫הוּ
Descendant of Bani, who divorced his foreign wife.
Who is Mattaniah in the Bible?
Mattaniah was a descendant of Bani who lived during the time of Ezra's religious reforms following the Jewish return from Babylonian exile. According to Ezra 10:37, Mattaniah was among the Israelites who had married foreign women and was required to divorce his wife as part of Ezra's effort to purify the Jewish community. This action reflected the concern that intermarriage with foreign nations would lead the Israelites away from their covenant with God and repeat the spiritual failures that had contributed to their exile. Mattaniah's compliance with these reforms demonstrates the broader effort to restore religious faithfulness and separation from pagan influences among the returned exiles.
Biography
Mattaniah was a man from the family of Bani 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.10.37). 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 10:37
"Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu."
Study Ezra →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | מַתַּנְיָ֫הוּ |