Mattenai מַתְּנַי
Descendant of Hashum, who divorced his foreign wife.
Who is Mattenai in the Bible?
Mattenai was a descendant of Hashum who lived during the time of Ezra's religious reforms following the Jewish return from Babylonian exile. According to Ezra 10:33, he was among the Israelites who had married foreign women and was required to divorce his wife as part of Ezra's efforts to purify the Jewish community. This action reflected the concern that intermarriage with foreigners might lead the people away from their covenant with God, repeating the sins that had contributed to their exile. Mattenai's obedience to these reforms demonstrates the community's commitment to religious restoration and separation from foreign influences during this critical period of Jewish restoration.
Biography
Mattenai was a man from the family of Hashum 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, Mattenai and others who had married foreign wives were required to divorce them (Ezr.10.33). 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 10:33
"From the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | מַתְּנַי |
Mattenai
(3) A priest in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua (Ne 12:19), representing the house of Joiarib.
mat'-er: This word being a very general term may express various ideas. the Revised Version (British and American) therefore frequently changes the reading of the King James Version in order to state more definitely th