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Hebrew Names: Matthias

By Jeff A. Benner


And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles. (RSV, Acts 1:26)

To replace Judas, the disciples cast lots for the new apostle, and the lot fell on Matthias, which in the Greek is written as Mat-thai-os. The Greek for Matthias is very similar; Mat-thi-as. Both Matthaios and Matthias are Greek forms of the Hebrew name מתתיה (matityah), which we previously found to be מתת (matat, Strong's #4991) meaning "gift" or "reward," and the name יה (Yah, Strong's #3050) and when combined, this name means "gift of Yah" or "reward of Yah."