The name Matthew has its roots in the Abariy (Hebrew) naming tradition and is associated with Matatiyahu (מתתיהו), traditionally understood to mean “the Gift is YAHUAH” or “YAHUAH’s Gift.” This ancient name contains the element -yahu, a shortened form connected to the Creator’s personal Set-Apart (Divine) Name, YAHUAH (יהוה).
The English name Matthew developed through a long history of linguistic transmission, reflecting earlier Abariy (Hebrew) naming traditions, the Yuuniy (Greek) form Matthaios, and the Latin form Matthaeus, before entering English. Throughout this development, the original -yahu element associated with the Set-Apart Name was no longer clearly reflected in the later forms.
In this study, we will explore the Abariy (Hebrew) origins and meaning of Matatiyahu (Matthew), trace the historical development of his name through different languages, and examine what the Scriptures reveal about the Emissary (Apostle) traditionally identified with Luiy (Levi), the tax collector called to follow Yahusha who is YAHUAH.
We will also examine the linguistic and manuscript evidence to better understand how Scriptural names developed across languages and why recognizing their original Abariy (Hebrew) meanings can deepen our understanding of their connection to the Creator’s Set-Apart Name, YAHUAH.
Key Takeaways:
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The English name Matthew has its roots in the Abariy (Hebrew) naming tradition, particularly the name Matatiyahu (מתתיהו), traditionally understood to mean “the Gift is YAHUAH” or “YAHUAH’s Gift.” The name reflects a connection to the Creator’s personal Set-Apart (Divine) Name, YAHUAH (יהוה).
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The name Matthew developed through several linguistic traditions. Its Abariy (Hebrew) roots are associated with Matatiyahu and related shortened Semitic forms. The name later appeared in Yuuniy (Greek) as Matthaios (Ματθαῖος), entered Latin as Matthaeus, and eventually developed into the English form Matthew. The related Yuuniy (Greek) name Mattathias belongs to the same broader naming tradition but represents a distinct form.
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The Emissary (Apostle) Matatiyahu (Matthew) is traditionally identified with Luiy (Levi), the tax collector called to follow Yahusha, who is YAHUAH (Jesus). Matatiyahu (Matthew) 9:9 identifies the tax collector as Matatiyahu (Matthew), while Maraqu (Mark) 2:14 and Luqa (Luke) 5:27 identify him as Levi. Although these accounts are traditionally understood to describe the same individual, the Scriptural text does not explicitly explain why the two names are used.
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Early Mashiyha’n (Christian) tradition refers to a Semitic-language account associated with Matatiyahu (Matthew). Ancient writers describe a version connected with Abariy (Hebrew) language or expression, although the precise nature of that tradition remains debated. The earliest surviving manuscript evidence for the Bashurah (Gospel) of Matatiyahu (Matthew) is predominantly Yuuniy (Greek), making it important to distinguish historical traditions from surviving textual evidence.
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Studying the Abariy (Hebrew) name Matatiyahu helps reveal the significance of the ending -yahu, a theophoric element connected with the Creator’s Set-Apart Name, YAHUAH. Although this element is no longer recognizable in the English form Matthew, examining the ancient naming tradition helps readers appreciate how Scriptural names can preserve references to the Creator’s personal Name.
Table of Contents
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Matatiyahu (Matthew) and Luiy (Levi): Were They the Same Emissary (Apostle)?
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Was the Bashurah (Gospel) of Matatiyahu (Matthew) Originally Written in Abariy (Hebrew)?
Is Matatiyahu (Matthew) an Abariy (Hebrew) Name?
Yes. The English name Matthew ultimately has its roots in the Abariy (Hebrew) naming tradition, particularly the name Matatiyahu (מַתִּתְיָהוּ), traditionally understood to mean “Gift of YAHUAH” or “YAHUAH’s Gift.” Historical references tracing the origin and meaning of the name Matthew connect the English form to this ancient Abariy name. However, many English-speaking readers may not recognize its original meaning because the name underwent linguistic changes before reaching its familiar English form.
This pattern is found throughout the Scriptures. Many Scriptural names commonly known in English have passed through different linguistic traditions, including Abariy (Hebrew), Yuuniy (Greek), Latin, and eventually English. As these names were transmitted from one language to another, their spellings and pronunciations were adapted to fit the sounds, grammatical patterns, and writing systems of each language.
In the case of Matatiyahu, the later forms preserved the name’s historical connection to its Abariy origins but no longer clearly reflected the original -yahu ending. This ending is a theophoric element, meaning a component of a personal name that refers to a divine name, and is connected to the Creator’s personal Set-Apart (Divine) Name, YAHUAH (יהוה).
By examining the Abariy (Hebrew) form Matatiyahu, readers can better understand the name’s original linguistic meaning, recognize the significance of the -yahu element, and appreciate how ancient Scriptural names preserve references to the Creator’s Set-Apart Name, YAHUAH.
What Does Matityahu Mean in Abariy (Hebrew)?
The Abariy (Hebrew) name Matityahu (מַתִּתְיָהוּ) is traditionally understood to mean “Gift of YAHUAH” or “YAHUAH Has Given.” The name combines linguistic elements associated with giving and a shortened form of the Creator’s personal Set-Apart (Divine) Name, YAHUAH (יהוה).
An academic discussion of the name’s etymology examines the Abariy (Hebrew) forms mattan, mattat, and mattit, which are associated with the concept of giving. These elements are connected with the theophoric endings -yahu and -yah, which preserve shortened forms associated with the Creator’s Set-Apart Name.
The ending -yahu is particularly significant because it is a theophoric element, meaning a component of a personal name that incorporates a reference to a divine name. Throughout the Abariy (Hebrew) Scriptures, numerous personal names contain -yahu or -yah, preserving references to the Creator’s personal Name within their original forms.
In this context, Matityahu expresses the idea of a gift given by YAHUAH, reflecting the ancient Abariy naming tradition in which personal names frequently communicated gratitude, faith, or recognition of the Creator’s actions.
This naming pattern appears throughout the Scriptures. In our related study on names ending in Yah, we examine additional Scriptural names that preserve elements associated with YAHUAH’s Set-Apart Name.
Many Scriptural names that appear to English-speaking readers as ordinary personal names actually carry deeper linguistic meanings. Some preserve references to YAHUAH, His attributes, or His actions, demonstrating the significance of understanding names within their original Abariy (Hebrew) context.
Understanding the Original Meaning of Matityahu and Its Later Forms
An important distinction must be made between the meaning of the original Abariy (Hebrew) name Matatiyahu and the later linguistic forms associated with it.
The historical and linguistic discussion cited above connects the meaning of the name to its original Abariy (Hebrew) elements, particularly the association between giving and the theophoric ending -yahu. However, this etymological meaning should not be interpreted as a direct letter-by-letter explanation of every later form, including the English name Matthew.
As the name developed through different linguistic traditions, including Yuuniy (Greek), Latin, and English, its spelling and pronunciation changed. Consequently, the original -yahu element became less recognizable in the later forms, even though the name’s historical and linguistic connection to its Abariy roots remained.
For this reason, examining the original Abariy (Hebrew) form Matatiyahu helps readers understand the name’s traditional meaning, recognize the significance of its theophoric elements, and appreciate its connection to the Creator’s Set-Apart Name, YAHUAH (יהוה).
How Matatiyahu Became Matthew
The name Matatiyahu passed through several languages before becoming the English name Matthew:
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Abariy (Hebrew): Matatiyahu (מַתִּתְיָהוּ)
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Yuuniy (Greek): the name appears in forms such as Mattathias, with Matthaios later becoming the form associated with Matthew
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Latin: Matthaeus
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English: Matthew
An academic study of the name’s etymology describes this as part of the Western line of transmission, moving through Yuuniy (Greek) Matthaios and Latin Matthaeus into English Matthew. The same study connects Matthaios with the broader Abariy-Aramiyt (Hebrew-Aramaic) naming tradition and notes that some scholars have proposed a shorter regional form, Mattay (מתי), as an intermediate form behind the Yuuniy name.
That detail is important because it shows how a longer Abariy name could exist alongside a shorter spoken form. The full form Matatiyahu, containing the -yahu element connected with the Set-Apart Name, YAHUAH, may have circulated alongside shorter forms used in everyday speech.
As the name moved into Yuuniy (Greek), then Latin, and finally English, its spelling and pronunciation were adapted to the sounds and writing systems of each language. This helps explain why Matatiyahu and Matthew look so different today even though they belong to the same historical name tradition.
This is also why readers may encounter different forms of Matatiyahu’s name in Abariy (Hebrew)-based studies. The variation reflects the transmission of the name across languages, including a fuller Abariy form, shorter forms, and later Yuuniy (Greek) and Latin adaptations.
Matatiyahu (Matthew) and Luiy (Levi): Were They the Same Emissary (Apostle)?
One of the most frequently asked questions about Matatiyahu (Matthew), the Emissary (Apostle), concerns his connection to Luiy (Levi). Were Matatiyahu and Luiy two different individuals, or were they two names associated with the same man who followed Yahusha, who is YAHUAH (Jesus)?
The Scriptural accounts provide an important starting point for understanding this question. By comparing the parallel passages in the Bashurah (Gospels) of Matatiyahu (Matthew), Maraqu (Mark), and Luqah (Luke), we can examine how the tax collector’s calling is recorded and how his identity is presented.
In Matatiyahu (Matthew) 9:9, the tax collector is identified as Matatiyahu:
9 “As Yahusha continued on from there, He saw a man named Matatiyahu sitting at a tax collection booth. He said to him, “Follow Me.” Matatiyahu got up and followed Him.”
The parallel account in Maraqu (Mark) 2:13–14 identifies him as Luiy, also known as Matatiyahu:
13 From there, Yahusha once again walked along the shore of the Yim Kanarat, known as the Sea of Galiyl. A large crowd gathered around Him, and He taught them.
14 As He walked along, He saw Luiy, also known as Matatiyahu, the son of Halap. Luiy was sitting at the place where people paid their taxes. Yahusha said to Luiy, “Follow Me.” So, Luiy got up and went with Yahusha.
Likewise, Luqah (Luke) 5:27–28 identifies the tax collector as Matatiyahu Luiy:
27 "Afterward, Yahusha went to see a tax collector named Matatiyahu Luiy. He was sitting at a tax collection booth when Yahusha said to him, “Follow Me.”
28 Matatiyahu Luiy immediately left everything behind and followed Yahusha."
These three passages describe the same basic event: Yahusha calls a tax collector to follow Him, and the man responds by leaving his work behind. Although the accounts differ in how the individual is named, they share a common setting and describe the calling of a tax collector who becomes a follower of Yahusha.
A Bible Odyssey dictionary entry on Matthew discusses the relationship between the names Matatiyahu (Matthew) and Luiy (Levi), providing additional historical and Scriptural context for understanding these parallel accounts.
In the Truth Scriptures™ (TST) passages quoted above, the identification is particularly direct. Maraqu (Mark) 2:14 describes him as “Luiy, also known as Matatiyahu,” while Luqah (Luke) 5:27 identifies him as “Matatiyahu Luiy.” These renderings explicitly present the two names as belonging to the same individual.
This understanding is also consistent with the traditional identification of Matthew and Levi as the same tax collector. However, it is important to recognize that the surviving Yuuniy (Greek) manuscript tradition generally records the names separately in these parallel accounts rather than explicitly combining them as the TST does.
Maraqu (Mark) 2:14 also identifies Luiy as “the son of Halap.” The presence of multiple names or name forms would not have been unusual in the multilingual environment of first-century Yisharal (Israel), where Abariy (Hebrew), Aramiyt (Aramaic), and Yuuniy (Greek) languages were used in religious, cultural, and everyday settings.
Both names also reflect important connections to the Abariy (Hebrew) heritage of the earliest believers.
Luiy (Levi) is associated with the ancient tribe of Luiy, one of the tribes of Yisharal (Israel). However, bearing this name does not, by itself, establish that the individual belonged to the tribe of Luiy.
Matatiyahu (Matthew), on the other hand, is associated with the Abariy (Hebrew) name meaning “Gift of YAHUAH” or “YAHUAH’s Gift.” Its -yahu ending is a theophoric element connected with the Creator’s personal Set-Apart (Divine) Name, YAHUAH (יהוה).
Although Matatiyahu worked as a tax collector within the political and administrative environment of Rumaiy (Roman) rule, the names associated with him reflect the Abariy (Hebrew) linguistic and cultural world in which Yahusha, who is YAHUAH and His earliest followers lived.
Examining these original Scriptural names helps us better understand the identity of Matatiyahu, his connection to Luiy, and the importance of preserving the Abariy (Hebrew) meanings of names found throughout Scripture. Rather than viewing these names merely through their later English forms, we encourage readers to examine the Scriptural accounts, manuscript evidence, and linguistic traditions that help explain their historical significance.
Was the Bashurah (Gospel) of Matatiyahu (Matthew) Originally Written in Abariy (Hebrew)?
According to research presented by Promote The Truth (PTT), early historical testimony provides important evidence of an Abariy (Hebrew) linguistic tradition associated with the Bashurah (Gospel) of Matatiyahu (Matthew). However, determining whether the canonical Bashurah was originally composed in Abariy (Hebrew) requires careful examination of both the testimony of early Mashiyha’n (Christian) writers and the surviving manuscript evidence.
Understanding this distinction is essential because early accounts describing an Abariy (Hebrew) Matatiyahu do not necessarily establish that the surviving Yuuniy (Greek) Bashurah (Gospel) was translated directly from an original Abariy manuscript.
What Early Mashiyha’n (Christian) Tradition Says About Matatiyahu
Several early Mashiyha’n (Christian) writers preserved traditions connecting Matatiyahu (Matthew) with an account composed in an Abariy (Hebrew) language or linguistic form.
One important testimony comes from Papias, an early Mashiyha’n writer whose statements were preserved by later historians. An academic discussion of these traditions explains that Papias reported that Matatiyahu (Matthew) compiled the oracles in the Abariy (Hebrew) language or dialect, and that each person interpreted them as best they could.
This testimony is significant because it provides an early historical connection between Matatiyahu and a Semitic-language account. However, scholars continue to debate what Papias meant by the term translated as “oracles” and whether his reference to the Abariy language or dialect describes Abariy (Hebrew), Aramiyt (Aramaic), or a particular Semitic linguistic form.
Another scholarly reference observes that the description “in the Abariy (Hebrew) language” appears consistently in several early Mashiyha’n (Christian) traditions concerning Matatiyahu.
These early testimonies deserve careful attention because they preserve a historical tradition associating Matatiyahu and his Bashurah with an Abariy (Hebrew) linguistic background.
Nevertheless, historical testimony must be distinguished from direct manuscript evidence. Although these accounts support the existence of an early tradition, they do not independently establish the original language of the complete canonical Bashurah of Matatiyahu.
What the Surviving Manuscripts of Matatiyahu (Matthew) Reveal
The earliest surviving manuscript witnesses to the canonical Bashurah (Gospel) of Matatiyahu (Matthew) are written in Yuuniy (Greek). The surviving textual tradition, including important early papyrus fragments and later manuscript copies, provides substantial evidence for the transmission of the Bashurah (Gospel( in the Yuuniy language.
Scriptures (Bible) Odyssey explains that the canonical Bashurah (Gospel) of Matthew is generally understood by scholars to have been composed in Koine Yuuniy (Greek), the common Yuuniy (Greek) language widely used throughout the eastern Adariyatiy (Mediterranean) world during the first century.
However, the historical and linguistic environment of Yahusha, who is YAHUAH (Jesus), and His Emissaries (apostles) was not exclusively Yuuniy (Greek). Their lives, teachings, and Scriptural understanding were deeply connected to the Abariy (Hebrew) and Aramiyt (Aramaic) languages and to the religious and cultural world of ancient Yisharal (Israel).
This multilingual setting is important because certain sayings, names, expressions, and Scriptural concepts preserved in the Yuuniy Bashurah (Gospels) reflect an underlying Semitic linguistic and cultural background.
Recognizing these Abariy (Hebrew) and Aramiyt (Aramaic) influences helps readers better understand the historical context of the teachings of Yahusha, even when examining passages preserved in Yuuniy (Greek) manuscripts.
At the same time, many modern historical-critical scholars question whether Matatiyahu (Matthew), the tax collector and Emissary, personally composed the canonical Yuuniy (Greek) Bashurah attributed to him.
One academic reference explains that the Bashurah (Gospel) does not explicitly identify its author within the text and presents the scholarly position that it was likely composed in Yuuniy (Greek) after 70 CE.
We acknowledge this scholarly position because readers examining the origins of the Bashurah of Matatiyahu will encounter it in historical and academic research.
We encourage readers to examine both the early testimony concerning an Abariy (Hebrew) Matatiyahu and the surviving Yuuniy (Greek) manuscript tradition, carefully distinguishing among historical reports, linguistic evidence, manuscript evidence, and conclusions that remain debated.
Why Promote The Truth Continues to Examine the Abariy (Hebrew) Origins of Matatiyahu
We believe that the question of the original linguistic background of the Bashurah (Gospel) of Matatiyahu deserves continued investigation.
Although the earliest surviving manuscript witnesses are in Yuuniy (Greek), the early historical testimonies concerning an Abariy (Hebrew) Matatiyahu, the Semitic linguistic environment of Yahusha, who is YAHUAH and His Emissaries, and the existence of later Abariy-language Matatiyahu (Matthew) traditions remain important subjects of study.
Our purpose is not to disregard the surviving Yuuniy manuscript evidence, but to examine it alongside the broader historical, linguistic, and Scriptural context in which the earliest believers lived and taught.
In our comprehensive study of the Abariy (Hebrew) and Aramiyt (Aramaic) Origins of the Bariyt Hadash (New Testament), we explore the historical evidence, linguistic arguments, and manuscript traditions surrounding this important question.
We also examine Shem Tob’s Matthew, a later Abariy (Hebrew)-language version of the Bashurah of Matatiyahu preserved within a medieval textual tradition. This study considers its historical significance, distinctive readings, and what it may—and may not—reveal about earlier manuscript traditions.
For additional examples of how Semitic-language expressions can contribute to understanding the Bariyt Hadash, explore our Three Aramiyt (Aramaic) Case Studies in the Bariyt Hadash (New Testament).
We believe that careful examination of ancient manuscripts, early historical testimony, and the original linguistic context of Scripture is essential to understanding the teachings preserved in the Bariyt Hadash.
By studying these sources together, readers can better appreciate the Abariy (Hebrew) and Aramiyt (Aramaic) foundations of the earliest Assembly while recognizing the important distinction between established manuscript evidence and questions that remain open to historical investigation.
Historical Meaning and Spiritual Meaning
People often ask what Matatiyahu (Matthew) “means spiritually.” It is helpful to distinguish between the historical meaning of the name and later spiritual or literary interpretations.
The historical meaning is the one that can be traced through the name itself. Matatiyahu is an Abariy (Hebrew) name associated with the idea of giving and with the Set-Apart Name, YAHUAH. As the name passed through Yuuniy (Greek) and Latin before reaching English, its form changed, but its earlier Abariy meaning remains connected with the idea of a gift from YAHUAH.
The spiritual reading is interpretive. One academic article proposes that the name of Matatiyahu may carry a symbolic, bilingual role. In that reading, the Abariy element mat- associated with giving is placed alongside the Yuuniy element math- associated with discipleship, creating a possible literary connection between the genealogy at the beginning of the Bashurah (Gospel) and the commission to make disciples at its conclusion.
This proposal is not a settled linguistic fact, but it is a thoughtful literary interpretation that shows how some scholars have read the name as more than a simple personal label.
Our view is simple: a gift from YAHUAH, called to follow Him, and sent to teach others. Whether or not the proposed bilingual wordplay was intentional, that pattern fits the Scriptural account of Matatiyahu’s calling and mission.
Our Perspective
We have spent years working with manuscripts, and one lesson continues to stand out: the form of a name can reveal something about the path a text has taken through history. When we see Matatiyahu (Matthew) in an English Scriptures (Bible) translation, we are looking at the end of a long linguistic journey. When we return to Matatiyahu, we return to the Abariy (Hebrew) form, where the -yahu ending still preserves a connection with the Set-Apart Name, YAHUAH.
We, along with many others, believe this is not a small matter. A name that carries the meaning “gift of YAHUAH” can become, in a later English form, a sound whose original meaning is no longer obvious to the reader. Restoring the Abariy form is not about making the text difficult or unfamiliar. It is about helping readers recover the meaning, sound, and Scriptural context that stand behind the translated name.
That is why the Truth Scriptures™ presents many names and places in their Abariy (Hebrew) and Aramiyt (Aramaic) forms and preserves the Name YAHUAH where our textual and restoration approach identifies it in the Scriptural record. At the same time, we are careful to distinguish between what the manuscripts directly show, what early historical traditions report, and what remains interpretation or inference.
Where scholars disagree—as they do concerning the original language of Matatiyahu’s Bashurah (Gospel)—we believe readers should be able to examine the evidence and weigh it carefully for themselves.
If you want to study the Name of YAHUAH more deeply, begin with what the Tetragrammaton means and why its pronunciation is debated, then explore examples of the Set-Apart Name in Scripture.
— Maria
Study the Names for Yourself
If this article has encouraged you to study the Scriptures with the original Scriptural names in view, the Truth Scriptures™ were prepared for that purpose. The Truth Scriptures are a restoration-focused English translation of the Ta’anak (Old Testament) and the Bariyt Hadash (New Testament), designed to help readers examine restored Abariy (Hebrew) and Aramiyt (Aramaic) names, places, and Scriptural terminology.
You can explore the print edition on the Truth Scriptures translation page, read digitally through the Truth Scriptures Digital Collection, or use our free Truth Scriptures names and places reference while you study.
Order your Truth Scriptures™ today and read the Word with the restored Scriptural names, places, and the Set-Apart Name, YAHUAH, brought back into view.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Matatiyahu (Matthew) in Abariy (Hebrew)?
Matatiyahu (Matthew) corresponds to the Abariy (Hebrew) name Matatiyahu (מתתיהו). It is traditionally understood to mean “the gift is YAHUAH” or “YAHUAH has given.” Some scholars also propose a shorter form, Mattay (מתי), as an intermediate form behind the Yuuniy (Greek) Matthaios.
Are Matatiyahu (Matthew) and Luiy (Levi) the Same Person?
The parallel call accounts strongly connect Matatiyahu (Matthew) and Luiy (Levi). Matatiyahu 9:9 calls the tax collector Matatiyahu, while Maraqu 2:14 identifies him as Luiy, also known as Matatiyahu, and Luqah 5:27 refers to him as Matatiyahu Luiy.
In the Truth Scriptures™ (TST) wording, the identification is especially direct. For that reason, Matatiyahu and Luiy are best understood as two names referring to the same man.
Was the Bashurah (Gospel) of Matatiyahu (Matthew) Originally Written in Abariy (Hebrew)?
Early Mashiyha’n (Christian) tradition preserves reports that Matatiyahu (Matthew) composed material in the Abariy (Hebrew) language or dialect, with Papias being one of the best-known early witnesses.
However, the surviving manuscript tradition of the canonical Bashurah of Matatiyahu is in Koine Yuuniy (Greek), and many modern scholars believe the canonical Bashurah (Gospel) was composed in Yuuniy (Greek), often dating it after 70 C.E.
The question remains an important subject of historical and linguistic study. At Promote The Truth, we encourage readers to examine both the early testimony concerning an Abariy Matatiyahu and the surviving Yuuniy manuscript evidence.
What Does Matatiyahu (Matthew) Mean Spiritually?
The historical meaning of Matatiyahu is commonly understood as “the gift is YAHUAH” or “YAHUAH has given,” reflecting the Abariy idea of giving together with the -yahu element connected with the Set-Apart Name, YAHUAH.
Some scholars have also proposed a symbolic connection between the Abariy element associated with giving and a Yuuniy element associated with discipleship. This is a literary interpretation rather than an established conclusion from the name’s etymology.
For PTT, the simplest spiritual reflection is this: a gift from YAHUAH, called to follow Him, and sent to teach others.
Sources
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The Etymology of Matthew, Institute for Hebrew Language and Literature
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Matthew, disciple (Maththaios, mathētēs), Nouvelle revue théologique