The Greek word Mattathías, represented by G3161, is a name of Hebrew origin for an Israelite. It appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. Both instances refer to individuals listed in the genealogy of Jesus, highlighting its role in establishing lineage.
The name G3161 appears exclusively in the genealogy recorded in the Gospel of Luke, where it refers to two different men. The first Mattathias is identified as the son of Amos Luke 3:25. The second Mattathias is mentioned just one verse later as the son of Semei and the father of Maath Luke 3:26. These references are crucial for documenting the ancestral line of Jesus as presented in this gospel.
Several other names are mentioned in direct connection with the two individuals named Mattathias, placing them within a detailed family line:
- G301 Amṓs (of Hebrew origin (אָמוֹץ); Amos, an Israelite:--Amos): He is recorded as the father of the first Mattathias mentioned in the lineage Luke 3:25.
- G3092 Maáth (probably of Hebrew origin; Maath, an Israelite:--Maath): He is listed as the son of the second Mattathias Luke 3:26.
- G4584 Semeḯ (of Hebrew origin (שִׁמְעִי); Semei (i.e. Shimi), an Israelite:--Semei): He is the father of the second Mattathias, and his grandfather is named Joseph Luke 3:26.
- G2501 Iōsḗph (of Hebrew origin (יוֹסֵף); Joseph, the name of seven Israelites:--Joseph): An ancestor in the same line as the second Mattathias, listed as the son of Juda Luke 3:26.
The significance of G3161 is entirely tied to its function within the biblical narrative:
- Genealogical Link: The primary role of the name Mattathias is to serve as a crucial link in the long ancestral chain connecting Jesus to his forefathers.
- Historical Record: The presence of two distinct individuals named Mattathias in successive verses underscores the detailed nature of the genealogical record presented by Luke.
- Human Ancestry: The inclusion of names like Mattathias grounds the identity of Jesus in a specific human lineage as recorded in the Gospel of Luke.
In summary, G3161 is not a conceptual term but the proper name of two different men. Its sole function in scripture is to mark two distinct points in the genealogy of Jesus. The appearance of Mattathías in Luke's account demonstrates how every individual name in such a list, no matter how brief the mention, plays a vital role in constructing the larger historical narrative of the Bible.
TRV