Matan (given name)

Matan
PronunciationHebrew: [maˈtan]
GenderPredominantly male
Origin
Word/nameHebrew
Meaning"giving"
Region of originAncient Israel and Judea
Other names
Alternative spellingMattan, Matthan
Related namesMattanel, Mattaniah, Mattaniahu

Matan or Mattan (original Biblical translation: Mattan, modern Israeli translation: Matan, Hebrew: מַתָּן, Latin: Matthan) is a Hebrew name, mostly for males in Israel. It is coming from the word 'gift' and literally means "giving". It is part of the title of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot that is also known as "Z'man Mattan Torah" meaning "[the] time [of the] giving [of the] Torah."

A biblical reference for a Mattan as a given name is the story told in Books of Kings about the Baal priest Mattan, killed by the people of the Kingdom of Judah during a revolution.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Matthan is the paternal grandfather of Joseph, father of Jesus.

King Zedekiah's birth name was originally Mattanyahu.