Mattityahu: Gift from God

By Suzanne Linett

Suzanne Linett provides the reader with an understanding of the Hebrew definitions of many of the names and words used in Scripture that provide insight into the meaning and intent not clearly understood in English.

In addition, insight is given into Jewish culture and manner of worship that give context to the teaching of our Lord and Messiah and understanding that cannot be obtained solely through study of the English translation.

Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy word.

Psalm 119:169

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Nov 14, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490858913

Suzanne Linett

Suzanne Linett is a Jewish believer in Yeshua haMashiach, Jesus the Messiah. She is an ordained pastor, speaker, and Bible teacher. Her passion is to share the Word of God in a way that gives others insight into and a deeper meaning of what the Lord has for them. She has studied the Hebrew roots of faith and shares her knowledge through written work and speaking. Suzanne has been a youth pastor and leader in both traditional churches and in messianic Jewish synagogues. She lives in Southern California.

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Copyright © 2014 Suzanne Linett.

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-5892-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-5893-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-5891-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014920468

WestBow Press rev. date: 11/14/2014

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Final Thoughts

Mattityahu: Gift from the Lord

The King James Version of the gospel of Matthew using Hebrew for proper nouns with notes and explanations regarding the translation of these nouns

It is not this author’s intention to write a complete commentary on the gospel according to Matthew but to provide readers with an understanding of the Hebrew definitions of many names and words in Scripture. This will provide insight into the meaning and intent not clearly understood in English.

Why Hebrew? Wasn’t the New Testament written originally in Greek? The most reliable surviving manuscripts from which the canon was formed were written in Greek. However, Yeshua [Jesus] was and still is Jewish [Hebrews 13:8]. His initial followers were Jewish, and He taught Jews. His teaching, the parables, and the context of the New Testament are clearly Jewish. The Jews knew Hebrew as the language of their Scripture and of their prayers. Jews were given names with meaning, descriptors of personality, intent, dedication, or service.

The names of the cities and towns also had spiritual meanings—why else would the Bread of Life [John 6:35] be born in the House of Bread [Beit-Lechem/Bethlehem]? When names are thus translated, more of the fullness of Scripture and the deeper meanings of the Word of God become clear.

In addition, this book offers insight into Jewish culture and manner of worship that give context to the teaching of our Lord and Messiah and understanding not obtained solely through English translations.

Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy word [Psalm 119:169].

Chapter 1

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ [Yeshua haMashiach—Salvation embodied, the Anointed One], the son of David [Da-vid’—Beloved], the son of Abraham [Avraham—Father of a Multitude]. Avraham begat Isaac [Yitzchak-Laughter]; and Yitzchak begat Jacob [Ya-akov—Grabber/Supplanter]; and Ya-akov begat Judas [Y’hudah—Praised], and his brethren; And Y’hudah begat Phares [Peretz—Son of his father] and Zara [Zerach—Light/Glowing] of Thamar [Tamar—Date Palm]; and Peretz begat Esrom [Chetzron—Dart of Joy]; and Chetzron begat Aram [Ram—Highlands]; And Ram begat Aminadab [Amminidav—My People are Noble]; and Amminidav begat Naasson [Nachshon—Initiator/Adventurous]; and Nachshon begat Salmon [variant of Solomon—Shlomo—peaceful]; And Shlomo begat Booz [Bo-az—Swift] of Rachab [Rachav/Rahab—Popular of Ra; the Egyptian god];

and Boaz begat Obed [Oved—variant of Ovadiah/Obadiah, Servant/Follower of God] of Ruth [Rut—Companion/Friend]; and Oved begat Jesse [Yishai—Wealth or Gift]; And Yishai begat Da-vid’ the king; and Da-vid’ the king begat Shlomo of her that had been the wife of Urias [Uriyah—The Lord is my light]; And Shlomo begat Roboam [Rechav’am/Rehoboam—He enlarges His people]; and Rechav’am begat Abia [Aviyah—My Father is the Lord]; and Aviyah begat Asa [Asha—doctor/healer]; And Asha begat Josaphat [Y’hoshafat—the Lord has judged]; and Josaphat begat Joram [Yoram/Y’horam—the Lord is exalted]; and Yoram begat Ozias [Uzihahu—God’s strength]; And Uzihahu begat Joatham [Yotam—God is perfect or complete]; and Yotam begat Achaz [Ahaz—the Lord is holding on]; and Ahaz begat Ezekias [Chizkiyahu/Hezekiah—The Lord is my strength/The Lord has strengthened]—; And Ezekias begat Manasses [M’nasheh—make to forget]; and M’nasheh begat Amon [Amon—builder, teacher, protector]; and Amon begat Josias [Yoshiyahu—the Lord has healed];

And Yoshiyahu begat Jechonias [Y’khanyahu—an Israelite] and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: And after they were brought to Babylon, Y’khanyahu begat Salathiel [Sh’altiel—I asked for a son]; and Sh’altiel begat Zorobabel [Z’rubavel—born in Babylon]; And Z’rubavel begat Abiud [Av’ichud—father of renown]; and Av’ichud begat Eliakim [Elyakim—God will establish]; and Elyakim begat Azor [Azur—variant of Ezra—helper]; And Azur begat Sadoc [Tzadok—righteous]; and Tzadok begat Achim [Yakhin—The Lord will establish/judge]; and Yakhin begat Eliud [God of grandeur/majesty]; And Eliud begat Eleazar [El’azar—God is my help]; and El’azar begat Matthan [Mattan—variant of Mattityahu, gift of the Lord]; and Mattan begat Ya’akov; And Ya-akov begat Joseph [Yosef—He will add/God will increase] the husband of Mary [Miryam—God’s gift], of whom was born Yeshua, who is called Mashiach. So all the generations from Avraham to Dav-id’ are fourteen generations; and from Dav-id’ until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Mashiach are fourteen generations.

Now the birth of Yeshua haMashiach was on this wise: When as his mother Miryam was espoused to Yosef, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost [Ruach haKodesh]. Then Yosef her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord [YHVH—read as Adonai, my Lord—the eternal self-existent One] appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Yosef, thou son of Dav-id’, fear not to take unto thee Miryam thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Ruach haKodesh. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Yeshua—Salvation: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Yosef being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Yeshua.

Notes for Chapter One

The language: There is no letter j or related sound in Hebrew or Greek. Generally, words with the Hebrew letter י [yud], representing the y sound, are given a j in its place. Most often, the letter ב [vav], representing the v sound, is replaced by a b in English.

The name: When Moses asked the LORD for His name, the answer was I AM that I AM [Exodus 3:14]. YHVH—יהוה—[no vowels] is unpronounceable. Please note there is no a, e, or w. When this word is seen in the Word in Hebrew, it is read as Adonai, My LORD. The word יהוה is the infinitive form of the verb to be. So it is unpronounceable to us because He is beyond what our mind can understand or our mouths can speak. He is, He was, He always will be. He not only is the Creator, He is creation. That’s why in Him we live and move and have our being [Acts 17:28]. To try to speak His name would bring Him into the realm of what we can say.

The letter j was brought into the English language in the 1600s and entered the mainstream with Shakespeare. Hebrew words that began with y or י were written with a j. Yosef became Joseph, Yehoshua became Joshua, Yerushalayim became Jerusalem, and YHVH became Jehovah. Exodus 20:7: Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. The minimizing of His name does just that—it says the creation can understand and be equal to the Creator.

Sometimes, the name is Lord, and others, LORD. Psalm 110:1: The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool [Quoted by Yeshua in Matthew 22:44]. YHVH or יהוה is translated LORD. יי or YY is translated Lord. The difference? יהוה is the whole Godhead—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and is used as a plural noun though always with a singular verb—plurality as one. יי or YY is singular and refers to the Mashiach [Messiah].

Most names with the syllable el have God in their meaning. Most names with Jah or Yah have Lord in their meaning.

Matthew wrote this book under the inspiration of the Ruach haKodesh [Holy Spirit] to his people, the Jews. Therefore, the genealogy of the Messiah, proving Him to be a descendent of King Dav-id’, and the fulfillment of prophecy and other requirements are a central theme of this gospel [Good News]. The name He was given was Yeshua, literally meaning salvation. He is called by many other names such as Emanuel [God with us], Son of God, Son of Man, etc. These are titles and descriptors of His office, purpose, and nature. Christ, from the Greek Christos, is Mashiach in Hebrew, Messiah, the Anointed One sent from the Father.

The names of the ancestors of our Messiah give insight into the Lord’s plan from the beginning. Abraham or Avraham, the Father of a Multitude, begat Isaac or Yitzchak—Laughter, not only because Sarah laughed at the prophecy of her pending motherhood but also because the joy of the Lord is our strength [Nehemiah—Comforted by the Lord—8:10]. Yitzchak begat Jacob—Ya-akov, the supplanter who became Israel—Yisrael—or the Contender with God who was saved by Him.