4980. Mattanah
Lexical Summary
Mattanah: Mattanah

Original Word: מַתָּנָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Mattanah
Pronunciation: mat-taw-NAH
Phonetic Spelling: (mat-taw-naw')
KJV: Mattanah
NASB: Mattanah
Word Origin: [the same as H4979 (מַתּתָּנָה - gifts)]

1. Mattanah, a place in the Desert

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Mattanah

The same as mattanah; Mattanah, a place in the Desert -- Mattanah.

see HEBREW mattanah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
fem. of mattan
Definition
a place E. of the Jordan
NASB Translation
Mattanah (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
II. מַתָּנָה proper name, of a location a station of Israel east of Jordan Numbers 21:18,19 (JE), ᵐ5 Μανθαναειν.

מַתְּנַי see מַתַּנְיָה below

Topical Lexicon
Name and Meaning

Mattanah (מַתָּנָה) carries the everyday Hebrew sense of “gift.” When used as a place-name in the wilderness itinerary of Israel, the term subtly affirms that every step of the redeemed community—even waystations in an arid land—is a gracious bestowal from the LORD.

Biblical Occurrences

The name appears twice, both in the travel record that bridges Israel’s forty years of wandering with their approach to the Promised Land:
Numbers 21:18–19: “Then they went from the wilderness to Mattanah, from Mattanah to Nahaliel, from Nahaliel to Bamoth”.

These terse notices position Mattanah between the well at Beer and the plateau of Moab, forming part of the route by which the nation skirted Edom, defeated Sihon of the Amorites, and drew near to Pisgah.

Geographical Context

Mattanah is generally located east of the Dead Sea, somewhere along the ancient King’s Highway. Its precise site remains uncertain, but the sequence Beer → Mattanah → Nahaliel → Bamoth suggests a gradual ascent from desert floor to the higher Moabite tableland. The setting underscores God’s provision of water, direction, and safe passage in regions historically controlled by hostile peoples.

Historical Significance in the Wilderness Journey

1. Transitional Marker: Mattanah occurs after the miracle of the well at Beer (Numbers 21:16–17) and before Israel’s victories over Sihon and Og. It therefore marks a turning point from decades of aimless wandering to purposeful advance.
2. Covenant Confirmation: Naming the stop “Gift” immediately after a divinely supplied well highlights the covenant faithfulness of the LORD, echoing earlier provisions of manna and water (Exodus 16; Exodus 17).
3. Encouragement for Conquest: By gifting rest and refreshment en route to enemy territory, God fortified the people’s faith for the battles ahead.

Theological and Ministry Reflections

Gift imagery pervades Scripture—salvation itself is “the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8; Romans 6:23). Mattanah offers a geographical parable: grace is not merely a future inheritance but a present help along the pilgrimage. For ministry, the site reminds leaders to celebrate interim proofs of God’s generosity, strengthening congregations for ongoing obedience.

Typological Insight

Just as Mattanah lay between a life-giving well and higher ground in Moab, so the believer’s journey moves from initial refreshment in Christ (John 4:14) toward the upward call of God (Philippians 3:14). Each stage is itself a “gift,” designed to cultivate gratitude, witness, and persevering faith.

Lessons for Contemporary Discipleship

• Recognize and memorialize God’s smaller provisions; they prepare hearts for larger victories.
• Trace God’s gifts chronologically—doing so builds a narrative of faith that counters discouragement.
• Teach the next generation that even unnamed desert stops are appointments of grace, fostering hope during seasons that feel like detours.

Related Biblical Themes

Gift (מַתָּנָה) appears in other forms to describe priestly portions (Numbers 18:11), royal beneficence (Esther 2:18), and messianic promise (Psalm 68:18). Mattanah as a place-name anchors this vocabulary in the dust and travel of real history, demonstrating that divine generosity is never abstract but woven into the lived experience of God’s people.

Forms and Transliterations
וּמִמַּתָּנָ֖ה וממתנה מַתָּנָֽה׃ מתנה׃ mat·tā·nāh mattaNah mattānāh ū·mim·mat·tā·nāh umimattaNah ūmimmattānāh
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Numbers 21:18
HEB: בְּמִשְׁעֲנֹתָ֑ם וּמִמִּדְבָּ֖ר מַתָּנָֽה׃
NAS: And from the wilderness [they continued] to Mattanah,
KJV: And from the wilderness [they went] to Mattanah:
INT: their staffs the wilderness Mattanah

Numbers 21:19
HEB: וּמִמַּתָּנָ֖ה נַחֲלִיאֵ֑ל וּמִנַּחֲלִיאֵ֖ל
NAS: and from Mattanah to Nahaliel,
KJV: And from Mattanah to Nahaliel:
INT: Mattanah to Nahaliel Nahaliel

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4980
2 Occurrences


mat·tā·nāh — 1 Occ.
ū·mim·mat·tā·nāh — 1 Occ.

4979
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