English

Proper noun

Matthias

1. The Apostle chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. (biblical character)
2. A male given name, derived from the same source as Matthew.

Quotations

• 1611, Bible (KJV):: Acts 1:26:

  And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Usage notes

In several European languages, the equivalents of Matthias rather than Matthew are preferred as given names.

Translations

Danish

Proper noun

Matthias

1. (biblical) Matthias.
2. A male given name.

Related terms

• Mads
• Mathias
• Matthæus

French

Proper noun

Matthias

1. (biblical) Matthias.
2. A male given name. Variant spelling: Mathias

German

Etymology

From Latin Matthias, from Ancient Greek Ματθίας ‎(Matthías)

Proper noun

Matthias

1. (biblical) Matthias.
   • 1678, Der christliche Ulysses, oder weit-versuchte Cavallier, Nürnberg, p. 281:

     Es begreiffet auch in sich den Ort, da nach der Himmelfahrt deß HERRN die Apostel, den Apostel Matthiam, an die Stell deß Verrähters Judæ, durch Loos, beruffen hatten.

2. A male given name. Variant spelling: Mathias.

Latin

Etymology

From the Ancient Greek Ματθίας, Μαθθίας ‎(Matthías, Maththías), contracted from Ματταθίας ‎(Mattathías), from the Hebrew מַתִּתְיָהוּ ‎(Matityáhu, literally “gift of God”). Compare Matthaeus.

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈmat.tʰi.aːs/, /ˈmatʰ.tʰi.aːs/

Proper noun

Matthiās m ‎(genitive Matthiae); first declension

1. Saint Matthias (the Apostle chosen to replace Judas Iscariot after the latter’s Betrayal of Christ and subsequent suicide)
   • AD 2nd century, Acta Andreae et Matthiae apud Anthropophagos [The Acts of Andrew and Matthias among the Anthropophagi]

Declension

First declension, masculine Greek type with nominative singular in -ās.

The acc. sg. is also Matthiam.

Portuguese

Proper noun

Matthias m

1. A male given name, a spelling variant of Matias