(Mattithiah, Mattathias)--English for Hebrew Mattityah or Mattai (Aramaic Matti; Greek Maththaios; Latin Mattheum), meaning “gift of Yah.†He was the son of Halfai (Alphaeus), and was a tax-collector at Capernaum. He was called by Messiah to be one of the Twelve emissaries (Mt 9:9). In 1Chr 9 Ezra 10 Neh 8, and in Messianic genealogy. Lu 3:26.
Matthew is the standard English form of the New Testament name Μαθθαιος or Ματθαιος (Matthaios), a Greek transliteration of the Aramaic diminutive מתי (Mattay, Maty). From Latin Matthæus, the English spelling Matthew (earlier Matheu) comes directly from the French Matthieu. Ultimately derived from the Hebrew name מתתיהו (Matatyahu, Mattathias) or מתיתיהו (Matityahu, Mattithiah), Matthew means "gift of the LORD; gift of the god Yahu".