In the inspired records of the Old Testament, the name Matred is preserved twice—first in the foundational historical accounts of the Book of Genesis, and subsequently confirmed in the ancestral ledgers of the First Book of Chronicles. The word Matred itself, drawn from the ancient Hebrew tongue, carries the striking and forceful significance of “pushing forward” or “expulsion,” a name denoting momentum, separation, or a thrusting forth into history.
The identity of Matred is explicitly bound to the royal house of Edom, the nation established by Esau, Jacob’s brother, which rose to early prominence and monarchical power. The Scripture positions Matred as an essential link in a lineage of notable wealth and sovereign status. Matred was the child of Mezahab—a name translating beautifully to “waters of gold”—suggesting an ancestry marked by exceptional distinction, nobility, or abundance.
From this golden heritage, Matred brought forth a daughter named Mehetabel, a name meaning “God benefits” or “whom God makes happy.” This daughter would rise to become the queen consort of Edom, marrying King Hadar (also recorded as Hadad), the sovereign who ruled from the royal city of Pau.
The Holy Ghost has precisely preserved this family line in the prose of the King James Bible. We find the complete record of this royal connection established in the early pages of revelation:
“And Baal-hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Pau; and his wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.” (Genesis 36:39)
Centuries later, when the scribes of Israel assembled the grand genealogical defense of the kingdom to trace the providence of God through the ages, the Holy Spirit ensured this exact identity was reiterated, maintaining the historical integrity of the record without variance:
“And when Baal-hanan was dead, Hadad reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Pai; and his wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.” (1 Chronicles 1:50)
Though ancient translations like the Septuagint and the Peshitta occasionally treat the grammatical construction of the lineage to imply a paternal line—viewing Matred as a son of Mezahab—the majestic flow of the received text highlights the maternal heritage, showcasing Mehetabel’s noble descent through Matred to the golden house of Mezahab.
In the wider scope of the biblical narrative, the inclusion of Matred’s house reminds the believer that the eyes of the Almighty observe the rise and fall of every kingdom, documenting the families of the earth with absolute precision. While Israel was yet maturing in the wilderness and preparing to inherit the Land of Promise, the Lord was already keeping a meticulously detailed ledger of the rulers of Edom, proving that His sovereignty spans across national borders and through generations, working out His overarching design until the final Day of the Lord.