We’re officially entering the holiday season.
And whether you’re lighting candles, decorating a tree, or simply reflecting as the year comes to a close - this is a time that centers on giving.
Over the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing full YouTube lessons dedicated to both Hanukkah and Christmas - their meanings, customs, and Hebrew expressions. But today, I want to talk about something much simpler. And much deeper:
The heart of giving.
Not the shopping. Not the spending.
But the essence of giving - which, as the dictionary reminds us, is offering something without expecting anything in return.
A flower. A promise. A note. A wrapped gift you’ve poured your soul into.
In Hebrew, the word for “gift” is:
מַתָּנָה — ma-ta-'nah
It comes from the root letters נ.ת.נ - a root that appears again and again across the Bible, across history, and across modern names and expressions.
Now, before we go deeper, a quick word about Hebrew root letters:
In Hebrew, most words are built around 3 root letters. They form a foundation of meaning that connects verbs, nouns, and ideas. But if you’ve learned with me before, you know this:
Root letters are not a shortcut to clarity and confidence in Hebrew.
Trying to learn by identifying root letters can be confusing, misleading, and slow your clarity if you try to build your Hebrew from the roots up.
But, when used to see beauty, to explore meaning - they become a powerful way to connect with the soul of the language.
And this is one of those moments.
The Root נ.ת.נ - Giving That Echoes
The word מַתָּנָה (gift), pronounced /ma-ta-'nah/ shares its root with so many other beautiful forms:
נָתַן /na-'tan/ – He gave
לָתֵת /la-'tet/ – To give
נְתִינָה /ne-tee-'nah/ – The act of giving; generosity
Just like English has "give" and "gift", Hebrew has נְתִינָה /ne-tee-'nah/ the act of giving and מַתָּנָה /ma-ta-'nah/ gift - the action and the thing. This relationship exists in other ancient languages too, like Latin.
In biblical Hebrew, you’ll also find:
מַתָּן /ma-'tan/
מַתָּת /ma-'tat/
Two more ancient words for “gift” - the first is still used today as a first name.
Names That Carry the Meaning of Giving
Giving is so central to Jewish thought and culture, it shows up in some of the most meaningful names:
Nathan נָתָן /na-'tan/ or /'na-tan/ - “He gave”
Matan מַתָּן /ma-'tan/ - A common modern name, meaning simply: gift
Doron דּוֹרוֹן /do-'ron/ - Also means gift, a very common name nowadays in Israel for both boys and girls as well as a last name
Shai / Shay שַׁי /shay/ - Another word for gift, still used today as a last and first name for both boys and girls
In modern Israeli culture, while the main word we use for Gift is מַתָּנָה /ma-ta-'nah/, you’ll often hear:
שַׁי לַחַג /shay la-'khag/ - a gift for the holiday
These are often the gifts employers give to their workers during Passover (more commonly than Hanukkah), and it’s a phrase that appears everywhere in stores, ads, and conversations this time of year.
Love Him or Hate Him… Netanyahu's Name is Biblical Gold
No politics here - just Hebrew!
Whether you admire him or roll your eyes when he speaks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has one of the most meaningful names in the Hebrew language.
Let’s break down his last name:
נָתָנ /na-'tan/ (pronounced /ne-'tan/ נְתַנְ in this form) = He gave
יָהוּ /'ya-hoo/ = A name of God
נְתַנְיָהוּ /ne-tan-'ya-hoo/ = “God gave”
The form /ne-'tan/ נְתַנְ is just a grammatical variation of the more commonly heard /na-tan/ נָתָנ - both mean “he gave” and come from the same root: נ.ת.נ.
In names like Netanyahu, this structure reflects biblical Hebrew patterns.
So whether you’re tuning into a press conference or reading headlines, remember - you're seeing a Hebrew root in action.
Not a political opinion. Just an A+ example of how language carries legacy.
You'll find this same naming formula in other meaningful names like:
Nathaniel נְתַנְאֵל /ne-tan-'el/ – God gave
Elnathan אֶלְנָתָן /el-na-'tan/ – God gave
Matanyahu מַתַּנְיָהוּ /ma-tan-'ya-hoo/ – Gift of God
Matanya מַתַּנְיָה /ma-tan-'yah/ – Gift of God
Matityahu מַתִּתְיָהוּ /ma-teet-'ya-hoo/ – Gift of God
That last one, מַתִּתְיָהוּ Matityahu, may sound familiar - he’s a key figure in the Hanukkah story. The father of the Maccabees, מַתִּתְיָהוּ Matityahu led the early revolt against Greek rule. His name literally means “Gift of God” - and it carries centuries of spiritual and historical weight.
Cultural note:
Names like מַתָּן (Matan), שַׁי (Shai), and דּוֹרוֹן (Doron) are widely used across Israeli society today - especially in secular or modern contexts.
Names like מַתַּנְיָהוּ (Matanyahu)
So whether you’re listening to a speech or reading through the Tanach - these names are everywhere. And they all whisper the same thing:
Giving. Divine giving. Timeless giving.
לָתֵת — More Than a Verb
You’ll recognize the word לָתֵת /la-'tet/ (to give) as both a verb and a powerful symbol.
One of the largest nonprofit organizations in Israel is called Latet לָתֵת.
It is the largest umbrella NGO in Israel working across sectors to reduce poverty and build a civil society based on mutual responsibility and giving.
Their name isn’t just a word - it’s a mission.
When Similar Sounds Mislead: נָתָן vs. הִתְנָה
Now for a twist - and a powerful lesson for Hebrew learners.
We’ve seen how נ.ת.נ points to generosity, openness, and unconditional giving.
But here’s a verb that sounds similar and means the opposite:
הִתְנָה /heet-'nah/ He conditioned
הַתְנָיָה /hat-na-'yah/ Conditioning
These come from ת.נ.י/ה (t.n.i/h) and a different verb structure - הִפְעִיל /heef-'eel/, which usually expresses causation or setting conditions.
In contrast to giving freely, הִתְנָה /heet-'nah/ is about giving with strings attached.
It’s “I’ll give you this… if you give me that.”
So even though נָתָן /na-'tan/ and הִתְנָה /heet-'nah/ sound like they are related - they reflect opposite energies.
This is exactly why I always say:
Don’t try to guess meanings based on how words sound.
In Hebrew, that can mislead you more than it helps.
The Deeper Meaning of a Gift
In Hebrew, to give is more than a transaction. It's an expression of character - a spiritual act.
That’s why נְתִינָה /ne-tee-'nah/ (the noun for giving) also refers to a person’s generosity - not just a one-time action.
And maybe that’s the message worth remembering this season:
A gift doesn’t need to cost anything.
But when it carries meaning, intention, and heart - it becomes unforgettable.
May this season bring you the kind of gifts that don’t fit in a box:
Clarity
Connection
And the joy of giving, without expecting anything in return.
Inbal Amit
Hebrew by Inbal