μαρτύρομαι G3143
To solemnly testify, bear witness, or earnestly affirm; to call others to witness the truth of what one declares.
A verb of solemn public testimony, used when the speaker stakes personal credibility on the truth of a declaration. Paul employs it at critical moments: defending his ministry before the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:26), affirming his gospel before Agrippa (Acts 26:22), and urging the Galatians and Ephesians to grasp the weight of his words. The Spanish 'testifico' and German 'bezeugen' both capture this courtroom gravity. More than casual speech, this is truth-telling with one's reputation on the line.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To solemnly testify or earnestly affirm, calling God or others as witnesses to the veracity of one's statement. Paul uses this when the stakes are highest: declaring himself innocent of all blood (Acts 20:26), affirming that every person who accepts circumcision is bound to the whole law (Gal 5:3), and urging believers to walk worthy of God (1 Thess 2:12). The English 'I testify' and French 'attester' both underscore the formal, almost juridical weight of this word. 5×
AR["أَشهَدُ", "أَشْهَدُ-لَكُمْ", "شَاهِدًا", "مُشْهِدينَ"]·ben["আমি-সাক্ষ্য-দিচ্ছি", "সাক্ষ্য-দিই", "সাক্ষ্য-দিতেছি", "সাক্ষ্য-দিয়ে"]·DE["bezeugen", "μαρτυρόμενος", "μαρτύρομαι"]·EN["I-testify", "testifying"]·FR["attester", "μαρτυρόμενοι", "μαρτύρομαι"]·heb["מֵעִיד", "מֵעִיד-אֲנִי", "מֵעִידִים"]·HI["गवअहि-देते-हुए", "गवाही-देता-हूँ", "गवाहीदेतेहुए", "मैन-गवहि-देत-हुन", "मैन-गवहि-देत-होओन"]·ID["aku-bersaksi", "bersaksi", "mendesak"]·IT["attestare", "marturomai", "marturomenoi"]·jav["Kula-nyeksèni", "kula-nyeksèni", "nyekseni", "nyeksèkaken,"]·KO["내가-증거하노라", "증거한다", "증언하노라", "증언하며", "증언하면서"]·PT["testemunhando", "testificando", "testifico", "vos-testifico"]·RU["свидетельствую", "свидетельствуя"]·ES["testificando", "testifico"]·SW["kuwashuhudia", "nashuhudia", "nikishuhudia", "ninawashuhudia"]·TR["sahitlik-ediyorum", "tanıklık-ederek", "tanıklık-ediyorum", "şahitlik-ederek", "şahitlik-ediyorum"]·urd["گواہی-دیتا-ہوا", "گواہی-دیتا-ہوں", "گواہی-دیتے-ہوئے"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
μαρτύρομαι [ῡ], future μαρτῠροῦμαι (δια-) LXX+2nd c.AD+: aorist ἐμαρτῡράμην Refs 5th c.BC+:—call to witness, invoke, with accusative person, Refs 5th c.BC+; especially of the gods, Ἄρτεμιν, γαῖαν καὶ θεούς, Refs 5th c.BC+; δαίμονας, ὡς.. Refs: with accusative et infinitive, ὑμᾶς δ᾽ ἀκούειν ταῦτ᾽ ἐγὼ μαρτύρομαι Refs 4th c.BC+participle, μαρτύρομαι τυπτόμενος I call you to witness that.., Refs 5th…