μαρτυρέω (G3140) — Greek Lexicon

μαρτυρέω

martyréō

G3140 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To bear witness, to testify; primarily to provide evidence as a witness, either orally or in writing, regarding events seen, heard, or experienced. In Hellenistic and New Testament usage, can denote reporting first-hand knowledge, making a public declaration, or giving confirmation of facts, often with legal, social, or religious dimensions. Also, to affirm or attest to the character or actions of a person or event, sometimes implying endorsement or commendation.

Semantic Range

to give testimony before a court or assembly, to report or declare from personal experience, to affirm or attest to facts or character, to commend or praise in testimony, to make public declaration of allegiance or conviction, to obtain or have a good report, to be spoken of favorably

Root / Etymology

From the noun μάρτυς ('witness'), built on the root μαρτυρ-, meaning 'witness, one who gives testimony.' The verb μαρτυρέω is a direct denominative formation meaning 'to bear witness' or 'to testify.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, μαρτυρέω is primarily used in legal or formal contexts, referring to providing testimony in a court or assembly. In the Hellenistic and Roman periods, especially in Jewish and early Christian contexts, the verb is frequently connected to giving public assurance of a person's trustworthiness, ethical standing, or reporting religious experiences. In the Septuagint, it often translates Hebrew עוּד (ʿûd) 'to bear witness, admonish.' In the New Testament, the term takes on expanded connotations, sometimes relating to public proclamation of religious truths or affirming the identity and actions of Jesus or others. English translations often use 'bear witness,' 'testify,' or 'give testimony,' but these can narrowly reflect legal circumstances, whereas the Greek includes broader personal, communal, and eschatological declarations. Distinct from verbs like ὁμολογέω ('to confess, declare') or διαμαρτύρομαι ('to solemnly warn, require testimony'), which may focus more on the content or solemnity of the statement rather than the act of witnessing itself.

Translation Consistency

primary "testify" 14 occurrences

"Testify" is the most natural, single-word English verb that captures the primary senses of μαρτυρέω — to bear witness, give evidence, attest, or make a public declaration. It fits legal, social, and religious contexts and maps well onto the common NT usage of providing first-hand testimony or attestation.

Alternatives (36 occurrences):

"bear witness" (8x) "testifies" (7x) "testified" (7x) "bearing witness" (5x) "borne witness" (2x) "attested" (2x) "testified about" (2x) "attested to" (1x) "having testified" (1x) "bore witness" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from μάρτυς; to be a witness, i.e. testify (literally or figuratively):--charge, give (evidence), bear record, have (obtain, of) good (honest) report, be well reported of, testify, give (have) testimony, (be, bear, give, obtain) witness.

Root Family

μαρτυρ- (diamartýromai) — to witness, to testify, to bear witness

Root μαρτυρ- to bear witness, to testify, to give evidence, to affirm

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G1263	διαμαρτύρομαι	having solemnly testified
G1957	ἐπιμαρτυρέω	bearing additional witness
G2649	καταμαρτυρέω	they testify against
G267	ἀμάρτυρος	without witness
G3141	μαρτυρία	testimony
G3142	μαρτύριον	evidential testimony
G3143	μαρτύρομαι	I solemnly testify
G4828	συμμαρτυρέω	bears witness together
G4901	συνεπιμαρτυρέω	jointly bearing witness

Word Forms

40 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G3140-09`	μαρτυρεῖ	marturei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	testifies	bears witness	testifies	8
`G3140-22`	μαρτυρῶ	marturo	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P SG`	I testify	I may bear witness	I may testify	8
`G3140-05`	ἐμαρτύρησεν	emarturesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	testified	bore witness	he testified	5
`G3140-13`	μαρτυρεῖτε	martureite	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	bear witness	you bear witness	you bear witness	4
`G3140-23`	μαρτυρῶν	marturon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	testifying	of witnesses	testifying	4
`G3140-24`	μαρτυροῦμεν	marturoumen	`V PRS ACT IND 1P PL`	testify	we bear witness	we testify	4
`G3140-39`	μεμαρτύρηκεν	memartureken	`V PRF ACT IND 3P SG`	has borne witness	has borne witness	he has testified	4
`G3140-17`	μαρτυρήσῃ	marturese	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	bear witness	he/she may bear witness	he/she may testify	3
`G3140-26`	μαρτυρούμενός	marturoumenos	`V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M SG`	well spoken of	being attested	being attested	3
`G3140-14`	μαρτυρῆσαι	marturesai	`V AOR ACT INF`	bear witness	to bear witness	to bear witness	2
`G3140-25`	μαρτυρουμένη	marturoumene	`V PRS PASS PTCP NOM F SG`	being witnessed	being testified about	being testified about	2
`G3140-40`	μεμαρτύρηται	memarturetai	`V PRF PASS IND 3P SG`	has been testified	has been testified	has been testified	2
`G3140-01`	ἐμαρτύρει	emarturei	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	was testifying	was bearing witness	was bearing witness	1
`G3140-02`	ἐμαρτυρεῖτο	emartureito	`V IMPF PASS IND 3P SG`	was commended	he/she/it was being testified about	he was being testified about	1
`G3140-03`	ἐμαρτυρήσαμεν	emarturesamen	`V AOR ACT IND 1P PL`	we testified	we bore witness	we bore witness	1
`G3140-04`	ἐμαρτύρησάν	emarturesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	have testified	they bore witness	bore witness	1
`G3140-06`	ἐμαρτυρήθη	emarturethe	`V AOR PASS IND 3P SG`	he obtained witness	was attested	it was attested	1
`G3140-07`	ἐμαρτυρήθησαν	emarturethesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	obtained a good report	they were attested	they were attested	1
`G3140-08`	ἐμαρτύρουν	emarturoun	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	bore witness	they were bearing witness	they were bearing witness	1
`G3140-10`	μαρτυρεῖν	marturein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to testify	to bear witness	to testify	1
`G3140-11`	μαρτυρεῖς	martureis	`V PRS ACT IND 2P SG`	bear witness	you bear witness	you bear witness	1
`G3140-12`	μαρτυρεῖται	martureitai	`V PRS PASS IND 3P SG`	is testified	is being testified to	is being testified to	1
`G3140-15`	μαρτυρήσαντος	marturesantos	`V AOR ACT PTCP GEN M SG`	who testified	of the one having borne witness	who testified	1
`G3140-16`	μαρτυρήσας	marturesas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having testified	having borne witness	having testified	1
`G3140-18`	μαρτυρήσει	marturesei	`V FUT ACT IND 3P SG`	will testify	will bear witness	will bear witness	1
`G3140-19`	μαρτυρήσω	martureso	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG`	I should testify	I might testify	I might testify	1
`G3140-20`	μαρτύρησον	martureson	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG`	testify	Bear witness!	testify	1
`G3140-21`	μαρτυρηθέντες	marturethentes	`V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M PL`	having been testified	having been testified about	having been testified about	1
`G3140-27`	μαρτυρουμένους	marturoumenous	`V PRS PASS PTCP ACC M PL`	of good reputation	being attested to	being attested to	1
`G3140-28`	μαρτυροῦν	marturoun	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM N SG`	that bears witness	bearing witness	bearing witness	1
`G3140-29`	μαρτυροῦντες	marturountes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	bear witness	bearing witness	bearing witness	1
`G3140-30`	μαρτυροῦντι	marturounti	`V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M SG`	bearing witness	to the one testifying	one testifying	1
`G3140-31`	μαρτυρούντων	marturounton	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M PL`	testifying	of those bearing witness	testifying	1
`G3140-32`	μαρτυροῦντος	marturountos	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M SG`	testifying	of the one bearing witness	of the one bearing witness	1
`G3140-33`	μαρτυροῦσαι	marturousai	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F PL`	testify	bearing witness	bearing witness	1
`G3140-34`	μαρτυρούσης	marturouses	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN F SG`	testifying	of the one bearing witness	bearing witness	1
`G3140-35`	μαρτυροῦσιν	marturousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	bear witness	they bear witness	bear witness	1
`G3140-36`	μεμαρτύρηκα	memartureka	`V PRF ACT IND 1P SG`	have testified	I have borne witness	I have borne witness	1
`G3140-37`	μεμαρτύρηκας	memarturekas	`V PRF ACT IND 2P SG`	have testified	you have borne witness	you have testified	1
`G3140-38`	μεμαρτύρηκε	memartureke	`V PRF ACT IND 3P SG`	he has testified	he has borne witness	he has borne witness	1

Occurrences in Scripture

77 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G3140-13`	Matthew 23:31	μαρτυρεῖτε	martureite	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	you testify	you bear witness	you bear witness
`G3140-08`	Luke 4:22	ἐμαρτύρουν	emarturoun	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	bore witness	they were bearing witness	they were bearing witness
`G3140-13`	Luke 11:48	μαρτυρεῖτε	martureite	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	you bear witness	you bear witness	you bear witness
`G3140-17`	John 1:7	μαρτυρήσῃ	marturese	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	bear witness	he/she may bear witness	he/she may testify
`G3140-17`	John 1:8	μαρτυρήσῃ	marturese	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	bear witness	he/she may bear witness	he/she may testify
`G3140-09`	John 1:15	μαρτυρεῖ	marturei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	testifies	bears witness	testifies
`G3140-05`	John 1:32	ἐμαρτύρησεν	emarturesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	testified	bore witness	he testified
`G3140-36`	John 1:34	μεμαρτύρηκα	memartureka	`V PRF ACT IND 1P SG`	have testified	I have borne witness	I have borne witness
`G3140-17`	John 2:25	μαρτυρήσῃ	marturese	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	should testify	he/she may bear witness	he/she may testify
`G3140-24`	John 3:11	μαρτυροῦμεν	marturoumen	`V PRS ACT IND 1P PL`	testify	we bear witness	we testify
`G3140-37`	John 3:26	μεμαρτύρηκας	memarturekas	`V PRF ACT IND 2P SG`	have testified	you have borne witness	you have testified
`G3140-13`	John 3:28	μαρτυρεῖτε	martureite	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	bear witness	you bear witness	you bear witness
`G3140-09`	John 3:32	μαρτυρεῖ	marturei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	he testifies	bears witness	testifies
`G3140-34`	John 4:39	μαρτυρούσης	marturouses	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN F SG`	testifying	of the one bearing witness	bearing witness
`G3140-05`	John 4:44	ἐμαρτύρησεν	emarturesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	testified	bore witness	he testified
`G3140-22`	John 5:31	μαρτυρῶ	marturo	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P SG`	testify	I may bear witness	I may testify
`G3140-23`	John 5:32	μαρτυρῶν	marturon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	bearing-witness	of witnesses	bearing witness
`G3140-09`	John 5:32	μαρτυρεῖ	marturei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	he-bears-witness	bears witness	testifies
`G3140-38`	John 5:33	μεμαρτύρηκε	memartureke	`V PRF ACT IND 3P SG`	he has testified	he has borne witness	he has borne witness
`G3140-09`	John 5:36	μαρτυρεῖ	marturei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	bears witness	bears witness	testifies
`G3140-39`	John 5:37	μεμαρτύρηκεν	memartureken	`V PRF ACT IND 3P SG`	has testified	has borne witness	he has testified
`G3140-33`	John 5:39	μαρτυροῦσαι	marturousai	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F PL`	testify	bearing witness	bearing witness
`G3140-22`	John 7:7	μαρτυρῶ	marturo	`V PRS ACT IND 1P SG`	testify	I may bear witness	testify
`G3140-11`	John 8:13	μαρτυρεῖς	martureis	`V PRS ACT IND 2P SG`	bear witness	you bear witness	you bear witness
`G3140-22`	John 8:14	μαρτυρῶ	marturo	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P SG`	bear witness	I may bear witness	I may testify
`G3140-23`	John 8:18	μαρτυρῶν	marturon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	testifying	of witnesses	testifying
`G3140-09`	John 8:18	μαρτυρεῖ	marturei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	testifies	bears witness	testifies
`G3140-09`	John 10:25	μαρτυρεῖ	marturei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	testify	bears witness	testifies
`G3140-01`	John 12:17	ἐμαρτύρει	emarturei	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	was testifying	was bearing witness	was bearing witness
`G3140-05`	John 13:21	ἐμαρτύρησεν	emarturesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	testified	bore witness	he testified
`G3140-18`	John 15:26	μαρτυρήσει	marturesei	`V FUT ACT IND 3P SG`	will testify	will bear witness	will bear witness
`G3140-13`	John 15:27	μαρτυρεῖτε	martureite	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	will testify	you bear witness	you bear witness
`G3140-20`	John 18:23	μαρτύρησον	martureson	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG`	testify	Bear witness!	testify
`G3140-19`	John 18:37	μαρτυρήσω	martureso	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG`	I should testify	I might testify	I might testify
`G3140-39`	John 19:35	μεμαρτύρηκεν	memartureken	`V PRF ACT IND 3P SG`	has borne witness	has borne witness	he has testified
`G3140-23`	John 21:24	μαρτυρῶν	marturon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	testifying	of witnesses	testifying
`G3140-27`	Acts 6:3	μαρτυρουμένους	marturoumenous	`V PRS PASS PTCP ACC M PL`	of good reputation	being attested to	being attested to
`G3140-26`	Acts 10:22	μαρτυρούμενός	marturoumenos	`V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M SG`	well spoken of	being attested	being attested
`G3140-35`	Acts 10:43	μαρτυροῦσιν	marturousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	bear witness	they bear witness	bear witness
`G3140-16`	Acts 13:22	μαρτυρήσας	marturesas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having testified	having borne witness	having testified
`G3140-30`	Acts 14:3	μαρτυροῦντι	marturounti	`V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M SG`	bearing witness	to the one testifying	one testifying
`G3140-05`	Acts 15:8	ἐμαρτύρησεν	emarturesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	testified	bore witness	he testified
`G3140-02`	Acts 16:2	ἐμαρτυρεῖτο	emartureito	`V IMPF PASS IND 3P SG`	was commended	he/she/it was being testified about	he was being testified about
`G3140-09`	Acts 22:5	μαρτυρεῖ	marturei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	bears witness	bears witness	testifies
`G3140-26`	Acts 22:12	μαρτυρούμενος	marturoumenos	`V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M SG`	well spoken of	being attested	being attested
`G3140-14`	Acts 23:11	μαρτυρῆσαι	marturesai	`V AOR ACT INF`	bear witness	to bear witness	to bear witness
`G3140-10`	Acts 26:5	μαρτυρεῖν	marturein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to testify	to bear witness	to testify
`G3140-25`	Romans 3:21	μαρτυρουμένη	marturoumene	`V PRS PASS PTCP NOM F SG`	being witnessed	being testified about	being testified about
`G3140-22`	Romans 10:2	μαρτυρῶ	marturo	`V PRS ACT IND 1P SG`	I bear witness	I may bear witness	I may testify
`G3140-03`	1 Corinthians 15:15	ἐμαρτυρήσαμεν	emarturesamen	`V AOR ACT IND 1P PL`	we testified	we bore witness	we bore witness

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