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μαρτυρία

martyría

G3141 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Testimony, attestation, or declaration given as evidence—especially in a formal, judicial, or public context. The word primarily denotes the act of witnessing or the content of an attested statement (oral or written), including evidence presented in court, reports of events, declarations of fact, or the public affirmation of beliefs or experiences. Its semantic range encompasses both the action and the result (e.g., the testimony itself or the assertion made).

Semantic Range

testimony, evidence, witness (person or act), declaration, record, report, attestation (judicial or public), affirmation, proof

Root / Etymology

From μάρτυς (martys, 'witness'), with the abstract feminine suffix -ία denoting the quality or action of the base. Thus, μαρτυρία refers to the act or result of witnessing or giving evidence.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, μαρτυρία primarily referred to legal testimony or evidence given by a witness in a judicial setting. By the Hellenistic and Second Temple periods, the semantic range expanded to include not only formal legal testimony, but also more general declarations of truth, affirmations of faith, and reports regarding notable persons or events. In the New Testament, μαρτυρία is especially used for: (1) legal testimony, (2) declarations about Jesus or other individuals (public witness), (3) records of events, or (4) divine testimony (e.g., from God or Scripture), overlapping at times with proclamation. The term underlies the later development of 'martyr' in the sense of one who bears witness by life or death, but in Koine usage its primary sense remains that of attested testimony or evidence. English translations like 'testimony,' 'witness,' or 'record' each express a part of the semantic range, but no single term fully conveys its use as both process and content in diverse contexts. Distinguished from related terms such as διαμαρτύρομαι (to solemnly testify), which emphasizes admonition or exhortation, whereas μαρτυρία usually centers on the testimony itself (written or spoken).

Translation Consistency

primary "testimony" 36 occurrences

‘Testimony’ is the most natural, common English rendering and matches the primary SILEX sense (the act or content of witnessing, attestation, or public declaration). It covers both the action and the resulting statement/evidence in judicial or public contexts and aligns with the attested corpus usage (mostly “testimony”).

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"testimonies" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from μάρτυς; evidence given (judicially or genitive case):--record, report, testimony, witness.

Root Family

μαρτυρία (martyria) — testimony, attestation, evidence, declaration

Root μαρτυρ- to bear witness, to testify, to provide evidence

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3141-03 μαρτυρίαν marturian N ACC F SG testimony testimony testimony 19
G3141-01 μαρτυρία marturia N NOM F SG testimony testimony testimony 15
G3141-04 μαρτυρίας marturias N GEN F SG testimony of testimony of testimony 2
G3141-02 μαρτυρίαι marturiai N NOM F PL testimonies attestations testimonies 1

Occurrences in Scripture

37 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3141-03 Mark 14:55 μαρτυρίαν marturian N ACC F SG testimony testimony testimony
G3141-02 Mark 14:56 μαρτυρίαι marturiai N NOM F PL testimonies attestations testimonies
G3141-01 Mark 14:59 μαρτυρία marturia N NOM F SG testimony testimony testimony
G3141-04 Luke 22:71 μαρτυρίας marturias N GEN F SG testimony of testimony of testimony
G3141-03 John 1:7 μαρτυρίαν marturian N ACC F SG a witness testimony testimony
G3141-01 John 1:19 μαρτυρία marturia N NOM F SG testimony testimony testimony
G3141-03 John 3:11 μαρτυρίαν marturian N ACC F SG testimony testimony testimony
G3141-03 John 3:32 μαρτυρίαν marturian N ACC F SG testimony testimony testimony
G3141-03 John 3:33 μαρτυρίαν marturian N ACC F SG testimony testimony testimony
G3141-01 John 5:31 μαρτυρία marturia N NOM F SG testimony testimony testimony
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