← G4827 G4829 →

συμμαρτυρέω

symmartyréō

G4828 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To bear witness together with another; to join in giving evidence or testifying in support of a statement or event. In extended usage, to provide confirming, corroborative, or supporting testimony, especially as a secondary or additional witness. Primary sense: to give testimony alongside someone else; by extension, to confirm or validate the testimony of another.

Semantic Range

to testify together with, to corroborate, to confirm by joint testimony, to give supporting evidence, to bear collaborative witness

Root / Etymology

Formed from the preposition σύν ('with, together with') and the verb μαρτυρέω ('to witness, to testify'). Thus, συμμαρτυρέω literally means 'to bear witness together with.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, the verb rarely appears and is virtually unattested. It becomes more common in post-classical (Hellenistic and Koine) Greek, especially in legal, judicial, or testimony contexts, where corroboration of witness was significant. In the Septuagint, the verb is largely absent; its primary use occurs in later Koine sources, including the New Testament, typically to express collaborative or corroborative testimony. In the Pauline usage (e.g., Romans 8:16), the idea is one of joining one's testimony to that of another (e.g., the Spirit bearing witness with the human spirit). English translations such as 'bear witness with,' 'testify together with,' or 'corroborate' generally capture the collaborative sense, though 'testify' alone may not convey the joint or corroborative nuance. The verb emphasizes accompanying testimony—either a person, group, or entity confirming or validating the experience or claim of another. Distinct from μαρτυρέω (to testify, bear witness), which can stand alone, συμμαρτυρέω specifically involves shared or supporting testimony.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from σύν and μαρτυρέω; to testify jointly, i.e. corroborate by (concurrent) evidence:--testify unto, (also) bear witness (with).

Root Family

συμμαρτυρέω (symmartyréō) — to witness, to testify, to bear witness together, to corroborate

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

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4828-02 συνμαρτυρούσης sunmarturouses V PRS ACT PTCP GEN F SG bearing-witness of bearing witness together bearing witness together 2
G4828-01 συνμαρτυρεῖ sunmarturei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG bears witness bears witness together bears witness together 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4828-02 Romans 2:15 συνμαρτυρούσης sunmarturouses V PRS ACT PTCP GEN F SG bearing-witness of bearing witness together bearing witness together
G4828-01 Romans 8:16 συνμαρτυρεῖ sunmarturei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG bears witness bears witness together bears witness together
G4828-02 Romans 9:1 συνμαρτυρούσης sunmarturouses V PRS ACT PTCP GEN F SG testifying of bearing witness together bearing witness together
← G4827 Greek Lexicon G4829 →