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עֵד

𐤏𐤃

ʻêd

H5707 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עוּד to return, to repeat, to bear witness, to assert

Definition

A person who serves as a witness—one who observes or bears testimony in a formal, legal, or covenantal context; also the testimony (statement or proof) given by such a witness. The term can denote both the individual providing attestation and the testimony or evidence itself, depending on context. Used extensively in legal, judicial, covenantal, and ritual settings in the Hebrew Bible; the semantic range includes legal witness, establishing matters by means of witnesses, and occasionally metaphorically of objects or actions as witnesses.

Semantic Range

witness (person), testimony (evidence/testimony borne), proof, attestation, person serving as legal witness, figurative witness (object or action symbolizing witness); rarely, official or recorder (context-dependent)

Root / Etymology

From the root עוּד (ʿwd), meaning 'to return, repeat, do again, bear witness'. The noun עֵד (ʿēd) is derived from this root and refers specifically to one who bears repeated testimony or gives evidence. The root conveys repetition or affirmation, which is integral to the act of bearing witness or giving reliable testimony.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the legal and covenantal systems of the ancient Israelites, עֵד referred primarily to a person providing testimony in a judicial or transactional process, such as in court cases (Deuteronomy 19:15; Numbers 35:30) or covenant ceremonies (Genesis 31:44-52). A minimum of two עֵדִים (witnesses) was required to establish a matter. The abstract sense ('testimony') is less common, but seen for instance in poetic and prophetic texts. In some cases, objects (stones, altars) or actions are figuratively termed עֵד, functioning as witnesses to agreements or acts (Genesis 31:48). Rarely, the term may appear in administrative contexts (e.g., recorder), but this is not the primary meaning and should not be conflated with later administrative titles. English translation as 'witness' captures the principal meaning; rendering as 'recorder' is context-dependent and usually not accurate for the biblical period. Later Jewish tradition distinguished between valid and invalid עֵדִים based on ritual status, but this elaboration is absent from the biblical period, where the concern is more on veracity and presence. The term should not be confused with broader terms for testimony or evidence.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

contracted from עוּד; concretely, a witness; abstractly, testimony; specifically, a recorder, i.e. prince; witness.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עוד (ʿ-w-d) — to return, repeat, bear witness, assert

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3034 יָדָה still him
H5704 עַד while still
H5709 עֲדָא appointed assembly of
H5712 עֵדָה appointed assembly of
H5713 עֵדָה his witness-assemblies

Word Forms

15 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5707-01 עֵ֛ד ed HNcmsa witness witness 29
H5707-07 עֵדִ֔ים edim HNcmpa witnesses witnesses 14
H5707-11 לְ/עֵ֖ד leed HR/Ncmsa a witness witness 7
H5707-14 וְ/עֵד֙ veed HC/Ncmsa and witness and witness 5
H5707-02 עֵדַ/י֙ eday HNcmpc/Sp1cs my witnesses my witnesses 3
H5707-09 הָ/עֵדִ֞ים haedim HTd/Ncmpa of the witnesses the witnesses 2
H5707-03 עֵֽדֵי edey HNcmpc witnesses witnesses of 2
H5707-13 וָ/עֵ֖ד vaed HC/Ncmsa and-witness and a witness 1
H5707-10 לָ/עַ֖ד laad HR/Ncmsa forever as a witness 1
H5707-04 עֵֽדֵי/הֶם֙ edeyhem HNcmpc/Sp3mp their witnesses their witnesses 1

Occurrences in Scripture

70 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5707-11 Genesis 31:44 לְ/עֵ֖ד leed HR/Ncmsa for a witness witness
H5707-01 Genesis 31:48 עֵ֛ד ed HNcmsa witness witness
H5707-01 Genesis 31:50 עֵ֖ד ed HNcmsa witness witness
H5707-01 Genesis 31:52 עֵ֚ד ed HNcmsa witness witness
H5707-01 Exodus 20:16 עֵ֥ד ed HNcmsc witness witness
H5707-01 Exodus 22:12 עֵ֑ד ed HNcmsa as evidence witness
H5707-01 Exodus 23:1 עֵ֥ד ed HNcmsc a witness witness
H5707-01 Leviticus 5:1 עֵ֔ד ed HNcmsa a witness witness
H5707-14 Numbers 5:13 וְ/עֵד֙ veed HC/Ncmsa and witness and witness
H5707-07 Numbers 35:30 עֵדִ֔ים edim HNcmpa witnesses witnesses
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