Quick Definition
μαρτυρέω v. I witness, testify
Strong's Definition
from 3144; to be a witness, i.e. testify (literally or figuratively)
KJV Usage: charge, give (evidence), bear record, have (obtain, of) good (honest) report, be well reported of, testify, give (have) testimony, (be, bear, give, obtain) witness
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | ἀμάρτυρος · διαμαρτύρομαι · ἐπιμαρτυρέω · καταμαρτυρέω · μαρτυρία · μαρτύριον · μαρτύρομαι · μάρτυς · προμαρτύρομαι · συμμαρτυρέω · συνεπιμαρτυρέω · ψευδομαρτυρέω · ψευδομαρτυρία · ψευδόμαρτυς
33.262 · Communication · Witness, Testify
to witness to provide information about a person or an event concerning which the speaker has direct knowledge In a number of languages it is necessary to indicate specifically what is the content of a witness, so that, for example, in LUK 21:13 it may be necessary to say ‘this is your chance to witness to the good news’ or ‘... to tell about the good news’ or ‘... to tell what you yourselves know about the good news.’
MAT 23:31 · JHN 1:7 · JHN 1:8 · JHN 1:15 · JHN 1:32 · JHN 1:34 · JHN 2:25 · JHN 3:11 · JHN 3:26 · JHN 3:28 · JHN 3:32 · JHN 4:39 · JHN 4:44 · JHN 5:31 · JHN 5:32 · JHN 5:33 · JHN 5:36 · JHN 5:37 · JHN 5:39 · JHN 7:7 · JHN 8:13 · JHN 8:14 · JHN 8:18 · JHN 8:18 · JHN 10:25 · JHN 12:17 · JHN 13:21 · JHN 15:26 · JHN 15:27 · JHN 18:23 · JHN 18:37 · JHN 19:35 · JHN 21:24 · ACT 10:43 · ACT 14:3 · ACT 15:8 · ACT 22:5 · ACT 23:11 · ACT 26:5 · ROM 3:21 · ROM 10:2 · 1CO 15:15 · 2CO 8:3 · GAL 4:15 · COL 4:13 · 1TI 6:13 · HEB 7:8 · HEB 7:17 · HEB 10:15 · HEB 11:4 · 1JN 1:2 · 1JN 4:14 · 1JN 5:6 · 1JN 5:7 · 1JN 5:9 · 1JN 5:10 · 3JN 1:12 · REV 1:2 · REV 22:16 · REV 22:18 · REV 22:20
33.263 · Communication · Witness, Testify
to speak well of, to approve of to speak well of a person on the basis of personal experience It is possible that μαρτυρέω in LUK 4:22 should be translated as ‘they were well impressed.’
LUK 4:22 · JHN 5:32 · ACT 6:3 · ACT 10:22 · ACT 13:22 · ACT 16:2 · ACT 22:12 · 1TI 5:10 · HEB 11:2 · HEB 11:4 · HEB 11:4 · HEB 11:5 · HEB 11:39 · 3JN 1:3 · 3JN 1:6 · 3JN 1:12
1 It is possible that ἐπιμαρτυρέω is somewhat more specific or emphatic in meaning than μαρτυρέω[a], but this cannot be determined from NT contexts.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
μαρτυρέω, -ὦ; impf. 3 pers. plur. ἐμαρτύρουν ; fut. μαρτυρήσω; 1 aor. ἐμαρτύρησα; pf. μεμαρτύρηκα; Pass., pres. μαρτυροῦμαι; impf. ἐμαρτυροῦμην ; pf. μεμαρτύρημαι; 1 aor. ἐμαρτυρήθην ; ἔτ. [Simon., Pind.], Aeschyl., Hdt. down; to be a witness, to bear witness, testify, i. 6. to affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something, or that (so in the N. T.) he knows it because taught by divine revelation or inspiration, (sometimes in the N. T. the apostles are said μαρτυρεῖν, as those who had been eyeand ear- witnesses of the extraordinary sayings, deeds and sufferings of Jesus, which proved his Messiahship ; so too Paul, as one to whom the risen Christ had visibly appeared; cf. Jn. xv. 27; xix. 35; xxi. 24; Acts xxiii. 11; 1 Co.xv. 15; 1Jn.i. 2, cf. Acts i. 22sq.; ii. 325 111. 15; iv. 33; v. 32; x. 39,41; χῆϊ 31; xxvi. 16; [cf. Westcott, (“Speaker's”) Com. on Jn., Introd. p. xlv. sq-])3 a. in general; absol. fo give (not to keep back) testimony: Jn. xv. 27; Acts xxvi. 5; foll. by ὅτε recitative and the orat. direct., Jn. iv. 39; also preceded by λέγων, In. i. 32; μαρτυρεῖν eis with an ace. of the place into (unto) which the testimony (concerning Christ) is borne, Acts xxiii. 11 [see εἰς, A. I. 5 b.]; μαρτυρῶ, inserted parenthetically (W. § 62, 2), 2 Co. viii. 3; i. 4to prove or confirm by testimony, 1 Jn. y. 6 sq.; used of Jesus, predicting what actually befell him, Jn. xiii. 21; of God, who himself testifies in the Scriptures that a thing is so (viz. as the author declares), foll. by the recitative ὅτι, Heb. vii. 17 R. apr. foll. by περί w. gen. of a pers., to bear witness concerning one: Jn. i. 7 sq.; περὶ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, concerning man, i. 6. to tell what one has himself learned about the nature, character, conduct, of men, Jn. ii. 25 [see ἄνθρωπος, 1 a.]; περί τινος, foll. by direct disc., Jn. i. 15; the Scriptures are said to testify περὶ Ἰησοῦ, i. e. to declare things which make it evident that he was truly sent by God, Jn. v. 39; God is said to do the same, — through the Scriptures, ib. 37 cf. viii. 18; through the expiation wrought by the baptism and death of Christ, and the Holy Spirit giving souls assurance of this expiation, 1 Jn. v. 6-9; so John the Baptist, as being a ‘ prophet’, Jn. v. 32; so the works which he himself did, ib. 36 (there foll. by ὅτι); x. 25; so the | Holy Spirit, Jn. xv. 26; the apostles, 27; so Christ himself περὶ ἑαυτοῦ, Jn. v. 31; viii. 13 sq. 18. περί w. gen. of the thing, Jn. xxi. 24; περὶ τοῦ κακοῦ, to bring forward evidence to prove τὸ κακόν, Jn. xviii. 23. with the ace. of a cognate noun, μαρτυρίαν μαρτυρεῖν περί W. a gen. of the pers., Jn. v. 32; 1 Jn. v. 9 Rec.; 10, (τὴν αὐτὴν μαρτυρίαν μαρτυρεῖν, Plat. Eryx. p. 399 b.; τὴν μαρτυρίαν αὐτοῦ ἣν τῇ ἀρετῇ μαρτυρεῖ, Epict. diss. 4, 8, 32 [cf. W. 225 (211); B. 148 (129)]); w. an ace. of the thing, # testify a thing, bear witness to (of) anything: In. iii. 11, 82; supply αὐτό in Jn. xix. 35; τινί τι, 1 Jn. i. 2; ὃς ἐμαρτύρησε... Χριστοῦ, who has borne witness of (viz. in this book, i. e. the Apocalypse) what God has spoken and Jesus Christ testified (sc. concerning future events; see λόγος, I. 2b. €.), Rev. i. 2; ὁ μαρτυρῶν ταῦτα he that testifieth these things i. e. has caused them to be testified by the prophet, his messenger, Rev. xxii. 20; ματυρῆσαι ὑμῖν ταῦτα ἐπὶ [L Trmrg. WH rg. ἐν] ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις, to cause these things to be testified to you in the churches or for, on account of, the churches, Rev. xxii. 16, — unless ἐπί be dropped from the text and the passage translated, fo you, viz. the (seven) churches (of Asia Minor), the prophet reverting again to i. 4; οἵ. De Wette, Bleek, Diisterdieck, ad loc.; [al., retaining ἐπί, render it over, concerning, cf. x. 11; W. 393 (368) c.; see ἐπί, B. 2 £. 8. fin.]. οὗ testimony borne not in word but by deed, in the phrase used of Christ μαρτυρεῖν τὴν καλὴν ὁμολογίαν, to witness the good confession, to attest the truth of the (Christian) profession by his sufferings and death, 1 Tim. vi. 13, where cf. Hofmann. Pass.: Ro. iii. 21 (a righteousness such as the Scriptures testify that God ascribes to believers, ef. iv. 3). apr. foll. by ὅτι that, Jn. i. 34 [ef. W. 273 (256)]; [iv. 44]; xii. 17 [here R
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
μαρτυρέω martyreō 76x
trans. to testify, depose, Jn. 3:11, 32; 1 Jn. 1:2; Rev. 1:2; 22:20; absol. to give evidence, Jn. 18:23; to bear testimony, testify, Lk. 4:22; Jn. 1:7, 8; to bear testimony in confirmation, Acts 14:3; to declare distinctly and formally, Jn. 4:44; pass. to be the subject of testimony, to obtain attestation to character, Acts 6:3; 10:22; 1 Tim. 5:10; Heb. 11:2, 4; mid. equivalent to μαρτύρομαι, to make a solemn appeal, Acts 26:22; 1 Thess. 2:12
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
μαρτυρέω, -ῶ
(< μάρτυς), [in LXX chiefly for עֵד (Ge 31:47, 48, al.), also for עוּד hi. (Ge 43:3, La 2:13), ענה (Nu 35:30);]
prop., to be a witness, bear witness, testify: absol. (Pind., al.), Jo 15:27, Ac 26:5; parenthetical (Bl., § 79, 7; MM, xvi), II Co 8:3; c. dat. pers. (comm. et incomm.; Bl., § 37, 2), Ac 22:5, He 10:15; id. seq. ὅτι, Mt 23:31, Ro 10:2, al.; acc. et inf., Ac 10:43; c. acc. rei (cl.), Jo 3:11, Re 22:16, 20; c. acc. cogn., seq. περί, Jo 5:32, I Jo 5:10; c. dat. rei, Jo 5:33, Ac 14:3, al.; seq. περί, c. gen. (pers. et rei), Jo 1:7, 8, 15 2:25 18:23 21:24, al.; id. seq. ὅτι, Jo 5:36 7:7; ὅτι, Jo 1:34 4:44 al.; ὅτι recit., Jo 4:39; κατά seq. ὅτι, I Co 15:15; pass., He 7:8; ptcp., Ro 3:21; impers., He 7:17;
in late Gk., to witness favourably, give a good report, approve (Bl., § 54, 3; MM, xvi; Deiss., BS, 265): c. dat. pers., Lk 4:22; seq. ἐπί c. dat. rei, He 11:4; pass., Ac 6:3; seq. ἐν, I Ti 5:10, He 11:2; διά, c. gen. rei, He 11:39; c. gen. pers., Ac 10:22, al.; impers., III Jo 12 (cf. ἐπι-, συν-επι-, κατα-, συν-μαρτυρέω).
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
μαρτυρέω. The common occurrence of this word after a signature, just as we write “witness,” e.g. P Oxy I. 10528 (a will— A.D. 117-137) Σαραπίων Zapartwvos . . μαρτυρῶ, P Lond 1164 (7)35 (records of sales and receipts—A.D. 212) (= III. p. 162) ἩΗλιόϊδ]ωρος . . . μαρτυρῶ, P Grenf II. 682! f (deed of gift—a.p. 247) Αὐρήλιος Piocdpams . . μαρτ[υρ]ῶ. Αὐρήλιος Appovios . . μαρτυρῶ, may be cited in illustration of the Pauline usage in 2 Cor 883, The verb has again a judicial sense in P Amh II. 6655 (a.p. 124) Στοτοήτιος λέγοντος . . . παρεῖναι τοὺς μαρτυρῆσαι δυναμένους τὸ[ν] φόν[ο]ν, ““ Stotoétis stated that there were present persons able to witness to the murder” (Edd.), cf. 38 For the more general meaning, ‘‘bear witness to,” *‘report,’’ cf. PSI 1. 94° (ii/aA.D.) πρὸς τὸ μαρτυρῆσαι ὑμεῖν τὴν φιλανθρωπίαν pov, P Oxy VII. τοῦ413 (iii/a.p.) γράφω σοι. ὅπως συνλάβῃς τῷ “Are. . ξενίαν δὲ αὐτῷ
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
μαρτυρέω (martureō) — to testify. μαρτῠρ-έω, future -ήσω [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, future μαρτυρηθήσομαι [Refs 4th c.BC+]; μαρτυρήσομαι in passive sense, [Refs 5th c.BC+]aorist ἐμαρτυρήθην: perfect μεμαρτύρημαι [Refs 5th c.BC+], used in active sense, [LXX]:—bear witness, give evidence:—Constr.:
1. absolutely, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
2. with dative person, bear witness to or in favour of another, confirm what he says, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μαρτυρέει μοι τῇ γνώμῃ, ὅτι.. bears witness to my opinion, that.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; especially bear favourable witness to, give a good report of a person, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; πάντες ἐμαρτύρουν αὐτῷ [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
3. with accusative of things, testify to a thing, [Refs 7th c.BC+]
4. μ. περί τινος [Refs 5th c.BC+]
5. with infinitive, testify that a thing is, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τίς σοι μαρτυρήσει ταῦτ᾽ ἐμοῦ κλύει; that he heard.. ? [Refs 5th c.BC+]: rarely with participle, μαρτυρεῖτέ [μοι].. ῥινηλατούσῃ [Refs 4th c.BC+]
6. μ. τινὶ ὡς.. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μ. ὅτι.. [Refs 5th c.BC+]
7. μ. τινὶ τῆς συμμαχίας testify to, acknowledge the value of his alliance, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
8. with accusative cognate, μαρτυρίαν μ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μ. ἀκοήν give hearsay evidence, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; μ. ψεῦδος, ψεύδη, bear false witness, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, μαρτυρίαι μαρτυρηθεῖσαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]
9. impersonal in passive, παρ᾽ ἄλλου ποιητοῦ μαρτυρεῖται testimony is borne by.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἶδα.. μαρτυρήσεσθαί μοι ὅτι.. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μεμαρτύρηται ὑμῖν testimony has been given before you, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
10. passive, μαρτυρεῖταί μοι σοφία is ascribed to me, [Refs 1st c.BC+]; μαρτυροῦμαι ἐμπειρίαν I have it ascribed to me, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; μαρτυροῦμαι ἐπί τινι I bear a character for.., [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; ἄνδρας μαρτυρουμένους men whose character is approved by testimony, [NT+1st c.AD+]; δι᾽ ὅλης οἰκουμένης μαρτυρούμενον θεόν [Refs]
II. Astrology texts, to be in aspect with, with dative, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]:—passive, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]