διαμαρτύρομαι (diamarturomai)
diamarturomai
to testify solemnly
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 15 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb diamarturomai describes a solemn, earnest act of witnessing or charging someone to pay attention. It goes beyond simple reporting; it carries the weight of a formal declaration or a serious warning. In the New Testament, this intensive form emphasizes the gravity of the testimony being given.
This word appears frequently in Acts, where Paul and other leaders use it to underscore the urgency of their message. For instance, Paul solemnly testifies in Ephesus (Acts 20:23) and charges Timothy before God and Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 5:21). The sources note its connection to the Old Testament tradition of calling heaven and earth as witnesses, adding a layer of divine seriousness to the speaker's words.
Its etymology combines an intensive prefix with the root for witness. This structure signals that the testimony is not casual but binding. Translators often render it as "solemnly testify" or "earnestly charge," capturing the sense that the listener is being held accountable to the truth being proclaimed.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word diamarturomai carries a weight that simple reporting cannot match. It describes a solemn, earnest charge to pay attention to the truth. When someone uses this term in Scripture, they are not offering casual advice but issuing a binding declaration with divine seriousness. This intensity reminds us that our faith is grounded in realities that matter eternally, not just temporarily.
In your daily walk, this concept invites you to recognize the gravity of the Gospel message. It is not merely information to be stored away but a truth to be lived out with integrity. Whether you are sharing your hope with others or holding fast to it in silence, remember that your witness carries spiritual weight. The call to testify is an invitation to align your life with the urgent love of God.
This solemnity brings comfort because it means our words and actions are seen by God. We do not speak into a void. The same Spirit who empowered Paul to charge Timothy now empowers you to stand firm in truth. Let this awareness encourage you to live with purpose, knowing that your faithful witness contributes to the unfolding of God’s Kingdom.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 15 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to testify fully2×
- earnestly testifying2×
- you have fully testified1×
- thoroughly warned.1×
- solemnly charging [them]1×
- he may warn1×
- he earnestly testified1×
- having earnestly testified1×
- fully testifying1×
- fully testifies1×
- I earnestly testify1×
- I earnestly declare1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- διαμαρτυρόμενος4×
- διεμαρτύρατο2×
- διαμαρτύρασθαι2×
- Διαμαρτύρομαι2×
- διεμαρτύρω1×
- διεμαρτυράμεθα.1×
- διαμαρτύρηται1×
- διαμαρτύρεταί1×
- διαμαρτυράμενοι1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 20:24
But these things don’t count; nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God.
Paul uses this word to describe his primary life goal: finishing his ministry by fully witnessing to the grace of God, showing that testimony is a lifelong commitment rather than a single event.
-
Acts 23:11
The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome.”
The Lord encourages Paul by linking his future testimony in Rome to his past witness in Jerusalem, indicating that faithful testimony builds a trajectory for further mission.
-
Acts 20:21
testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus.
Here the word connects both repentance toward God and faith in Jesus, showing that solemn testimony encompasses the full scope of the Gospel message.