ἐπιμαρτυρέω (epimartureō)
epimartureō
to testify to
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb epimartureō carries the specific sense of giving strong, confirming testimony. It is formed from a prefix meaning "upon" or "over" combined with the root for witness, suggesting a witness that adds weight or finality to what has already been said. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in 1 Peter 5:12.
Peter uses this word to describe how Silas communicates the grace of God to the readers. The term implies more than simple reporting; it suggests an earnest and authoritative attestation that establishes the truth of the message. This single occurrence highlights the reliability of the apostolic witness, grounding the believers' faith in a firmly established testimony rather than uncertain opinion.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word epimartureō appears just once in the New Testament, found in Peter’s closing letter to believers facing uncertainty. He writes that Silvanus has been sent to testify to the true grace of God. This is not a casual remark or a tentative suggestion. It is a firm, confirming witness that anchors the reader's faith in something solid and reliable.
When life feels unstable, this word reminds us that our hope rests on a testimony that has been verified. Peter does not leave his readers guessing about the nature of God’s favor. Instead, he points to a message that stands firm. You can trust that the grace you experience is real and enduring, supported by those who have faithfully delivered it.
This assurance allows us to stand firm in our own seasons. We do not need to doubt the foundation of our faith because it has been clearly attested. The reliability of the witness gives us peace, knowing that the grace we hold onto is the true grace of God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- testifying1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐπιμαρτυρῶν1×