καταμαρτυρέω (katamartureō)
katamartureō
to testify against
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb katamartureō means to bear witness against someone, effectively testifying in opposition or accusation. It combines the intensifying prefix kata- with martureō, creating a sense of thorough or decisive testimony. This word appears only three times in the New Testament, all within the passion narratives where religious leaders confront Jesus.
In Matthew 26:62 and Mark 14:60, the high priest asks Jesus if He has no answer to the accusations being brought against Him. The text uses this specific verb to describe how false witnesses were testifying against Him. By choosing this term, the Gospel writers highlight the legal nature of the proceedings, where evidence is gathered not to find truth, but to secure a conviction.
The word’s force lies in its adversarial context. It is not neutral reporting; it is active opposition through testimony. The rare usage underscores the gravity of the moment: Jesus stands silent before a court that has already decided His fate, with witnesses actively testifying against Him to seal His doom.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word katamartureō describes a specific kind of witness: one given in opposition. It appears only three times in the New Testament, all within the trial narratives where Jesus faces false accusations from religious leaders and Pilate. The term combines an intensifying prefix with the root for "witness," creating a sense of thorough or decisive testimony against someone. This is not neutral reporting; it is active opposition through testimony.
When you read these passages, notice the contrast between the noise of false witnesses and Jesus’ silence. The Gospel writers use this rare verb to highlight the legal nature of the proceedings, where evidence was gathered not to find truth but to secure a conviction. It underscores the gravity of the moment: Jesus stands silent before a court that has already decided His fate.
For your faith, this word reminds us that standing for truth often means facing opposition. Jesus did not defend Himself against false charges, trusting instead in the Father’s justice. In moments when you feel misunderstood or unfairly judged, remember that your worth is not defined by the accusations of others but by God’s faithful witness to who you are in Christ.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they witness against?1×
- testify against?1×
- do witness against?1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- καταμαρτυροῦσιν;3×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 26:62
The high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?”
This verse captures the high priest's direct challenge to Jesus regarding the specific accusations being brought against Him, highlighting the adversarial nature of the testimony.
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Mark 14:60
The high priest stood up in the middle, and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What is it which these testify against you?”
The parallel account in Mark emphasizes the public setting, with the high priest standing up to confront Jesus about the hostile witness against Him.
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Matthew 27:13
Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how many things they testify against you?”
Pilate’s question here shows that even Roman authority was confronted by this persistent, accusatory testimony, yet Jesus remained silent.