μαρτυρέω (martureō)
martureō
to testify
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 73 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb martureō means to give testimony or bear witness to something one has seen, heard, or experienced. In the New Testament, it carries a strong sense of affirming truth under obligation, often in a legal or formal setting. Jesus uses it frequently in John’s Gospel to describe how various figures and events confirm His identity, such as when John the Baptist testifies about Him (John 1:7-8) or when Jesus points to His works as evidence (John 5:36).
Its root is martys, meaning "witness," which later became associated with those who died for their faith. The sources note that in secular Greek, the word was commonly used in legal contexts and even appeared after signatures on documents to indicate attestation. This judicial weight remains in passages like Acts 26:5, where Paul describes his life as a public testimony before all Israel.
Translators typically render martureō as "testify" or "bear witness," though the English can sometimes feel passive. The Greek implies active declaration — not merely knowing something but speaking it out. In Hebrews 11, for example, believers are said to have received God’s approval through their faith, a form of divine testimony that transcends human judgment.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we hear the word 'testify,' it often brings to mind a courtroom or a formal declaration. In Greek, martureō carries that same weight of truth-telling under obligation. It is not just sharing an opinion; it is affirming what you have seen, heard, or experienced as real and true. For your faith, this means your witness is rooted in reality. You do not need to manufacture a spiritual experience to speak about Jesus. Instead, you simply report the truth of who He is and what He has done.
This active declaration invites others to see the same light. John the Baptist did not claim to be the Messiah; he pointed to Jesus so that others might believe (John 1:7). Your testimony works in much the same way. By sharing your honest experience of God’s faithfulness, you help others find their own belief. It is a gentle invitation to trust, rather than a forceful demand.
Even when the world disagrees, your witness remains valuable because it is anchored in Christ. Jesus said His works testify about Him (John 5:36). In your daily life, your actions and words can serve as evidence of God’s love. This gives you confidence to speak plainly, knowing that the truth itself has power to change hearts.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 73 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- bear witness6×
- testified3×
- is bearing witness3×
- bearing witness3×
- I bear witness3×
- to testify2×
- testifying2×
- has borne witness2×
- bore witness2×
- bears witness2×
- bear witness,2×
- you bear witness1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- μαρτυρεῖ7×
- μαρτυρῶ6×
- ἐμαρτύρησεν5×
- μεμαρτύρηκεν5×
- μαρτυρῶν4×
- μαρτυρήσῃ3×
- μεμαρτύρηται2×
- μαρτυροῦμεν,2×
- μαρτυροῦμεν2×
- μαρτυρούμενος2×
- μαρτυρεῖτε2×
- Ἐμαρτύρει1×
Key Verses
-
John 1:7
The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him.
This verse shows the purpose of testimony is not to draw attention to the witness, but to lead others to believe in the light.
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John 5:36
But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me.
Here Jesus expands the scope of testimony beyond words, showing that His works themselves serve as evidence of the Father’s sending.
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John 1:34
I have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
John combines personal observation ('I have seen') with public declaration ('have testified'), linking experience to witness.
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Matthew 23:31
Therefore you testify to yourselves that you are children of those who killed the prophets.
This negative example shows how testimony can also be a self-condemning act when it confirms one's own rejection of God’s messengers.