μαρτυρία (marturia)
marturia
testimony
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 33 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun marturia refers to testimony or evidence, specifically the act of bearing witness to a truth. In the New Testament, it appears most frequently in the Gospel of John and Revelation, where it carries significant theological weight. The sources highlight its use in legal contexts, such as the false witnesses against Jesus in Mark 14:56, but also in spiritual ones, like John’s account of his own witness to the Light in John 1:7.
A key feature of this word is its relationship to a subject. It often takes a genitive case to indicate what or who is being testified about. For example, in 1 John 5:9, the text speaks of "the testimony of men" versus "the testimony of God," showing that marturia can be human observation or divine revelation. In Revelation, it describes the faithful witness of martyrs (Rev 1:2) and the prophetic message itself (Rev 1:9).
The term originates from the verb martyrō, meaning to witness. This root connects the concept of testimony directly to the idea of personal experience or knowledge. Translators usually render it as "testimony," "witness," or "record," depending on whether the context is judicial (like in Luke 22:71) or prophetic (like in Revelation 11:7). The consistency of this usage across diverse books underscores its role as a foundational concept for claiming truth in Scripture.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for testimony in Greek carries the weight of a personal account based on what one has actually seen or heard. It is not merely an opinion or a second-hand report, but a declaration rooted in direct experience. When Scripture speaks of bearing witness, it invites us to share the reality of God’s work in our lives with honesty and clarity.
In the Gospels, this concept highlights the importance of truth over convenience. The religious leaders sought false witnesses to condemn Jesus, yet the true testimony remained steadfast even when no one wanted to hear it. For believers today, this means our witness does not need to be perfect or polished; it simply needs to be true to what God has shown us.
This call to testify is both a privilege and a responsibility. Whether through words or actions, we are invited to reflect the truth of the Gospel. As you navigate your own story, remember that sharing your experience of faith can encourage others to seek the same hope and assurance found in Christ.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 33 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- testimony32×
- witness1×
- testimonies1×
- of witness1×
- a witness1×
- a testimony1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- μαρτυρίαν19×
- μαρτυρία15×
- μαρτυρίας2×
- μαρτυρίαι1×
Key Verses
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John 19:35
He who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, that you may believe.
This verse emphasizes the reliability of the witness by stating that the one who saw knows he tells the truth, linking testimony directly to verified reality.
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I John 5:11
The testimony is this: that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
Here the term defines the core content of the gospel message itself: that eternal life is found exclusively in the Son of God.
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Mark 14:56
For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony didn’t agree with each other.
This occurrence shows the contrast between false, conflicting human accusations and the unwavering truth of Jesus’ identity.
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John 3:33
He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true.
The note explains that accepting this divine witness is equivalent to acknowledging God’s own truthfulness.