μάρτυς (martus)
martus
witness
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 35 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun martus refers to a person who gives testimony, whether in a courtroom or as an eyewitness to historical events. In the New Testament, it appears frequently in Acts and Revelation, describing those who have seen and reported on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The word carries the weight of legal evidence, requiring that what is said be true and verifiable.
Its meaning extends beyond mere observation to include faithful proclamation. Believers are called to be witnesses by declaring what they have personally experienced, as seen when the apostles testify to the resurrection in Acts 2:32 and 5:32. The term also applies to Christ Himself, who is described as the faithful witness in Revelation 1:5, and to God, whose truthfulness undergirds all testimony.
A significant development occurs when martus describes those who confirm their faith through death. In Acts 22:20 and Revelation 2:13, the word points to individuals like Stephen and Antipas who sealed their witness with their blood. This usage established the later English term "martyr," highlighting that true testimony may require ultimate sacrifice.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word for witness, martus, begins as a legal term. It describes someone who provides verified testimony in a courtroom. In the New Testament, this meaning expands to include anyone who has seen an event and speaks the truth about it. When the apostles declare they are witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection, they are not sharing opinions. They are offering evidence based on what they personally saw and heard.
This role is central to Christian faith. Believers are called to be witnesses not by inventing new truths, but by reporting what God has done. This includes the power of the Holy Spirit and the reality of Christ’s life. It also extends to those who remain faithful even when it costs them their lives, like Stephen. Your witness is simply sharing the honest story of how you have experienced God’s grace.
You do not need special eloquence to be a witness. You only need to share what is true in your own experience. Whether in daily conversations or formal settings, your testimony points others to Jesus. This simple act of truth-telling connects you to a long line of believers who have spoken for Christ throughout history.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 35 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- witnesses15×
- witness4×
- witnesses.3×
- a witness3×
- Witness3×
- of witnesses?2×
- witnesses,1×
- witness —1×
- to [the] witnesses1×
- of witnesses,1×
- as witness1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- μάρτυρες7×
- μάρτυς6×
- μάρτυρα3×
- μαρτύρων3×
- μάρτυσιν2×
- μάρτυρές2×
- μαρτύρων;2×
- μαρτύρων,2×
- μάρτυσίν1×
- μάρτυς,1×
- μάρτυρός1×
- μάρτυρες.1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”
Jesus defines the scope of Christian witness as extending from local communities to the ends of the earth, powered by the Holy Spirit.
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Acts 2:32
This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.
Peter uses this term to ground the gospel message in historical fact rather than abstract philosophy.
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Acts 22:20
When the blood of Stephen, your witness, was shed, I also was standing by, consenting to his death, and guarding the cloaks of those who killed him.’
Paul identifies Stephen as a witness who confirmed his faith through death, linking testimony to ultimate sacrifice.
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Luke 24:48
You are witnesses of these things.
The resurrected Jesus commissions his followers to be official witnesses of the events that just occurred.