προμαρτύρομαι (promarturomai)
promarturomai
to predict
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb promarturomai means to testify or declare something in advance, effectively predicting an event before it happens. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in First Peter 1:11, where it describes the prophetic insight of the Old Testament prophets.
Its structure combines a prefix meaning "before" with a root related to bearing witness or testifying. This creates a specific sense of forewarning rather than simple prediction. The sources indicate that the prophets were Spirit-inspired, testifying beforehand about the sufferings of Christ and the glory that would follow.
This single usage highlights how early Christian writers viewed prophecy as a confirmed testimony given ahead of time. It connects the ancient scriptures directly to the life of Jesus, showing that the events of his ministry were not surprises but fulfilled declarations made long ago.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word promarturomai captures a unique kind of speaking: testifying in advance. In First Peter, it describes how Old Testament prophets were moved by the Spirit of Christ to look forward to events that had not yet happened. They did not merely guess; they bore witness to what was coming. This gives their words a weight and certainty that anchors our faith.
When we read these ancient texts, we are reminded that God’s plan is steady and sure. The sufferings and glories of Christ were not accidents or surprises. They were declared long ago by those who saw further than the present moment. This continuity between the prophets and the apostles shows us that Scripture is one unified story.
For you, this means your life is part of a larger, purposeful narrative. Just as the prophets looked forward with hope, you can look back with confidence in what God has done and forward with trust in what He will do. His word stands firm through every generation.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- testifying beforehand1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- προμαρτυρόμενον1×
Key Verses
-
I Peter 1:11
searching for who or what kind of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them pointed to when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow them.
This is the only New Testament occurrence, where the verb links the Spirit-inspired foresight of Old Testament prophets directly to the future suffering and glory of Christ.