ψευδομαρτυρέω (pseudomartureō)
pseudomartureō
to perjure
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb pseudomartureō means to give false testimony or to perjure oneself. It combines the root for "false" with the word for "witness," creating a specific term for lying under oath or in a legal setting. The sources note that this action is directed against a person, often appearing with the preposition "against" and the genitive case to identify the victim of the lie.
This compound word appears six times in the New Testament, primarily in the Gospels and Romans. It is used when listing the Ten Commandments, such as in Mark 10:19 and Matthew 19:18, where Jesus cites the prohibition against bearing false witness. The term captures the deliberate act of distorting truth in a formal context, rather than casual untruthfulness.
Its usage highlights the seriousness of lying in a judicial or covenantal framework. By using this specific verb, the text emphasizes that false testimony is not just an error but an active assault on justice and another person's reputation. The word underscores the biblical view that truth-telling is foundational to community life.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word pseudomartureō describes a deliberate act of lying under oath or in a formal setting. It is not merely telling an untruth, but actively distorting reality to harm another person’s reputation or standing. In the biblical context, this is treated as a serious violation because it attacks the foundation of justice and trust within the community.
When Jesus cites the commandment against false testimony in Mark 10:19, He places it alongside prohibitions against murder and theft. This grouping shows that lying is not a minor social faux pas; it is an assault on your neighbor’s dignity and rights. Truth-telling is therefore a practical expression of love, protecting others from the damage that deceit can cause.
Understanding this word invites us to examine how we speak about others. It challenges us to value integrity even when silence or exaggeration might seem easier. By choosing honesty, we honor God’s character and build safer, more trusting relationships with those around us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- were bearing false testimony2×
- shall you bear false witness,2×
- will you bear false witness,1×
- will you bear false witness1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐψευδομαρτύρουν2×
- ψευδομαρτυρήσῃς,2×
- ψευδομαρτυρήσεις,2×
Key Verses
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Mark 10:19
You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not give false testimony,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and mother.’”
Jesus lists this commandment alongside murder and theft to show that false testimony is a grave violation of neighborly love.
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Mark 14:56
For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony didn’t agree with each other.
This verse illustrates the chaotic reality of perjury, where multiple witnesses give conflicting false accounts against Jesus.
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Matthew 19:18
He said to him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder.’ ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ‘You shall not steal.’ ‘You shall not offer false testimony.’
Here the prohibition is presented as a clear boundary for righteous living, highlighting the seriousness of bearing false witness.