ψευδομαρτυρία (pseudomarturia)
pseudomarturia
false testimony
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun pseudomarturia denotes false testimony or a lie told in a legal setting. It combines the prefix for "false" with the root for "witness," creating a specific term for perjury rather than general dishonesty. In the New Testament, this word appears only twice, both within the Gospel of Matthew.
Jesus uses it in the Sermon on the Mount to list serious moral failures, placing false witness alongside murder and adultery (Matthew 15:19). Later, the term describes the fabricated charges brought against Him during His trial before the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:59). In both instances, the word highlights a deliberate distortion of truth that harms others or seeks to condemn the innocent.
Its limited usage underscores the gravity of lying under oath. By restricting the term to these high-stakes contexts, the text emphasizes that false testimony is not merely a minor social faux pas but a profound violation of justice and truth.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ψευδομαρτυρία points to a specific kind of harm: lying under oath or in a legal setting to damage another person. It is not just a casual untruth, but a deliberate distortion of facts intended to condemn the innocent or shift blame. In Matthew 15:19, Jesus places this act alongside murder and adultery, showing that false testimony flows from a heart that has turned away from love and truth.
When we face conflict, it is easy to twist words to protect ourselves or hurt others. This word reminds us that integrity matters deeply to God. We are called to speak honestly, even when it is difficult. By rejecting deceit, we reflect the character of Christ, who remained truthful even when false witnesses rose against Him.
May you find peace in living with transparency. Let your words build up rather than tear down, trusting that God sees your heart and values your honesty above all else.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- false testimony1×
- false testimonies,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ψευδομαρτυρίαν1×
- ψευδομαρτυρίαι,1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies.
Jesus identifies false testimony as a direct outflow of the human heart, grouping it with serious sins like murder to show its moral weight.
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Matthew 26:59
Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death,
The term describes the coordinated effort by religious leaders to fabricate charges against Jesus, highlighting how false testimony can be used as a weapon for unjust condemnation.