עֵדָה (e.dah)
e.dah
witness; testimony
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 25 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun edah refers to a witness or testimony, appearing exclusively in the plural form across the Old Testament. It carries a specific legal weight, denoting the divine laws given by God as authoritative evidence of His covenant with Israel. This usage is distinct from general witnessing; it points directly to the statutes and ordinances that define the relationship between the Creator and His people.
With only twenty-five occurrences, the word appears most frequently in Psalms, Deuteronomy, and Joshua. In these texts, edah serves as a concrete reference to the commandments themselves, such as when Psalm 19:8 describes them as "the testimony of the Lord" that makes wise the simple. The plural form emphasizes the comprehensive nature of God’s revealed will, presenting His laws not merely as suggestions but as enduring records of His character and requirements for His community.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word edah points to God’s testimonies as enduring records of His covenant with Israel. In the Old Testament, it carries legal weight, referring not to personal opinions but to divine laws that define the relationship between the Creator and His people. This usage highlights the seriousness of God’s commands, presenting them as concrete evidence of His character and requirements for His community.
For your faith, this means that Scripture is not a collection of vague suggestions. It is a firm foundation. When Psalm 19:8 describes these testimonies as making the simple wise, it reminds us that God’s word provides clear guidance for daily life. Keeping these statutes is an act of trust, acknowledging that His ways are better than our own.
Understanding edah helps us see the Bible as a reliable witness to God’s faithfulness. It invites us to study His laws with reverence, knowing they are designed to protect and guide us. This perspective encourages a life of obedience rooted in love for the One who gave them.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 25 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- testimonies/ your10×
- and/ testimonies/ his3×
- <into>/ a witness3×
- [are] the/ testimonies2×
- testimonies/ his1×
- in/ testimonies/ your1×
- from/ testimonies/ your1×
- and/ testimonies/ your1×
- and/ testimonies/ my1×
- and/ [is] a witness1×
- <of> testimonies/ your1×
- <of> testimonies/ his1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עֵדֹתֶֽי/ךָ\׃5×
- לְ/עֵדָ֔ה3×
- עֵדֹתֶ֑י/ךָ2×
- עֵדֹתָ֗י/ו1×
- עֵדֹתֶ֣י/ךָ1×
- עֵֽדֹתֶ֨י/ךָ\׀1×
- עֵ֭דֹתֶי/ךָ1×
- עֵ֝דֹתָ֗י/ו1×
- עֵ֝דֹתֶ֗י/ךָ1×
- מֵ/עֵדֹתֶ֑י/ךָ1×
- וְ֝/עֵדוֹתָ֗י/ו1×
- וְ/עֵדֹתָֽי/ו\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 4:45
These are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the ordinances which Moses spoke to the children of Israel when they came out of Egypt,
This verse explicitly links the testimonies with statutes and ordinances, showing that edah refers to the comprehensive body of divine law given to Israel.
-
Psalms 119:138
You have commanded your statutes in righteousness. They are fully trustworthy.
Here the psalmist declares God’s statutes fully trustworthy, emphasizing the reliability and permanence of the testimonies as a basis for faith.
-
Joshua 24:27
Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all Yahweh’s words which he spoke to us. It shall be therefore a witness against you, lest you deny your God.”
Joshua uses a stone as a witness against the people, illustrating how edah functions as an enduring record that holds them accountable to God’s words.
-
Psalms 119:167
My soul has observed your testimonies. I love them exceedingly.
The psalmist loves the testimonies exceedingly, showing that obedience to these divine records is a source of deep spiritual joy and devotion.