תְּעוּדָה (te.u.dah)
te.u.dah
testimony
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun teudah refers to a formal testimony or attestation that serves as proof or confirmation. It appears in only three verses, appearing in Ruth and Isaiah, where it functions as a tangible record of an agreement or a prophetic message. In these contexts, the word carries weight as a legal or spiritual witness to what has been declared.
Its usage highlights the importance of documented evidence in ancient Israelite society. When used in relation to prophetic injunctions, it underscores the authority and permanence of God’s word. The term does not merely indicate speech but points to a verified statement that stands as a lasting reminder of divine intent or human commitment.
Translators typically render teudah as "testimony" or "attestation," reflecting its role in establishing truth through witness. This noun helps readers understand how biblical authors viewed recorded words and agreements as binding and significant, preserving them for future generations to acknowledge and respond to.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word teudah represents a formal testimony or attestation that serves as proof or confirmation. It appears in only three verses, appearing in Ruth and Isaiah, where it functions as a tangible record of an agreement or a prophetic message. In these contexts, the word carries weight as a legal or spiritual witness to what has been declared.
Its usage highlights the importance of documented evidence in ancient Israelite society. When used in relation to prophetic injunctions, it underscores the authority and permanence of God’s word. The term does not merely indicate speech but points to a verified statement that stands as a lasting reminder of divine intent or human commitment.
Translators typically render teudah as "testimony" or "attestation," reflecting its role in establishing truth through witness. This noun helps readers understand how biblical authors viewed recorded words and agreements as binding and significant, preserving them for future generations to acknowledge and respond to.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ to/ [the] testimony1×
- [was] the/ attestation1×
- [the] testimony1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תְּעוּדָ֑ה1×
- וְ/לִ/תְעוּדָ֑ה1×
- הַ/תְּעוּדָ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
Ruth 4:7
Now this was the custom in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning exchanging, to confirm all things: a man took off his sandal, and gave it to his neighbor; and this was the way of formalizing transactions in Israel.
This verse illustrates the legal weight of teudah by describing a tangible transaction involving a sandal that formalized property rights.
-
Isaiah 8:16
Wrap up the covenant. Seal the law among my disciples.
Here the command to seal the law among disciples emphasizes preserving the testimony as a secure witness for future generations.
-
Isaiah 8:20
Turn to the law and to the covenant! If they don’t speak according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.
The call to turn to the law and covenant establishes this recorded testimony as the ultimate standard for evaluating spiritual truth.