Lexical Summary pseustēs: Liar Original Word: ψεύστης Strong's Exhaustive Concordance false witness. From pseudes and a kindred form of martus; a spurious witness, i.e. Bearer of untrue testimony -- false witness. see GREEK pseudes see GREEK martus Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5575: ψευδομαρτυρψευδομαρτυρ, unless more correctly ψευδόμαρτυς or rather ψευδόμαρτυς (as ἀυτομαρτυρ; see Passow, under the word, ψευδόμαρτυς (especially Lob. Paralip., p. 217; cf. Etym. Magn. 506, 26)), ψευδομαρτυρος, ὁ, (ψευδής and μάρτυρ (which see)), a false witness: Matthew 26:60; τοῦ θεοῦ, false witnesses of i. e. concerning God (Winer's Grammar, § 30, 1 a.), 1 Corinthians 15:15. (Plato, Gorgias, p. 472b.; Aristotle, pol. 2, 9, 8 (p. 1274b, 6; but the true reading here is ψευδομαρτυριων (see Bentley's Works, Dyce edition, vol. i., p. 408); a better example is Aristotle, rhet. ad Alex. 16, p. 1432{a}, 6; cf. Plutarch, praec. ger. reip. 29, 1; Apostolic Constitutions 5, 9; Pollux 6, 36, 153).) STRONGS NT 5575: ψευδόμαρτυςψευδόμαρτυς, see ψευδομαρτυρ. Topical Lexicon Overview The term translated “false witness” (Greek 5575) denotes a person who deliberately testifies contrary to fact, thereby subverting justice and obscuring truth. Although it appears only twice in the Greek New Testament, its thematic roots stretch across Scripture, intertwining with God’s character as true, His Law’s demand for honesty, and His redemptive purposes in Christ. Old Testament background The Ninth Commandment—“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16)—establishes the moral gravity of truthful testimony. In Israel’s courts two or three corroborating witnesses were required (Deuteronomy 19:15), and any witness proved dishonest faced the penalty he sought for the accused (Deuteronomy 19:16-21). The Law therefore created both deterrent and safeguard, underscoring that justice depends on veracity. Wisdom literature amplifies this: “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will perish” (Proverbs 19:9). The Old Testament thus provides the moral and judicial framework against which New Testament occurrences of 5575 are set. Gospel usage: opposition to Jesus Matthew 26:60 records the religious leaders’ search for incriminating testimony at Jesus’ trial: “But they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward.” The plural ψευδομαρτύρων highlights a parade of deceit that nonetheless fails to align, exposing both the emptiness of their accusations and the innocence of Christ. By contrasting false testimony with Jesus’ own faithful confession (Matthew 26:64), the narrative presents a judicial irony: the embodiment of truth is condemned on the basis of lies. This fulfills prophetic expectation (Psalm 27:12; Isaiah 53:7-9) and reveals the moral bankruptcy of those rejecting Messiah. Pauline usage: affirmation of resurrection In 1 Corinthians 15:15 Paul addresses a denial of bodily resurrection: “And we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that He raised Christ from the dead—whom He did not raise if in fact the dead are not raised.” Here ψευδoμάρτυρες is hypothetical, serving a reductio ad absurdum. If resurrection is impossible, every apostolic proclamation becomes perjury. The term therefore secures the logical hinge of Paul’s argument: the historical resurrection of Jesus validates apostolic witness, grounds the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), and rescues preachers from the charge of bearing false testimony about God. Conversely, acceptance of resurrection preserves the integrity of Scripture and the apostolic community. Theological significance 1. Truth as divine attribute: Scripture affirms that “it is impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18). False witness directly contradicts His nature, making it fundamentally sinful. Ethical and pastoral implications • Justice systems: Christian engagement in legal processes should reflect God’s concern for truthful evidence and due process (Proverbs 24:23-25). Historical testimony Early Christian apologists such as Justin Martyr and Tertullian appealed to the apostles’ reliable witness over against pagan misrepresentation. The church preserved the fourfold Gospel canon in part to demonstrate concordant testimony, countering the charge of collusion by offering multiple independent yet harmonious accounts. Conclusion Though occurring sparsely, Strong’s Greek 5575 crystallizes a broader biblical mandate: truthful testimony is indispensable to divine justice, redemptive revelation, and ethical living. In the courtroom of Caiaphas, the Sanhedrin’s false witnesses failed to silence the Truth. In the preaching of Paul, the resurrection’s reality saves the church from the stigma of false witness. Thus Scripture unites in commending honesty and condemning every form of ψευδομαρτυρία, calling believers to reflect the veracity of the God they serve. Forms and Transliterations ψευδομαρτυρες ψευδομάρτυρες ψευδομαρτυρων ψευδομαρτύρων pseudomartures pseudomarturon pseudomarturōn pseudomartyres pseudomártyres pseudomartyron pseudomartyrōn pseudomartýron pseudomartýrōnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 26:60 N-GMPGRK: πολλῶν προσελθόντων ψευδομαρτύρων ὕστερον δὲ KJV: though many false witnesses came, INT: many having come forward as false witnesses at last moreover 1 Corinthians 15:15 N-NMP Strong's Greek 5575 |
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