5577. pseudomarturia

Lexicon

pseudomarturia: False testimony, false witness

Original Word: ψευδομαρτυρία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: pseudomarturia
Pronunciation: psyoo-doh-mar-too-REE-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (psyoo-dom-ar-too-ree'-ah)
Definition: False testimony, false witness
Meaning: false testimony, false witness.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

false witness.

From pseudomartur; untrue testimony -- false witness.

see GREEK pseudomartur

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 5577: ψευδομαρτυρία

ψευδομαρτυρία, ψευδομαρτυριας, ἡ, (ψευδομαρτυρέω), false testimony, false witness: Matthew 15:19; Matthew 26:59. (Plato, Plutarch; often in the Attic orators.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: From ψευδής (pseudes, meaning "false") and μαρτυρία (martyria, meaning "testimony" or "witness").

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The concept of false testimony in the Hebrew Bible is closely related to the Hebrew word שֶׁקֶר (sheqer, Strong's Hebrew 8267), which means "falsehood" or "lie." Another related term is עֵד שָׁקֶר (ed sheqer, Strong's Hebrew 5707 and 8267), meaning "false witness." These terms are used in the Old Testament to describe deceitful practices and are similarly condemned as violations of God's commandments.

Usage: The term ψευδομαρτυρία is used in the New Testament to describe the act of bearing false witness, particularly in legal or judicial contexts. It is associated with deceit and is considered a serious moral and ethical violation.

Context: • Contextual Background: In the biblical context, bearing false witness is explicitly condemned in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:16), highlighting its significance as a moral transgression. The act of giving false testimony undermines justice and truth, which are foundational to the biblical legal system and community ethics.

• New Testament References: The term ψευδομαρτυρία appears in the New Testament in contexts that emphasize the gravity of false testimony. For instance, in Matthew 15:19, Jesus lists false testimony among the evils that come from the heart, equating it with other serious sins such as murder and theft. In Matthew 26:59-60, the chief priests and the Sanhedrin sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, illustrating the use of ψευδομαρτυρία in a judicial setting to achieve unjust ends.

• Moral and Ethical Implications: The New Testament teachings underscore the importance of truthfulness and integrity. False testimony is not only a legal issue but also a spiritual and ethical one, as it reflects the condition of the heart and one's relationship with God and others. The call to truthfulness is a recurring theme, urging believers to uphold honesty in all aspects of life.

• Theological Significance: Bearing false witness is seen as an affront to God's nature, as God is depicted as the ultimate source of truth. The act of ψευδομαρτυρία is contrary to the character of God and the teachings of Jesus, who is described as "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). Thus, Christians are called to emulate Christ's example by living truthfully and justly.

Forms and Transliterations

ψευδομαρτυριαι ψευδομαρτυρίαι ψευδομαρτυριαν ψευδομαρτυρίαν pseudomarturiai pseudomarturian pseudomartyriai pseudomartyríai pseudomartyrian pseudomartyrían

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 15:19 N-NFP
GRK: πορνεῖαι κλοπαί ψευδομαρτυρίαι βλασφημίαι
NAS: thefts, FALSE witness, slanders.
KJV: thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
INT: sexual immorality thefts false witnessings slanders

Matthew 26:59 N-AFS
GRK: ὅλον ἐζήτουν ψευδομαρτυρίαν κατὰ τοῦ
NAS: kept trying to obtain FALSE testimony against
KJV: sought false witness against
INT: whole sought false evidence against

Strong's Greek 5577
2 Occurrences

ψευδομαρτυρίαι — 1 Occ.
ψευδομαρτυρίαν — 1 Occ.