Lexical Summary pseudomarturia: False testimony, false witness Original Word: ψευδομαρτυρία Strong's Exhaustive Concordance false witness. From pseudomartur; untrue testimony -- false witness. see GREEK pseudomartur Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5577: ψευδομαρτυρίαψευδομαρτυρία, ψευδομαρτυριας, ἡ, (ψευδομαρτυρέω), false testimony, false witness: Matthew 15:19; Matthew 26:59. (Plato, Plutarch; often in the Attic orators.) Topical Lexicon Topical Overview The noun ψευδομαρτυρία (Strong’s 5577) denotes the act or content of “false witness,” that is, testimony presented as fact yet contrary to truth. Although the term itself appears only twice in the Greek New Testament, its ethical weight permeates Scripture from the Decalogue’s prohibition to the climactic trials of Jesus Christ. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. Matthew 15:19 – Jesus lists “false testimony” among the wicked intentions proceeding from the heart, placing it alongside murder, adultery, and blasphemy. Old Testament Background The ninth commandment, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16), lays the moral foundation. In Israel, false testimony carried severe consequences (Deuteronomy 19:16-19). The prophetic books frequently condemn perjury as a hallmark of societal decay (Jeremiah 7:9; Ezekiel 22:9). Connection with Christ’s Passion Matthew 26:59 foreshadows the fulfillment of Isaiah 53:7, where the Servant is “oppressed and afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth.” The judicial quest for ψευδομαρτυρία exposes human hostility toward divine truth and accentuates Christ’s innocence. Broader New Testament Ethic Though the noun occurs only in Matthew, the commandment against bearing false witness is reaffirmed by Jesus (Matthew 19:18), Paul (Romans 13:9), and James (James 2:11). Related forms (e.g., the verb ψευδομαρτυρέω) appear in Mark 14:56-57 and Acts 6:13, extending the concept to actions against Christ’s followers. Theological Significance 1. Truth reflects God’s character (Numbers 23:19; John 14:6). ψευδομαρτυρία therefore opposes God’s nature and disrupts covenant community. Practical and Ministry Implications • Church Discipline: Protecting members from slander (1 Timothy 5:19) upholds justice and unity. Historical Reflections Early church fathers cited ψευδομαρτυρία as a sin incompatible with baptismal vows. During persecutions, believers often faced fabricated charges, mirroring Jesus’ trial and reinforcing identification with His sufferings. Relation to Other Biblical Themes Truth, justice, love of neighbor, and stewardship of speech intersect in the prohibition of false testimony. The command therefore functions not only judicially but relationally, preserving both legal order and communal trust. Summary ψευδομαρτυρία is more than a courtroom offense; it is a heart issue revealing rebellion against the God of truth. Scripture consistently warns against it, provides Christ’s own experience as the supreme example of its injustice, and calls believers to mirror divine integrity in every word spoken. Forms and Transliterations ψευδομαρτυριαι ψευδομαρτυρίαι ψευδομαρτυριαν ψευδομαρτυρίαν pseudomarturiai pseudomarturian pseudomartyriai pseudomartyríai pseudomartyrian pseudomartyríanLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 15:19 N-NFPGRK: 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 Strong's Greek 5577 |
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