Greek word · G2649

καταμαρτυρέω

katamartyreō

to testify against

To give testimony against someone, act as a witness for the prosecution. It is built from kata ('against') and martyreō ('to testify'). In classical and Hellenistic Greek it belongs to the courtroom: it describes witnesses giving evidence that damages the accused.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

κατα-μαρτυρέω, -ῶ

[in LXX: Job 15:6, Proverbs 25:18 (עָנָה), al. ;]

to bear witness againt: with accusative of thing(s) and genitive of person(s), Matthew 26:62 27:13, Mark 14:60.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Matthew 27:13

Range of meaning

To give testimony against someone, act as a witness for the prosecution. It is built from kata ('against') and martyreō ('to testify'). In classical and Hellenistic Greek it belongs to the courtroom: it describes witnesses giving evidence that damages the accused. It is not a general word for 'complain' or 'criticise'.

Against the English

KJV/YLT 'witness against', WEB/ESV/NASB 'testify against' and BSB 'charges they are bringing' all keep the legal setting. BSB's 'charges' slightly mixes up two roles. In this verb the speakers are acting as witnesses, not only as people bringing charges. Matthew's v.12 used a different verb for that (katēgoreō, 'to accuse').

Used elsewhere in the period

In the LXX (the Greek Old Testament) it appears for hostile testimony, e.g. 1 Kings 21:10, 13 (LXX 3 Kgdms 20:10, 13), where false witnesses 'testify against' Naboth before he is executed. That is a notable echo of a righteous man condemned on false testimony. In the NT it appears only in Matt 26:62; 27:13 and Mark 14:60. Mark's version of the Pilate scene (Mark 15:4) has 'see how many things they accuse you of' (katēgorousin). Matthew changes it to katamartyrousin.

Where it appears

Matthew · 2

  1. Matthew 26:62 καταμαρτυροῦσιν; do witness against?

    So the high priest stood up and asked Him, “Have You no answer? What are these men testifying against You?”

  2. Matthew 27:13 καταμαρτυροῦσιν; they witness against?

    Then Pilate asked Him, “Do You not hear how many charges they are bringing against You?”

    Here: A courtroom word: to give evidence against someone. The present tense pictures the accusations still pouring out. Matthew uses the same verb in the high priest's question at 26:62, so the Roman hearing repeats the Jewish one.

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 14:60 καταμαρτυροῦσιν; testify against?

    So the high priest stood up before them and questioned Jesus, “Have You no answer? What are these men testifying against You?”

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.