Greek word · G4828

συμμαρτυρέω

symmartyreō

to testify with

Built from syn ("with, together") and martyreō ("to testify, bear witness"). Classical and Koine range: (1) to testify together with another witness, to be a co-witness; (2) more loosely, to confirm or support something by one's testimony, where the "with" idea has faded.

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

What it means

συν-μαρτυρέω (Rec. συμμ-), -ῶ,

to bear witness with: Romans 2:15; with dative, Romans 8:16; before ὅτι, Romans 9:1.†

(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 Romans 8:16

Range of meaning

Built from syn ("with, together") and martyreō ("to testify, bear witness"). Classical and Koine range: (1) to testify together with another witness, to be a co-witness; (2) more loosely, to confirm or support something by one's testimony, where the "with" idea has faded. BDAG lists both and places Romans 8:16 under the sense "testify in support of someone, confirm", while noting the "with" sense is possible.

Against the English

Most English versions keep "with" (KJV "beareth witness with"; BSB, NIV, ESV, NASB "testifies/bears witness with"). The Latin Vulgate and some interpreters take it as "bears witness to our spirit", i.e. the Spirit convinces our spirit. NLT's "joins with our spirit to affirm" keeps the togetherness. The difference matters: "with" gives two witnesses agreeing; "to" gives one witness addressing the believer.

How it drifted

English "testify" and "witness" now often call to mind an inner feeling or a personal faith story ("giving my testimony"). Paul's word is from the world of evidence: confirming a claim so that it stands.

Used elsewhere in the period

Paul uses the verb only in Romans: 2:15 (gentiles' conscience "bearing witness with" the law written on their hearts) and 9:1 ("my conscience bearing witness with me in the Holy Spirit"). In both, a second, inner witness confirms a first. Biblical law required two or three witnesses to establish a matter (Deut 19:15), a rule Paul himself quotes in 2 Cor 13:1. In Greek legal documents the verb belongs to the vocabulary of attesting witnesses.

From the study of Romans 2:15

Range of meaning

To testify along with, to confirm by added testimony; sometimes simply 'to testify, bear witness' with the prefix adding emphasis.

Against the English

KJV/BSB 'also bearing witness' keeps the 'alongside' idea. WEB 'testifying with them' and YLT 'witnessing with them' add 'them' as the partner. The Greek has no such object, and 'their' (αὐτῶν) belongs to 'conscience'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Paul uses it again in Rom 8:16 (the Spirit testifies with our spirit) and Rom 9:1 (my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit). In Greek legal papyri the related verb is used of co-signing witnesses confirming a document.

From the study of Romans 9:1

Range of meaning

'To testify along with', 'to give supporting testimony', 'to confirm'. It is built from syn ('with') and martyreō ('to testify').

Against the English

KJV ('also bearing me witness'), WEB, YLT and NASB keep the idea of a second witness. BSB ('as confirmed by') and NIV ('confirms it') turn it into simple confirmation and lose the courtroom picture.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used in classical Greek for joint or supporting testimony. In the New Testament it appears only in Paul: Rom 2:15 (Gentiles' conscience 'bearing witness'), Rom 8:16 ('the Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit'), and here. BDAG gives 'testify in support of someone, confirm'.

Where it appears

Romans · 3

  1. Romans 2:15 συμμαρτυρούσης are bearing witness

    So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them

    Here: 'Testifying alongside.' Conscience is a second witness confirming the evidence already on display. The grammar sets it as an accompanying circumstance: 'while their conscience also testifies'.

  2. Romans 8:16 συμμαρτυρεῖ bears witness with

    The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

    Here: A legal-sounding word: to give testimony together with someone, or to back up a claim with one's own witness. The present tense pictures an ongoing, repeated action: the Spirit keeps confirming the claim.

  3. Romans 9:1 συμμαρτυρούσης while is bearing witness

    I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit.

    Here: "While ... bears witness with". This is a courtroom word. The phrase it starts runs alongside Paul's statement and brings in a second witness who backs it up.

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