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καταμαρτυρέω

katamartyréō

G2649 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To bear witness against, to testify (as a witness) in opposition to someone, or to provide evidence that is adverse or accusatory. The core sense is to testify or bear witness specifically with a sense of opposition or condemnation. Depending on context, may denote legal testimony in court settings, formal accusation, or hostile attestation.

Semantic Range

to bear witness against, to testify against, to provide (formal or accusatory) evidence in opposition to, to accuse in testimony, to act as a witness in condemnation or accusation

Root / Etymology

From the preposition κατά (down, against) and the verb μαρτυρέω (to bear witness, testify). The compound form intensifies the action to imply testifying 'against' someone or something, not merely giving neutral testimony.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, καταμαρτυρέω appears primarily in legal or adversarial settings, where testimony is given that implicates or accuses another person. In the New Testament (e.g., Mark 14:56-57), the verb is employed in contexts of legal accusation, often in reference to false or hostile witness before judicial authorities. The use of the compound with κατά emphasizes the direction of the testimony as oppositional—witness 'against' rather than 'for' or 'about.' The verb is less common outside legal or judicial Greek and is largely absent from classical Greek sources. English translations traditionally render this term as 'to bear witness against' or 'to testify against,' but the sense of formal and sometimes hostile accusation is critical for proper understanding.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κατά and μαρτυρέω; to testify against:--witness against.

Root Family

μαρτυρ- (diamartýromai) — to witness, to testify, to bear witness

Root μαρτυρ- to testify, to bear witness, to give evidence
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G1263 διαμαρτύρομαι having solemnly testified
G1957 ἐπιμαρτυρέω bearing additional witness
G267 ἀμάρτυρος without witness
G3140 μαρτυρέω was bearing witness
G3141 μαρτυρία testimony

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2649-01 καταμαρτυροῦσιν katamarturousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL are testifying against they testify against they testify against 3

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2649-01 Matthew 26:62 καταμαρτυροῦσιν katamarturousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL are testifying against they testify against they testify against
G2649-01 Matthew 27:13 καταμαρτυροῦσιν katamarturousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL they testify they testify against they testify against
G2649-01 Mark 14:60 καταμαρτυροῦσιν katamarturousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL are testifying against they testify against they testify
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