עֵדוּת
𐤏𐤃𐤅𐤕
ʻêdûwth
H5715 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A declaration or attestation given by a witness; in biblical contexts, a formal statement or record, often referring to a testimony given as evidence, particularly in legal, covenantal, or ritual contexts. Refers also to specific legal documents (such as stipulations or statutes), or to the physical objects or structures that serve as witness or reminder (such as the 'Ark of the Testimony'). Semantic range includes abstract testimony, legal/covenantal evidence or stipulation, and concrete objects that preserve or display the testimony.
Semantic Range
testimony, witness (as evidence), attestation (legal or covenantal), stipulation, law/statute, witness-bearing object or structure, record or archive
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root עֵד (ʿēd), meaning 'witness.' The form עֵדוּת (ʿēdût) is a feminine abstract noun formed by adding the -וּת (-ût) suffix, commonly used in Biblical Hebrew to signify an abstract quality or state. Thus, it indicates 'the act of bearing witness' or 'that which constitutes evidence'.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In early Israelite contexts, עֵדוּת most often refers to formal testimony or attestation, especially in judicial, covenantal, or ritual settings. In the Priestly tradition, עֵדוּת frequently designates divine statutes (Exodus, Psalms) or refers to the tablets of the covenant placed in the Ark (e.g., 'Ark of the Testimony,' Exodus 25:16ff). Later usage expands to mean 'stipulation' or 'legal requirement.' The Septuagint translates עֵדוּת as martyria or martyrion, both meaning 'testimony/witness,' but in later Jewish and Christian traditions, the term 'testimony' acquires broader theological nuance. English translations sometimes narrow the meaning to 'testimony' in legal settings or to 'statute' or 'covenant decree' in liturgical contexts, but the Hebrew encompasses the full range of attestation, including both the act/function of witnessing and the material or verbal evidence itself. Distinct from עֵד (ʿēd, 'witness'), which refers to a person, עֵדוּת is the evidence or testimony itself, whether spoken, written, or symbolized by an object or institution.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of עֵד; testimony; testimony, witness.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עד (ʿ-d) — witnessing, bearing witness, providing evidence
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1157 | בְּעַד | on behalf of her |
| H5703 | עַד | up to, until |
| H5704 | עַד | up to |
| H5705 | עַד | up to the limit |
| H5706 | עַד | up to the limit |
Word Forms
10 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5715-04 |
הָ/עֵדֻ֖ת | haedut | HTd/Ncfsa |
of the testimony | the attestation | 38 |
H5715-02 |
עֵדְוֺתֶ֥י/ךָ | edeoteykha | HNcfpc/Sp2ms |
your testimonies | your witness-attestations | 7 |
H5715-03 |
עֵד֥וּת | edut | HNcfsc |
testimony | attestation | 5 |
H5715-09 |
וְ/עֵדְוֺתָ֔י/ו | veedeotayv | HC/Ncfpc/Sp3ms |
and his testimonies | and his attestations | 2 |
H5715-01 |
עֵֽדְוֺתָ֔י/ו | edeotayv | HNcfpc/Sp3ms |
his testimonies | his witness-testimonies | 2 |
H5715-06 |
מֵ֝/עֵדְוֺתֶ֗י/ךָ | meedeoteykha | HR/Ncfpc/Sp2ms |
from Your testimonies | from your witness-attestations | 1 |
H5715-08 |
וּ/בְ/עֵדְוֺתָ֖י/ו | uveedeotayv | HC/R/Ncfpc/Sp3ms |
his testimonies | and in his witness-records | 1 |
H5715-05 |
לָֽ/עֵדֻ֔ת | laedut | HRd/Ncfsa |
of the testimony | to witness-testimony | 1 |
H5715-10 |
בְ/עֵֽדְוֺתֶ֑י/ךָ | veedeoteykha | HR/Ncfpc/Sp2ms |
to Your testimonies | your testimonies | 1 |
H5715-07 |
וּ/לְ/עֵ֣דְוֺתֶ֔י/ךָ | uleedeoteykha | HC/R/Ncfpc/Sp2ms |
and to Your testimonies | and to your attestations | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
59 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5715-04 |
Exodus 16:34 | הָ/עֵדֻ֖ת | haedut | HTd/Ncfsa |
the-Testimony | the attestation |
H5715-04 |
Exodus 25:16 | הָ/עֵדֻ֔ת | haedut | HTd/Ncfsa |
the testimony | the attestation |
H5715-04 |
Exodus 25:21 | הָ֣/עֵדֻ֔ת | haedut | HTd/Ncfsa |
testimony | the attestation |
H5715-04 |
Exodus 25:22 | הָ/עֵדֻ֑ת | haedut | HTd/Ncfsa |
of the testimony | the attestation |
H5715-04 |
Exodus 26:33 | הָ/עֵד֑וּת | haedut | HTd/Ncfsa |
of the testimony | the attestation |
H5715-04 |
Exodus 26:34 | הָ/עֵדֻ֑ת | haedut | HTd/Ncfsa |
of the testimony | the attestation |
H5715-04 |
Exodus 27:21 | הָ/עֵדֻ֗ת | haedut | HTd/Ncfsa |
the testimony | the attestation |
H5715-04 |
Exodus 30:6 | הָ/עֵדֻ֑ת | haedut | HTd/Ncfsa |
of the testimony | the attestation |
H5715-04 |
Exodus 30:6 | הָ֣/עֵדֻ֔ת | haedut-2 | HTd/Ncfsa |
the testimony | the attestation |
H5715-04 |
Exodus 30:26 | הָ/עֵדֻֽת | haedut | HTd/Ncfsa |
of the testimony | the attestation |