False Witness: ψευδομαρτυρία (Strong’s G5577: pseudomartyria) Corrupts Truth’s Foundation

Strong’s G5577: A compound noun combining “false” (ψευδής) and “witness/testimony” (μαρτυρία), denoting false testimony or perjury in legal or personal contexts. This word carried severe implications in both Jewish law and Greco-Roman society, representing deliberate deception that undermines justice and truth.

U- Unveiling the Word

ψευδομαρτυρία embodies the serious offense of bearing false witness, combining the concept of intentional falsehood with the solemn act of testimony. In Jewish law, this transgression violated the ninth commandment and could result in severe penalties. The compound structure emphasizes the deliberate nature of the deception – not merely a mistake but a calculated perversion of truth. Early church fathers like Chrysostom viewed this sin as particularly grievous because it corrupted justice and damaged community trust. Today, this word reminds us that truth-telling remains fundamental to godly character and just societies.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ψευδομαρτυρία, pseudomartyria, /psyoo-doh-mar-too-REE-ah/
• Detailed pronunciation: psoo (as in “pseudo”) + doh + mar (as in “mart”) + too + REE + ah
• Part of Speech: Feminine Noun

Etymology:

• ψευδής (pseudēs): false, lying
• μαρτυρία (martyria): witness, testimony
• -ία (-ia): abstract noun suffix indicating state or condition

D – Defining Meanings

• False testimony
• Perjury
• False witness
• Deliberate misrepresentation of facts

For compound words:
ψευδής (false) + μαρτυρία (witness/testimony) creates a noun describing the act or instance of giving false testimony, with the prefix ψευδ- indicating falsity and μαρτυρία conveying formal attestation.

Translation Options:

• False witness – captures both legal and moral dimensions
• False testimony – emphasizes formal/legal context
• Perjury – specific to legal contexts but loses some biblical nuance

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ψεύδος (pseudos) /PSYOO-dos/ – falsehood in general See G5579
• ψευδομάρτυς (pseudomartys) /psyoo-doh-MAR-toos/ – false witness (person) See G5575
• ψευδολόγος (pseudologos) /psyoo-doh-LOG-os/ – speaking falsely See G5573

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Feminine Noun Features:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Gender: Feminine
• First Declension

Example morphological changes:

• Nominative: ψευδομαρτυρία
• Genitive: ψευδομαρτυρίας
• Dative: ψευδομαρτυρίᾳ
• Accusative: ψευδομαρτυρίαν

Related forms:

• Verb: ψευδομαρτυρέω (to bear false witness)
• Adjective: ψευδής (false)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

The major lexicons consistently emphasize ψευδομαρτυρία’s serious nature in both religious and secular contexts. BDAG highlights its use in legal proceedings, while Thayer’s emphasizes its connection to the ninth commandment. LSJ provides evidence of its use in classical Greek courts. Vine’s notes its relationship to the broader word family of ψευδ- terms. Strong’s connects it to deliberate deception rather than mere error. LEH traces its use in the Septuagint, particularly in Proverbs’ wisdom literature. Moulton and Milligan document its continued use in papyri, showing its relevance in everyday legal matters.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Matthew 15:19: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony [ψευδομαρτυρία], slander.”

Additional References:
Matthew 19:18, Matthew 26:59, Mark 10:19, Mark 14:56

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

ψευδομαρτυρία represents more than simple dishonesty; it’s a deliberate perversion of truth that undermines justice and community trust. This word’s presence in the New Testament reminds us that truth-telling is fundamental to following King Jesus. When false witnesses testified against our Messiah, ψευδομαρτυρία played a role in His crucifixion, yet through His resurrection, Truth Himself triumphed over all falsehood. This word calls believers to champion truth in a world often comfortable with deception.

D – Did You Know?

• The penalty for false testimony in ancient Jewish law could mirror the punishment the accused would have received
• ψευδομαρτυρία appears in ancient Greek courtroom documents from papyri discoveries
• The word influenced early church discipline procedures regarding the verification of accusations against leaders

Strong’s G5577: A compound noun combining “false” (ψευδής) and “witness/testimony” (μαρτυρία), denoting false testimony or perjury in legal or personal contexts. This word carried severe implications in both Jewish law and Greco-Roman society, representing deliberate deception that undermines justice and truth.

Part of speech: Feminine Noun

Tags: false witness, testimony, perjury, deception, ninth commandment, truth, justice, legal terms, Jewish law, moral conduct​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​