Evidence; Evident; Evidently

Evident - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

EV'IDENT, a. Plain; open to be seen; clear to the mental eye; apparent; manifest. The figures and colors of bodies are evident to the senses; their qualities may be made evident. The guilt of an offender cannot always be made evident.

Evidently - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

EV'IDENTLY, adv. Clearly; obviously; plainly; in a manner to be seen and understood; in a manner to convince the mind; certainly; manifestly. The evil of sin may be evidently proved by its mischievous effect.

Testify - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

TEST'IFY, v.i. [L. testificor; testis and facio.]

1. To make a solemn declaration, verbal or written, to establish some fact; to give testimony for the purpose of communicating to others a knowledge of something not known to them.

Jesus needed not that any should testify of man, for he knew what was in man. John 2.

2. In judicial proceedings, to make a solemn declaration under oath, for the purpose of establishing or making proof of some act to a court; to give testimony in a cause depending before a tribunal.

One witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die. Num 35.

3. To declare a charge against one.

O Israel, I will testify against thee. Psa 1.

4. To protest; to declare against.

I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. Neh 13.

TEST'IFY, v.t. To affirm or declare solemnly for the purpose of establishing a fact.

We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen. John 3.

1. In law, to affirm or declare under oath before tribunal, for the purpose of proving some fact.

2. To bear witness to; to support the truth of by testimony.

To testify the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20.

3. To publish and declare freely.

Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 20.

Testimony - (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

(1.) Witness or evidence (2 Thess. 1:10).

(2.) The Scriptures, as the revelation of God's will (2 Kings 11:12; Ps. 19:7; 119:88; Isa. 8:16, 20).

(3.) The altar raised by the Gadites and Reubenites (Josh. 22:10).

Testimony - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

TEST'IMONY, n. [L. testimonium.] A solemn declaration or affirmation made for the purpose of establishing or proving some fact. Such affirmation in judicial proceedings,may be verbal or written, but must be under oath. Testimony differs from evidence; testimony is the declaration of a witness, and evidence is the effect of that declaration on the mind, or the degree of light which it affords.

1. Affirmation; declaration. These doctrines are supported by the uniform testimony of the fathers. The belief of past facts must depend on the evidence of human testimony, or the testimony of historians.

2. Open attestation; profession.

Thou for the testimony of truth hast borne

Universal reproach.

3. Witness; evidence; proof of some fact.

Shake off the dust under your feet, for a testimony against them. Mark 6.

4. In Scripture, the two tables of the law.

Thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee. Exo 25.

5. The book of the law.

He brought forth the king's son--and gave him the testimony. 2 Ki 11.

6. The gospel, which testifies of Christ and declares the will of God. 1 Cor 2. 2 Tim 1.

7. The ark. Exo 16.

8. The word of God; the Scriptures.

The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple Psa 19.

9. The laws or precepts of God. ""I love thy testimonies."" ""I have kept thy testimonies.""

10. That which is equivalent to a declaration; manifestation.

Sacrifices were appointed by God for a testimony of his hatred of sin.

11. Evidence suggested to the mind; as the testimony of conscience. 2 Cor 1.

12. Attestation; confirmation.

TEST'IMONY, v.t. To witness. [Not in use.]

Witness - (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

More than one witness was required in criminal cases (Deut. 17:6; 19:15). They were the first to execute the sentence on the condemned (Deut. 13:9; 17:7; 1 Kings 21:13; Matt. 27:1; Acts 7:57, 58). False witnesses were liable to punishment (Deut. 19:16-21). It was also an offence to refuse to bear witness (Lev. 5:1).

Witness - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

WITNESS, n.

1. Testimony; attestation of a fact or event.

If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. John 5.

2. That which furnishes evidence or proof.

Laban said, this heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Gen 31.

3. A person who knows or sees any thing; one personally present; as, he was witness; he was an eye-witness. 1 Pet 5.

4. One who sees the execution of an instrument, and subscribes it for the purpose of confirming its authenticity b his testimony.

5. One who gives testimony; as, the witnesses in court agreed in all essential facts.

With a witness, effectually; to a great degree; with great force, so as to leave some mark as a testimony behind. He struck with a witness. [Not elegant.]

WITNESS, v.t.

1. To see or know by personal presence. I witnessed the ceremonies in New York, with which the ratification of the constitution was celebrated, in 1788.

2. To attest; to give testimony to; to testify to something.

Behold, how many things they witness against thee. Mark 15.

3. To see the execution of an instrument, and subscribe it for the purpose of establishing its authenticity; as, to witness a bond or a deed.

WITNESS, v.i.

1. To bear testimony.

The men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth. 1 Ki 21.

2. To give evidence.

The shew of their countenance doth witness against them. Isa 3.

ev'-i-dens, ev'-i-dent-li cepher; elegchos, phaneros:

In Jer 32:10,11,12,14,16,44, cepher, "a writing," is translated (the King James Version) "evidence" (of the purchase of the field in Anathoth), the Revised Version (British and American) "deed"; "evidence" is also the translation of elegchos, "conviction," in the King James Version of Heb 11:1, "Now faith is .... the evidence of things not seen," the English Revised Version "proving," margin, "or test," better, as the American Standard Revised Version, "conviction," margin, "or test." The Greek word denotes "putting to the test," examining for the purpose of proof, bringing to conviction (Dr. W. F. Moulton). Thus if "test" or "proving" be adopted, a firm conviction of the reality of things not seen is implied as the result of putting to the proof. Trench remarks (New Testament Synonyms), "in juristic Greek elegchein is not merely to reply to, but to refute, an opponent." Hence, the Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 AD.) translation argumentum, followed by Wyclif and Rheims version; Tyndale and Cranmer have "certayntie." (The sense of "conviction" appears in Joh 8:46, "Which of you convinceth (elegchei, the Revised Version (British and American) "convicteth") me of sin?"; Joh 3:20, "reproved," the Revised Version, margin "convicted"; Joh 16:8 the King James Version "He will reprove the world of sin," the Revised Version (British and American) "convict." Compare 1Co 14:24.) "Evident" is the translation of `al panim ("on the face") in Job 6:28, the King James Version "Look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie," margin, "Hebrew before your face," the Revised Version (British and American) "to your face," margin, "And it will be evident unto you if I lie," which is, perhaps, to be preferred to the text; delos, "manifest," is translated "evident" (Ga 3:11); katadelos, "very manifest," is in Heb 7:15, the King James Version "far more evident," the Revised Version (British and American) "more abundantly evident"; prodelos, "manifest before-hand" (Heb 7:14), "evident." "Evidently" occurs only in Ac 10:3, as the translation of phaneros, "openly," "manifestly," the Revised Version (British and American) "openly."

It is important to note the true nature of faith according to the correct translation of Heb 11:1, as being the well- grounded and assured conviction of things not seen.

W. L. Walker

wit'-nes (nouns `edh, and `edhah, and verb `anah; martus, with all derivative words and their compounds): The word "witness" is used of inanimate things, e.g. the heap of stones testifying to the covenant between Jacob and Laban (Ge 31:44-54), and the So of Moses. (De 31:19,21). The main use of the word is forensic, and from this use all other applications are naturally derived. Important legal agreements required the attestation of witnesses, as in the case of the purchase of property, or a betrothal (Ru 4:1-11, where we are told that the ancient form of attestation was by a man drawing off his shoe and giving it to his neighbor).

The Mosaic Law insisted on the absolute necessity of witnesses in all cases which came before a judge, especially in criminal cases. Not only in criminal cases, but in all cases, it was necessary to have at least two witnesses to make good an accusation against a person (De 17:6; 19:15; compare Nu 35:30; Mt 18:16; Joh 8:17; 2Co 13:1; 1Ti 5:19). According to the Talmud (Pesachim 113b), if in a case of immorality only one witness came forward to accuse anyone, it was regarded as sinful on the part of that witness. On the other hand, anyone who, being present at the adjuration (Le 5:1 the Revised Version (British and American)), refused to come forward as a witness when he had testimony to bear, was considered to have sinned (Pr 29:24). Among those not qualified to be witnesses were the near relations of the accuser or the accused, friends and enemies, gamesters, usurers, tax-gatherers, heathen, slaves, women and those not of age (Sanhedhrin 3 3, 4; Ro'sh Ha-shanah 1 7; Babha' Kamma' 88a; compare Ant, IV, viii, 15). No one could be a witness who had been paid to render this service (Bekhoroth 4 6). In cases of capital punishment there was an elaborate system of warning and cautioning witnesses. Each witness had to be heard separately (Sanhedhrin 5; compare 3 5). If they contradicted one another on important points their witness was invalidated (Sanhedhrin 5).

No oath was required from witnesses. The meaning of Le 5:1 was not that witnesses had to take an oath, as some think; it describes the solemn adjuration of the judge to all those with knowledge of the case to come forward as witnesses (see OATH). When a criminal was to be put to death, the witnesses against him were to take the foremost share in bringing about his death (De 17:7; compare Ac 7:58), in order to prove their own belief in their testimony. In the case of a person condemned to be stoned, all the witnesses had to lay their hands on the head of the condemned (Le 24:14). "False witnessing" was prohibited in the Decalogue (Ex 20:16); against it the lexicon talionis was enforced, i.e. it was done to the witness as he meant to do to the accused (De 19:16-21). The Sadducees held that only when the falsely accused had been executed, the false witnesses should be put to death; the Pharisees, that false witnesses were liable to be executed the moment the death sentence had been passed on the falsely accused (Makkoth 17). In spite of prohibitions, false witnessing was a very common crime among the people (Ps 27:12; 35:11; Pr 6:19; 12:17; 14:5; 19:5; 24:28; Mt 26:60; Ac 6:13).

In Ac 22:20; Re 2:13; 17:6 the word martus, "witness", seems to be beginning to acquire the meaning of "martyr," as in the King James Version, although the Revised Version (British and American) translates "witness" in the first two passages, retaining "martyr" only in the third with "witness" in the m. For "Tabernacle of Witness" see TABERNACLE.

Paul Levertoff

1. Two witnesses at least are required to establish any charge. (Numbers 35:30; 17:6; John 8:17; 2 Corinthians 13:1) comp. 1Tim 5:19
2. In the case of the suspected wife, evidence besides the husband’s was desired. (Numbers 5:13)
3. The witness who withheld the truth was censured. (Leviticus 5:1)
4. False witness was punished with the penalty due to the offence which it sought to establish.
5. Slanderous reports and officious witness are discouraged. (Exodus 20:16; 23:1; Leviticus 18:16,18) etc.
6. The witnesses were the first executioners. (15:9; 17:7; Acts 7:58)
7. In case of an animal left in charge and torn by wild beasts, the keeper was to bring the carcass in proof of the fact and disproof of his own criminality. (Exodus 22:13)
8. According to Josephus, women and slaves were not admitted to bear testimony. In the New Testament the original notion of a witness is exhibited in the special form of one who attests his belief in the gospel by personal suffering. Hence it is that the use of the ecclesiastical term ("martyr." the Greek word for "witness," has arisen.

Definition

When a person gives “testimony” he makes a statement about something he knows, claiming that the statement is true. To “testify” is to give “testimony.”

• In some places in the Old Testament, “Testimony” refers specifically to the tablets of stone on which Yahweh wrote his ten commandments. From that use it came to refer to God’s law more broadly.
• Often a person “testifies” about something he has experienced directly.
• A witness who gives “false testimony” does not tell the truth about what happened.
• Sometimes the term “testimony” refers to a prophecy that a prophet has stated.
• In the New Testament, this term was often used to refer to how Jesus’ followers testified about the events of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

The term “witness” refers to a person who has personally experienced something that happened. Usually a witness is also someone who testifies about what they know is true. The term “eyewitness” emphasizes that the person was actually there and saw what happened.

• To “witness” something means to see it happen.
• At a trial, a witness “gives witness” or “bears witness.” This has the same meaning as “testify.”
• Witnesses are expected to tell the truth about what they have seen or heard.
• A witness who does not tell the truth about what happened is called a “false witness.” He is said to “give false witness” or to “bear false witness.”
• The expression “be a witness between” means that something or someone will be evidence that a contract has been made. The witness will make sure each person does what he has promised to do.

Translation Suggestions

• The term “testify” or “give testimony” could also be translated as “tell the facts” or “tell what was seen or heard” or “tell from personal experience” or “give evidence” or “tell what happened.”
• Ways to translate “testimony” could include, “report of what happened” or “statement of what is true” or “evidence” or “what has been said” or “prophecy.”
• Ways to translate “Testimony” could include, “the stone slabs on which I wrote my commands” or “God’s law” or “God’s commands” or “the record of the agreement between Yahweh and Israel.”
• The phrase, “as a testimony to them” could be translated as to “show them what is true” or to “prove to them what is true.”
• The phrase, “as a testimony against them” could be translated as “which will show them their sin” or “exposing their hypocrisy” or “which will prove that they are wrong.”
• To “give false testimony” could be translated as “say false things about” or “state things that are not true.”

• The term “witness” or “eyewitness” could be translated with a word or phrase that means “person seeing it” or “the one who saw it happen” or “those who saw and heard (those things).”
• Something that is “a witness” could be translated as “guarantee” or “sign of our promise” or “something that testifies that this is true.”
• The phrase “you will be my witnesses” could also be translated as “you will tell other people about me” or “you will teach people the truth that I taught you” or “you will tell people what you have seen me do and heard me teach.”
• To “witness to” could be translated as to “tell what was seen” or to “testify” or to “state what happened.”
• To “witness” something could be translated as to “see something” or to “experience something happen.”

(See also: ark of the covenant, guilt, judge, prophet, true)

Bible References

• Deuteronomy 31:28
• Micah 6:3
• Matthew 26:60
• Mark 1:44
• John 1:7
• John 3:33
• Acts 4:32-33
• Acts 7:44
• Acts 13:31
• Romans 1:9
• 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12
• 1 Timothy 5:19-20
• 2 Timothy 1:8
• 2 Peter 1:16-18
• 1 John 5:6-8
• 3 John 1:12
• Revelation 12:11

Examples from the Bible stories

• __39:2 Inside the house, the Jewish leaders put Jesus on trial. They brought many false witnesses__ who lied about him.
• __39:4 The high priest tore his clothes in anger and shouted, “We do not need any more witnesses__. You have heard him say that he is the Son of God. What is your judgment?”
• __42:8 “It was also written in the scriptures that my disciples will proclaim that everyone should repent in order to receive forgiveness for their sins. They will do this starting in Jerusalem, and then go to all people groups everywhere. You are witnesses__ of these things.”
• __43:7 “We are witnesses__ to the fact that God raised Jesus to life again.”

Word Data

• Strong’s: H5707, H5713, H5715, H5749, H6030, H8584, G02670, G12630, G19570, G26490, G31400, G31410, G31420, G31430, G31440, G43030, G48280, G49010, G55750, G55760, G55770, G60200