Word Study for G1263 (διαμαρτύρομαι)

diamartýromai /dee-am-ar-too'-rom-ahee/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom διά and μαρτυρέω

Meaningto attest or protest earnestly, or (by implication) hortatively

KJV usagecharge, testify (unto), witness.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of diamartýromai — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word diamartýromai, represented by G1263, means to attest or protest earnestly or to give a hortative charge. It appears 15 times across 15 unique verses in the Bible, signifying its use in moments of solemn testimony, urgent warning, or authoritative instruction.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G1263 is used to convey a serious and urgent communication. It is frequently used for solemn apostolic charges, as when Paul charges Timothy before God and the Lord Jesus Christ 2 Timothy 4:1. The word is also central to proclaiming the core message of faith; Paul describes his ministry as the duty "to testify the gospel of the grace of God" Acts 20:24, and he testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance and faith Acts 20:21. It can also function as an urgent warning, like the rich man's plea for someone to testify to his brothers to avoid torment Luke 16:28.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning of an earnest testimony:

G3140 martyréō (to be a witness, i.e. testify): The root of G1263, this word signifies the act of bearing witness. In Acts 23:11, the Lord tells Paul that just as he has testified G1263 in Jerusalem, he must also bear witness G3140 in Rome.
G3870 parakaléō (to call near, i.e. invite, invoke): This word for exhortation is used alongside G1263 to show the dual nature of apostolic address. In Acts 2:40, Peter both testified G1263 and exhorted G3870 the crowd.
G2784 kērýssō (to herald...especially divine truth): This term for preaching is linked to testifying. The apostles were commanded to preach G2784 to the people and to testify G1263 that Jesus is the ordained Judge Acts 10:42.
G5279 hypomimnḗskō (to remind quietly, i.e. suggest to the memory): This word connects the act of reminding with solemn charging. Timothy is instructed to put them in remembrance G5279 of certain things while charging G1263 them before the Lord 2 Timothy 2:14.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G1263 is significant, highlighting key aspects of divine communication.

Solemn Charge and Responsibility: The word is used to convey commands with divine authority. Paul's charges to Timothy are made "before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Timothy 4:1, 1 Timothy 5:21), establishing that the instructions are not merely human advice but a sacred duty.
Essential Testimony of the Gospel: The word is intrinsically linked to the core message of Christianity. Paul's mission was "to testify the gospel" Acts 20:24. This testimony specifically concerned "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" Acts 20:21, identifying the foundational elements being proclaimed.
Urgent Warning of Divine Judgment: The testimony conveyed by G1263 often serves as a grave warning about future consequences. This is seen in the duty to testify that Jesus is the ordained "Judge of quick and dead" Acts 10:42 and the warning that the Lord is the "avenger" of certain sins 1 Thessalonians 4:6.

Summary

In summary, G1263 is more than just "to witness." It signifies an earnest, forceful, and often solemn act of communication. From apostolic charges given with the full weight of divine authority 2 Timothy 4:1 to the essential work of testifying the gospel Acts 20:24, the word underscores the gravity and urgency of the message being delivered. It serves as a vehicle for both sacred instruction and critical warning, highlighting the accountability of both the speaker and the hearer.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 15 occurrences, inflected in 9 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Present Middle Or Passive Deponent Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 4×
Aorist Middle Deponent Indicative 3rd Singular 2×
Aorist Middle Deponent Infinitive 2×
Present Middle Or Passive Deponent Indicative 1st Singular 2×
Aorist Middle Deponent Indicative 1st Plural 1×
Aorist Middle Deponent Indicative 2nd Singular 1×
Aorist Middle Deponent Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×
Present Middle Or Passive Deponent Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Present Middle Or Passive Deponent Subjunctive 3rd Singular 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
1st: First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Middle: The subject acts on or for itself.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Middle Deponent: Middle in form but active in meaning.
Passive Deponent: Passive in form but active in meaning.
Middle Or Passive: Can be read as middle or passive; context decides.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Subjunctive: Possibility or purpose — "might", "should".
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 15 verses across 6 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Acts (9 verses); never once in the other 21.

Luke

Acts

1 Thessalonians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Hebrews

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.