### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **pseudomartyría**, represented by `{{G5577}}`, defines **untrue testimony**. It appears **2 times** across **2 unique verses** in the Bible. Derived from ψευδομάρτυρ, its core meaning is **false witness**, a term that carries significant legal and moral weight in the passages where it is found.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{G5577}}` is presented in two distinct contexts. First, it is identified as a sin that originates from within a person, with Jesus listing **false witness** among the evils that "proceed out of the heart," alongside things like murders and thefts [[Matthew 15:19]]. Second, it is shown as a deliberate tool used for malicious purposes, as when the "chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought **false witness** against Jesus, to put him to death" [[Matthew 26:59]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the context and gravity of giving **false witness**:
* `{{G4190}}` **ponērós** (hurtful, i.e. evil): This word describes the source from which **false witness** emerges. Jesus states that **evil** thoughts, which are **ponērós**, originate in the heart and lead to acts like bearing **false witness** [[Matthew 15:19]].
* `{{G5408}}` **phónos** (murder): This term is listed directly with **false witness** as a corruption proceeding from the heart [[Matthew 15:19]]. Furthermore, the ultimate goal of the **false witness** sought against Jesus was to commit **murder** [[Matthew 26:59]].
* `{{G4892}}` **synédrion** (a joint session, i.e. (specially), the Jewish Sanhedrin): This specifies the formal body, the **council**, that actively sought **false witness** against Jesus, demonstrating the perversion of a religious and legal institution [[Matthew 26:59]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G5577}}` is significant, highlighting key principles of sin and justice.
* **Corruption from the Heart:** Its inclusion in the list of sins that defile a person emphasizes that bearing **false witness** is not a superficial misdeed but a manifestation of internal, moral corruption [[Matthew 15:19]].
* **Perversion of Justice:** The use of **false witness** by the **council** against Jesus demonstrates how sacred legal and religious systems can be corrupted to achieve wicked ends, turning a process meant for truth into a mechanism for death [[Matthew 26:59]].
* **The Power of Testimony:** The word underscores the life-or-death importance of testimony. In the case of Jesus, **untrue testimony** was the specific legal instrument sought by the chief priests and elders to secure a death sentence.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G5577}}` is not simply about falsehood but specifically about **untrue testimony** used with malicious intent. It is presented as a grave sin that originates from a corrupt heart and can be used to subvert justice and destroy the innocent. Its two occurrences powerfully illustrate both the internal source of this sin and its devastating external consequences in the trial of Jesus.
TRV