WITNESS (wit'n'ess), (Heb. ayd, to tes tify). It is intended in the present article to notice some of the leading and peculiar senses of this voluminous word. (I) It occurs first in the sense of a person who deposes to the occurrence of any fact, a witness of any event. Used thus it is found in Exod. xxiii :1; Lev. v ; Num. v :13 ; xxxv :3o (comp. Deut. xvii :6 ; xix:15; Matt. xviii :16; 2 Cor. xiii :1; Prov. xiv :5; xxiv :28; Matt. xxvi: 65; Acts vi :13 ; I Tim. v:19; Heb. x:28). (2) It is applied, generally, to a person who certifies, or is able to certify, to any fact which has come under his cognizance (Josh. xxiv :22: Is. viii :2; Luke xxiv :48; Acts i :8, 22 ; I Thess. :to; I Tim. vi 12; 2 Tini. ii:2; I Pet. v:1). So in allusion to those who witness the public games (Heb. xii:1). They are also applied to any one who testifies to the world what God reveals through him (Rev. xi:3). In the latter sense the Greek word is ap plied to our Lord (Rev. i :5; iii:14). (3) It is fur ther used in the ecclesiastical sense of martyr. Both the Hebrew and Greek words are also ap plied to God (Gen. xxxi:5o; I Sam. xii :5; Jer.
xlii :5; Rom. i :9; Phil. i :8; i Thess. ii :5). (4) It is applied to inanimate things (Gen. xxxi :52; Ps. lxxxix :37). (5) It denotes the testimony to the truth of anything generally (John i :7. 19; xix: 35) ; that of a poet (Titus i :13). (6) In Rev. i :9, it denotes the constant profession of Christianity, or testimony to the truth of the Gospel (comp. i
ViX)). (7) III I Tim. iii:7, marturian kal:n means a good character (comp. 3 John, verse t Ecclus.
XXXi ; Joseph. eintig. vi :to, 1). (8) In Ps. xix :7, 'The testimony of the Lord is sure,' probably sig nifies the ordinances, institutions, etc. (comp. cxix 22, 24, etc.). The words, 'He that believeth in the Son of God bath the witness in himself' (I John v :To), are easily understood by explaining the word ekei, hath, by 'receives,' or 'retains.' The Hebrew word, with marturion, occurs in the sense of monument, evidence, etc. (Gen. xxi :3o; xxxi : 44 ; Deut. iv :45 ; xxxi :26 ; Josh. xxii :27 ; Ruth, iv :7 ; Matt. viii :4 ; Mark vi ; Luke xxi ;13 ; Jamei v :3).
The supernatural means whereby the deficiency of witnesses was compensated under the theocracy have been already considered under the articles ADULTERY, TRIAL OF URIM AND THUMMIM. For the punishment of false witness and the suppres sion of evidence, see PUNISHMENTS, For the forms of adjuration (2 Chron. xviii :15), see ADJURA TION. Opinions differ as to what is meant by 'the • faithful witness in heaven' (Ps. lxxxix :37). Some suppose it to mean the moon (comp. Ps. lxxii :5, 7; Jer. xxxi :35, 36; xxxiii :20, 21; Ecclus.
6) ; others, the rainbow (Gen. ix :12-17).
The witness or testimony itself borne to any fact is expressed by marturia; testimonium. They are used of judicial testimony (Prov. xxv:18; Mark xiv :56, 59). J. F. D.