TERY, TRIAL OF ; URIM AND THUMMIM. For the punishment of false witness and the suppression of evidence, see PUNISHMENT. For the forms of adjuration (2 Chron. xviii. 15), see ADJURATION. 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. xliii. 6) ; others, the rainbow (Gen. ix. i2-17).-2. The witness or testimony itself borne to any fact is ex pressed by ny ; ; testimonium. They are used of judicial testimony (Prov. xxv. 18 ; Mark xiv. 56, 59). In ver. 55, Schleusner takes the word lhapT,upia for Aciprvp, the abstract for the con crete (Luke xxii. 7/ ; John viii. 17 ; Joseph. Antiq. iv. 8. Is). It denotes the testimony to the truth of anything generally (John i. 7, 19 ; xix. 35) ; that of a poet (Tit. i. 13). It occurs in Josephus (Cont. ,4/5ion. 21). In John iii. 32, Schleusner understands the doctrine, the thing professed ; in v. 32, 36, the proofs given by God of 011Y SaViOUeS mission ; comp. v. 9. In viii. 13, 14, both he ancl Bretschneider assign to the word the sense of praise. In Acts xxii. 18, the former translates it teachinp, ,or instruction. In Rev. i. 9 it denotes the constant _profession of Christianity, or testimony to the truth of the gospel (comp. i. 2 ; Vi. 9). In I Tim. iii. 7 Fapruptav Kakiip means a good character (comp. 3 J01111 12 ; Ecclus. xxxi. 34 ; Joseph. Antiq. vi. IO. I). In Ps. xix. 7, The testimony of the Lord is sure,' probably signifies the ordinances, institutions, etc. (comp. cxix. 22, 24, etc.) Those ambiguous words, He that be lieveth in the Son of God hath the witness in him self' (I John v. to), which have given rise to a variety of fanatical meanings, are easily understood, by explaining the word exa, receives," retains,' the foregoing testimony which God hath given of his Son, whereas the unbeliever rejects it. Thc whole passage is obscured in the English tmns lation by neglecting the uniformity of the Greek, and introducing the word record,' contrary to the profession of our translators in their Preface to the ,Reader (ad finem). The Hebrew word, with kcap r6ptoP, occurs in the sense of snonument, evidence, etc. (Gen. xxi. 30; xxxi. 44 ; Deut. iv. 45 ; xxxi. 26 ; Josh. xxii. 27 ; Ruth iv. 7 ; Matt. Ind. 4 ; Mark vi. ; Luke xxi. /3 ; James v. 3). In 2 Cor. i. 12, Schleusner explains gapvipor, tom mendation. In Pros% xxix. 14 and Amos i; 1V is pointed to mean perpetually, for ever, but the Sept. gives EIS aaprbplov ; Aquila els grt ; Syni machus els del ; Vulg. in erternum. In Acts vii.
44 and Rev. xv. 5, wc find 9'7 oacnvii -roi) ktamplov, and this is the Sept. rendering for lzt:rit,4 (which really means the tabernacle of the congregation') in Exod. xxix. 42, 44 ; xl. 22, 24-deriving 'WI* from 71V, to testify,' instead of from 13/4, to as- , semble.' On I Tim. ii. 6, see Bowyer's Conjec tures. In Heb. 5, Schleusner interprets Els ;Lai:a-tiptop 1-6)v XaXne7yraulmov, the promulgation of thosc things about to be delivered to the Jews.' . To be or become a witness, by testifying the truth of what one knows. Thus the Sept. translates 14Vrt (Gen. xliii. 3), duaprupeco, to bear witness, and Antos iii. 13 : see also Kings xxi. io, 13. In John i. 7 ; xv. 26 ; xviii. 23, Schleusner gives as its meaning, to teath or exp/ain ; in John iv. 44 ; vii. 7 ; Tim vi. 13, to declare ; in Acts x. 43 ; Rom. iii. 21, to declare prophetically. With a dative case following, the word sometimes means to approve (Luke iv. 22). So Schleusner under stands Luke xi. 48, ye approve the deeds of your fathers,' and he gives this sense also to Rom. x. 2. in like manner the passive napryganat, to be ap proved," beloved," have a good character,' etc. (Acts vi. 3 ; I Tim. v. io ; comp. 3 John 6, 12). The witness of the Spirit,' alluded to by St. Paul (Rom. 16), is explained by Macknight and all the best commentators as the extraordinaly operations of the Holy Spirit concurring with the filial dispositions of converted Gentiles, to prove that they are the children of God,' as well as the Jews. -4. To call or take to witness,' to invoke as witness,' napviponat (Acts xx. 26 ; Gal. v. 3 ; Joseph. De Bell. 3zed. iii. 8. 3). A still stronger word is atanaprbpoktal, which corresponds to 1+3,,n (Deut. iv. 26). It means to admonish solemnly,' to charge earnestly," to urge upon' (Ps. lxxxi. 8 ; Nell. ix. 26 ; Luke xvi. 28 ; Acts ii. 40). In other passages the same words mean to teach earnestly.' In Job xxix. II, a beautiful phrase occurs, When the eye saw me it gave witness to me.' The admiring expression of the eye upon beholding a man of eminent virtue and benevolence, is here admirably illustrated. The description of the mischief occasioned by a false witness, in Prov. xxv. 18, deserves notice ; a man that beareth false witness against his neighbour, is a, maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.' Few words afford more exercise to discrimination, in consequence of the various shades of meaning in which the context requires they should be understood.-J. F. D.