What does the word witness mean in the Bible? The word “witness” may bring up ideas of someone testifying in a courtroom. If you’re in a religious context, maybe you think of someone sharing their testimony or persuading others about their faith.
In the Bible, a witness is basically someone who sees something amazing or important. If this person begins to share what they’ve seen, we call this “bearing witness.” It’s a simple word, but being a witness carries a lot of responsibility! In fact, one of the ten commandments instructs against being a false witness (Exodus 20:16). Just like in English, the Hebrew words for witness and to bear witness frequently occur in a legal setting. This is seen when someone testifies in front of judges (Deuteronomy 19:18-20) or buys something from another person (Ruth 4:9; Jeremiah 32:10).
The basic meaning of witness is to see something and talk about it. But here’s what’s really fascinating. The word and theme of witness can actually become a lens for understanding the entire storyline of Scripture, especially the role of God’s people.
From the very first books of the Bible, we learn that God wants a group of witnesses––people who see and experience him––who then bear witness and represent him to the world. And God typically appoints a chief witness among the people to help them do this.
This pattern begins to take shape in the book of Exodus. The people of Israel witness Yahweh as the powerful King of the nations when he rescues them from slavery (Exodus 7-15). Then, when he speaks to Moses on Mount Sinai, he appoints this one nation to bear witness about what they have seen and experienced, calling them a “kingdom of priests” (Exodus 19:4-6). In other words, they are to mediate and connect the nations to Yahweh.
Moses and the Torah become chief witnesses tasked with bearing witness to Israel, so that they can fulfill their covenant relationship with Yahweh. When Moses meets with Yahweh on Mount Sinai, he sees and experiences God face to face. When he comes down, he bears witness to the people about his experience and presents the Torah, which testifies to God’s character and what God has done for Israel (Deuteronomy 6:20-25). Moses even writes a song as a witness, so that the people will never forget how God has cared for and rescued them (Deuteronomy 31-32).
The Torah and Moses are chief witnesses to the people, so that the people can be witnesses to the nations. But here’s the thing––the Israelites aren’t very good witnesses. Even before Moses comes down from the mountain, they are worshiping other Gods (Exodus 32)!
So just like God had designated Moses and the Torah as a chief witness to the people, now he raises up prophets as chief witnesses to Israel after they fall short. The prophets see and experience God as the King as Moses does on Mount Sinai (Isaiah 6). Then they bear witness or warn Israel about what will happen if they continue to turn away from Yahweh and his instructions (2 Kings 17:13).
In Isaiah chapters 40-48, we find the most direct designation of Israel as God’s witness to the nations (Isaiah 43:10-12; 44:6-8). They are to declare Yahweh’s salvation and that he alone is God. But they are unresponsive, and God calls them blind and deaf (Isaiah 42:18-20). How will a blind and deaf people announce Yahweh’s salvation to the nations? Yahweh says he will raise up a chief witness, or servant, out of Israel, who will be a light to the nations and bring salvation (Isaiah 42:19-20; 43:10; 49:6).
The New Testament carries forward the idea of a chief witness within the group of those who are supposed to be witnesses. When Jesus comes on the scene, we find him claiming to be that servant and witness spoken of by Isaiah. He claims the title of witness many times (John 8:14, 17-18; 18:37), says he’s a light to the nations (John 8:12), and heals both physical and metaphorical blindness (Luke 4:17-21).
Jesus is the ultimate witness, declaring who he is and that God’s Kingdom is here, right now, through him. Crowds of people witness his words and his works. Many respond to his message, but others refuse to truly believe his testimony and kill him for what they believe to be bearing false witness (Mark 14:55-56; John 5:36-40; Luke 22:67-71).
Jesus is put to death for faithfully declaring the truth about who he is, but it is through Jesus’ death and resurrection that his followers become witnesses to the rest of the nations, just as God had intended (Luke 24:44-48). They bear witness to what they have seen and experienced: Jesus’ death, resurrection, and offer of new life (Acts 2:32; Acts 4:33; Acts 10:40-41). Many of these earlier followers even died for their witness. In fact, eventually the Greek word for witness (μάρτυς mártus) began to carry the connotation of a martyr.
The message of Jesus as King and rescuer of all humanity is shared all around the world, even to this day. So when we experience the power and love of the risen Jesus and talk about what we’ve seen, we join this long history of God’s people who bear witness.