en_tw_old/content/kt/witness.md

witness, eyewitness

Definition:

The term "witness" refers to a person who has personally experienced something that happened. Usually a witness is also someone who testifies about they know is true. The term "eyewitness" emphasizes that the person was actually there and saw what happened.

• "To witness" something means to see it happen.
• At a trial, a witness "gives witness" or "bears witness." This has the same meaning as "testify."
• Witnesses are expected to tell the truth about what they have seen or heard.
• A witness who does not tell the truth about what happened is called a "false witness." He is said to "give false witness" or to "bear false witness."
• The expression, "be a witness between" means that something or someone will be evidence that a contract has been made. The witness will make sure each person does what he has promised to do.

Translation Suggestions:

• The term "witness" or "eyewitness" could be translated with a word or phrase that means, "person-seeing-it" or "the one who saw it happen" or "those who saw and heard (those things)."
• Something that is "a witness" could be translated as, "guarantee" or "sign of our promise" or "something that testifies that this is true."
• The phrase "you will be my witnesses" could also be translated as, "you will tell other people about me" or "you will teach people the truth that I taught you" or "you will tell people what you have seen me do and heard me teach."
• "To witness to" could be translated as, "to tell what was seen" or "to testify" or "to state what happened."
• "To witness" something could be translated as "to see something" or "to experience something happen."

(See also: guilt, guilty · judge, judgment · true, truth · testimony, testify)

Bible References:

• 1 John 05:6-8
• 1 Thessalonians 02:10-12
• 1 Timothy 05:19-20
• 2 Peter 01:16-18
• Acts 13:30-31
• Acts 20:22-24
• Deuteronomy 31:27-29
• John 01:6-8
• Romans 01:8-10

Examples from the Bible stories:

• 39-02 Inside the house, the Jewish leaders put Jesus on trial. They brought many false witnesses who lied about him.
• 39-04 The high priest tore his clothes in anger and shouted, "We do not need any more witnesses. You have heard him say that he is the Son of God. What is your judgment?"
• 42-08"It was also written in the scriptures that my disciples will proclaim that everyone should repent in order to receive forgiveness for their sins. They will do this starting in Jerusalem, and then go to all people groups everywhere. You are witnesses of these things."
• 43-07"We are witnesses to the fact that God raised Jesus to life again."