Topical Bible: Testimonies

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Definition and Significance:
In the biblical context, "testimonies" often refer to the laws, decrees, and commandments given by God, particularly those found in the Old Testament. These testimonies serve as divine instructions and are a testament to God's covenant with His people. They are not merely legalistic rules but are seen as expressions of God's will and character, guiding believers in righteous living.

Biblical Usage:
The term "testimonies" is frequently used in the Psalms, especially in Psalm 119, which extols the virtues of God's law. For example, Psalm 119:2 states, "Blessed are those who keep His testimonies and seek Him with all their heart." Here, testimonies are synonymous with God's commandments, emphasizing the blessedness of those who adhere to them.

Theological Implications:
Testimonies are integral to understanding the covenant relationship between God and His people. They are seen as a reflection of God's holiness and justice, and adherence to them is a demonstration of faithfulness and obedience. In Deuteronomy 6:17 , it is written, "You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and His testimonies and statutes He has commanded you." This underscores the importance of testimonies as part of the covenantal obligations.

Role in Worship and Life:
In the life of a believer, testimonies are not only rules to be followed but are also a source of wisdom and guidance. Psalm 19:7 declares, "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple." This highlights the transformative power of God's testimonies, which bring wisdom and spiritual renewal.

Historical Context:
Historically, the testimonies were given to the Israelites as part of the Mosaic Law. They were inscribed on tablets and placed in the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's presence and His covenant with Israel. Exodus 25:16 instructs, "And put into the ark the Testimony, which I will give you." This act signified the centrality of God's testimonies in the life and worship of Israel.

New Testament Perspective:
While the New Testament does not frequently use the term "testimonies," the concept is present in the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. Jesus affirmed the validity of the Old Testament laws, including the testimonies, in Matthew 5:17 : "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." The New Testament emphasizes the spirit of the law, focusing on love and grace, yet it upholds the moral and ethical teachings found in the testimonies.

Practical Application:
For contemporary believers, testimonies serve as a reminder of God's unchanging standards and His desire for a holy people. They encourage a life of obedience and devotion, rooted in the understanding of God's character and His redemptive plan. As such, they remain relevant for guiding ethical and moral decisions in the life of the church and individual believers.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(n.) Plural of Testimony.

Strong's Hebrew

5713b. edah -- testimony
... testimony. Transliteration: edah Short Definition: testimonies. Word Origin from
ud Definition testimony NASB Word Usage testimonies (21), testimony (1). ...
/hebrew/5713b.htm - 5k

5715. eduth -- testimony
... Word Origin from ud Definition testimony NASB Word Usage admonitions (1), ordinance
(1), testimonies (13), testimony (43), warnings (1). testimony, witness. ...
/hebrew/5715.htm - 6k

Library

Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews
Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews. <. Three Books of Testimonies
Against the Jews Cyprian. Table of Contents. Title Page. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/cyprian/three books of testimonies against the jews/

Testimonies.
... Seventh Chapter. FAITH. XLI. Testimonies. "Without faith it is impossible
to please God.""Hebrews 11:6. In order to prevent the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xli testimonies.htm

Taunts Turning to Testimonies
... D.; ST. MATTHEW Chaps. XVIII to XXVIII TAUNTS TURNING TO TESTIMONIES. '... The chief
priests mocking Him ... said, 42. He saved others; Himself He cannot save. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/taunts turning to testimonies.htm

Of Divine Testimonies, and of the Sibyls and their Predictions.
... the divine institutes book i. of the false worship of the gods. Chap. VI."Of
divine testimonies, and of the sibyls and their predictions. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap vi of divine testimonies and.htm

It is Proved by the Testimonies of Scripture that God is ...
... Chapter 24. "It is Proved by the Testimonies of Scripture that God is
Unchangeable. The Son of God Begotten, Not Made. Those things ...
/.../chapter 24 name is proved.htm

The Law and the Testimonies. --Ps. xix.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN XXVII. The Law and the Testimonies."Ps. xix. 8.6.8.6
James Montgomery. The Law and the Testimonies."Psalm 19.p>. ...
/.../montgomery/sacred poems and hymns/hymn xxvii the law and.htm

The Testimonies of the Poets.
... Theophilus to Autolycus: Book II. Chapter XXXVII."The Testimonies of the
Poets. And that evil-doers must necessarily be punished ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter xxxvii the testimonies of the.htm

Of the Testimonies of Poets and Philosophers.
... the divine institutes book i. of the false worship of the gods. Chap.
V."Of the testimonies of poets and philosophers. But let ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap v of the testimonies of.htm

Of the Soul, and the Testimonies Concerning Its Eternity.
... Chap. XIII."Of the Soul, and the Testimonies Concerning Its Eternity. I have made
it evident, as I think, that the soul is not subject to dissolution. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xiii of the soul and.htm

The Testimonies of the Philosophers to the Unity of God.
... The Epitome of the Divine Institutes. Addressed to His Brother Pentadius. Chap.
IV."The Testimonies of the Philosophers to the Unity of God. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap iv the testimonies of the.htm

Thesaurus

Testimonies (40 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Testimonies (40 Occurrences). Mark 14:56 for many were
bearing false testimony against him, and their testimonies were not alike. ...
/t/testimonies.htm - 18k

Stipulations (3 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 6:17 Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God,
and His testimonies, and His statutes, which He hath commanded thee. (See NIV). ...
/s/stipulations.htm - 7k

Statutes (178 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 4:45 these are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the ordinances,
which Moses spoke to the children of Israel, when they came forth out of Egypt ...
/s/statutes.htm - 40k

Warnings (6 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 17:15 They rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their
fathers, and his testimonies which he testified to them; and they followed ...
/w/warnings.htm - 8k

Renewed (17 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 23:3 The king stood by the pillar, and made a covenant before Yahweh, to
walk after Yahweh, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his ...
/r/renewed.htm - 11k

Requirements (26 Occurrences)
... 2:3 and keep the instruction of Yahweh your God, to walk in his ways, to keep his
statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and his testimonies, according to ...
/r/requirements.htm - 14k

Ordinances (119 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 4:45 these are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the ordinances,
which Moses spoke to the children of Israel, when they came forth out of Egypt ...
/o/ordinances.htm - 37k

Judgments (146 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 4:45 These are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments,
which Moses spake unto the children of Israel, after they came forth out of ...
/j/judgments.htm - 37k

Decrees (131 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Deuteronomy 6:17 You shall diligently keep the commandments of Yahweh
your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he has commanded you. ...
/d/decrees.htm - 36k

Regulations (37 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 23:3 The king stood by the pillar, and made a covenant before Yahweh, to
walk after Yahweh, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his ...
/r/regulations.htm - 17k

Resources

Who was Ellen G. White? | GotQuestions.org

Which gospel was written first? | GotQuestions.org

Why are there so many Christian denominations? | GotQuestions.org

Testimonies: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Testimonies (40 Occurrences)

Mark 14:56
for many were bearing false testimony against him, and their testimonies were not alike.
(YLT)

Deuteronomy 4:45
these are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which Moses spoke to the children of Israel, when they came forth out of Egypt,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Deuteronomy 6:17
You shall diligently keep the commandments of Yahweh your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he has commanded you.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Deuteronomy 6:20
When your son asks you in time to come, saying, "What do the testimonies, the statutes, and the ordinances, which Yahweh our God has commanded you mean?"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

1 Kings 2:3
and keep the instruction of Yahweh your God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and his testimonies, according to that which is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do, and wherever you turn yourself.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

2 Kings 17:15
They rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified to them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the nations that were around them, concerning whom Yahweh had commanded them that they should not do like them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

2 Kings 23:3
The king stood by the pillar, and made a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and all his soul, to confirm the words of this covenant that were written in this book: and all the people stood to the covenant.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

1 Chronicles 29:19
and give to Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for which I have made provision.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

2 Chronicles 34:31
The king stood in his place, and made a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Nehemiah 9:34
neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept your law, nor listened to your commandments and your testimonies with which you testified against them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Psalms 19:7
The law of Jehovah 'is' perfect, refreshing the soul, The testimonies of Jehovah 'are' stedfast, Making wise the simple,
(YLT)

Psalms 25:10
All the paths of Yahweh are loving kindness and truth to such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 78:56
Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God, and didn't keep his testimonies;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 93:5
Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Psalms 99:7
He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud. They kept his testimonies, the statute that he gave them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 119:2
Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 119:14
I have rejoiced in the way of your testimonies, as much as in all riches.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 119:22
Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 119:24
Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 119:31
I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 119:36
Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 119:46
I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 119:59
I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 119:79
Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 119:88
Quicken me after Thy lovingkindness, and I will observe the testimony of Thy mouth.
(See RSV)

Psalms 119:95
The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 119:99
I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 119:111
I have taken your testimonies as a heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 119:119
You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross. Therefore I love your testimonies.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 119:125
I am your servant. Give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 119:129
Your testimonies are wonderful, therefore my soul keeps them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 119:138
Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 119:144
Your testimonies are righteous forever. Give me understanding, that I may live.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 119:146
I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 119:152
Of old I have known from your testimonies, that you have founded them forever.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 119:157
Many are my persecutors and my adversaries. I haven't swerved from your testimonies.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 119:167
My soul has observed your testimonies. I love them exceedingly.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 119:168
I have obeyed your precepts and your testimonies, for all my ways are before you.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 132:12
If thy children keep my covenant, and my testimonies which I will teach them, their children also for evermore shall sit upon thy throne.
(DBY YLT RSV)

Jeremiah 44:23
Because you have burned incense, and because you have sinned against Yahweh, and have not obeyed the voice of Yahweh, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil has happened to you, as it is this day.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Subtopics

Testimonies

Related Terms

Ark-cover (21 Occurrences)

Mercy-seat (23 Occurrences)

Testifies (19 Occurrences)

Testifying (35 Occurrences)

Testify (110 Occurrences)

Valid (10 Occurrences)

Agree (24 Occurrences)

Steal (29 Occurrences)

Vail (44 Occurrences)