Witness
Hebrew #5707 – ‘ed – עֵד
Definition:
- A person who sees an event take place and shares it
- An object used as a memorial
Related words: testimony, evidence, proof
“And Laḇan said, “This heap is a witness between you and me today.” That is why its name was called Gal‛ĕḏ,”
Berĕshith (Genesis) 31:48
“You do not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
Shemoth (Exodus) 20:16
“At the mouth of two [witnesses] or three witnesses shall he that is to die be put to death. He is not put to death by the mouth of one witness.”
Deḇarim (Deuteronomy) 17:6
“All the nations shall be assembled, and the peoples be gathered. Who among them declares this, and show us former events? Let them give their witnesses, to be declared right; or let them hear and say, ‘It is truth.’
‘You are My witnesses,’ declares יהוה, ‘And My servant whom I have chosen, so that you know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no Ěl formed, nor after Me there is none. I, I am יהוה, and besides Me there is no saviour. I, I have declared and saved, and made known, and there was no foreign mighty one among you. And you are My witnesses,’ declares יהוה, ‘that I am Ěl.’”
Yeshayah (Isaiah) 43:9–12
“Do not witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.”
Mishlĕ (Proverbs) 24:28
“If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.”
Yoḥanan (John) 5:31–32
Being a witness is a very serious matter—and being a truthful witness even more so. Throughout Scripture, we see how the testimony of a witness can determine outcomes of life or death. A spoken word, when accepted as truth, carries immense weight.
Yahuah, in His compassion and wisdom, commanded that matters be established by two or three witnesses, not just one. This protects against injustice, because mankind is fallible and prone to corruption.
But what does it mean to be a witness for Yahuah?
Yahuah is perfectly righteous, good, and true. He needs no witness to prove who He is. Yet Scripture tells us that we are called His witnesses. This calling is not to prove Him—but to reveal whether we belong to Him.
In other words, being His witnesses may be understood in reverse:
we walk in His righteousness so that our lives testify that we are His.
This understanding aligns with what is written in Exodus 20:7:
“You do not bring [lift up, or take] the Name of [Yahuah] your Elohim to naught…”
This can be understood as:
Do not claim His Name, yet live in a way that contradicts His character.
To do so would be to bear false witness—this time, against Him.
That is what it means to be Yahuah’s witness.
When we return to Isaiah 43, Yahuah paints a striking picture:
“All the nations shall be assembled, and the peoples be gathered. Who among them declares this, and show us former events? Let them give their witnesses, to be declared right; or let them hear and say, ‘It is truth.’”
Yeshayah (Isaiah) 43:9
Here, Yahuah sets before us a scene where the nations are gathered, attempting to validate their claims and histories. He calls for witnesses—proof—to establish what is true. It almost mirrors a courtroom setting, where each party must present evidence to justify themselves.
One cannot help but think of a future day of judgment, where every case is weighed, and truth must be established.
(These are my interpretations—what comes to mind as I read this passage. Please always test and prove what is said against Scripture to see if it is true.)
Then Yahuah turns His attention to His people:
“You are My witnesses,” declares יהוה…
Yeshayah (Isaiah) 43:10–12
Yahuah does not call His people as witnesses to determine whether He is Ěl—He already is. Rather, it is as though He is saying:
“Test and see. Examine My works. Compare Me with every other so-called mighty one. Then testify—because you know the truth.”
Throughout Scripture—especially in the Psalms—Yahuah calls upon His people, and even creation itself, to declare His wonders, proclaim His works, and bear witness to His greatness.
Just a few verses later, He says:
“The beast of the field esteems Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I have given waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen, this people I have formed for Myself, let them relate My praise.”
Yeshayah (Isaiah) 43:20–21
And again, in the Psalms:
“Sing to יהוה a new song,
Sing to יהוה, all the earth!
Sing to יהוה, bless His Name, proclaim His deliverance from day to day.
Declare His esteem among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.
For great is יהוה and greatly to be praised, He is to be feared above all mighty ones.
For all the mighty ones of the peoples are matters of naught,
But יהוה made the heavens.” - Tehillim (Psalms) 96:1–5
“The heavens shall declare His righteousness,
And all the peoples shall see His esteem.” - Tehillim (Psalms) 97:6
Witness of Him—of His goodness, His faithfulness, His wonders.
And not only with our lips, but more importantly, with our lives.
May our actions testify that He is Ěl.
Blessings,
JS
