Original Word: עֵדָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: `edah
Pronunciation: ay-DAW
Phonetic Spelling: (ay-daw')
KJV: testimony, witness
Word Origin: [feminine of H5707 (עֵד - witness) in its techn. sense]

1. testimony

testimony, witness

Feminine of ed in its techn. Sense; testimony -- testimony, witness. Compare edah.

see HEBREW ed

see HEBREW edah

II. עֵדָה noun feminine testimony, witness, of things (only E); — Genesis 21:30; Genesis 31:52; Joshua 24:27 (twice in verse) (J uses עֵד for feminine things). — I. עֵדָה see יעד.

III. [עֵדָה] noun feminine only plural ᵑ0 testimonies (always of laws as divine testimonies or solemn charges); — plural absolute עֵדֹת Deuteronomy 4:45; Deuteronomy 6:20; suffix (of ׳י), עְדֹתִי Psalm 132:12 (Ges^{§ 91n}.), עֵדֹתָיו Deuteronomy 6:17; Psalm 25:10; Psalm 99:7; Psalm 119:2, עֵדוֺתָיו Psalm 78:56; עֵדֹתֶיךָ Psalm 93:5; Psalm 119:22; Psalm 119:24; Psalm 119:46; Psalm 119:59; Psalm 119:79; Psalm 119:95; Psalm 119:119; Psalm 119:125; Psalm 119:138; Psalm 119:146; Psalm 119:152; Psalm 119:167; Psalm 119:168 (ᵑ0 pointing artificial, derived probably from עֵדוּת, reading עֵדֻת for עֵדֹת, or regarding עֵדֹת as contracted from עֵדְוֺת, plural of עֵדוּת [Sta^{§ 320 b} SS Buhl]; see also Dr^{Deuteronomy 4:45}; Deuteronomy 4:45; Deuteronomy 6:17,20 are redactional).

Scope of Meaning

While the word may at times overlap with the larger idea of “assembly,” every occurrence marked by Strong’s 5713 centers on the concept of testimony or witness. Whether applied to persons, objects, or recorded words, it always points to an authoritative confirmation that something is true and binding.

Covenantal Witnesses

1. Personal covenants. Genesis 21:30 presents seven ewe-lambs “as a witness” that Abraham had dug the well at Beersheba. In the patriarchal era, tangible proof anchored verbal promises, and עֵדָה supplies the legal weight behind the pledge.
2. National covenants. Joshua 24:26-27 records Joshua’s setting up of a great stone: “This stone will be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words that the LORD spoke to us”. A mute object becomes a perpetual legal attestation binding the nation to fidelity.
3. Inter-tribal agreements. The altar built by the eastern tribes in Joshua 22 carries the same function: “It will be a witness between us and you” (Joshua 22:27). Here עֵדָה guards unity within the covenant people and prevents later generations from rewriting history.

Objects as Witnesses

Stones (Genesis 31:52), altars (Joshua 22:27), and even flocks (Genesis 21:30) can bear the label עֵדָה. By assigning a witness role to an inanimate object, Scripture highlights the permanence of God-honoring promises—silent yet inescapable reminders that bind future actors to earlier truth.

Witness in Legal Proceedings

In Deuteronomy 19:15 the larger law of two or three witnesses stands behind righteous adjudication; individual occurrences of עֵדָה unfold that principle in narrative form. When an item or event is called עֵדָה, it functions as the corroborating evidence that secures a just verdict. The term therefore buttresses Israel’s judiciary by rooting justice in verifiable reality rather than mere claim or counter-claim.

Prophetic and Wisdom Contexts

Job 16:19 echoes the forensic force of עֵדָה on a cosmic scale: “Even now my Witness is in heaven.” The sufferer rests his case on a transcendent guarantor. Similarly, in prophetic oracles an appeal to a heavenly “witness” underscores the inevitability of divine vindication and judgment.

Relationship to Other Testimony Terms

עֵדָה shares its root with עֵד (individual witness) and עֵדוּת (testimony, most famously connected with the “Ark of the Testimony”). The differences are not contradictory but complementary:
• עֵד—person(s) who witness
• עֵדָה—act, event, or object functioning as witness
• עֵדוּת—formal record or permanent deposit of witness

Together they form a comprehensive vocabulary for establishing truth in Israel’s civil, cultic, and personal life.

Historical Significance

Across Israel’s account the word frames decisive moments:
• The patriarchs secure territorial rights (Genesis 21).
• The tribes safeguard unity before entering Canaan (Joshua 22).
• Joshua seals the national covenant renewal (Joshua 24).

Each occurrence helps chart Israel’s journey from family to nation, weaving a thread of sworn fidelity and accountability before God.

Ministry Application

1. Memorializing God’s work. Physical reminders—whether a communion table, baptismal font, or church cornerstone—continue the biblical practice of visible testimony.
2. Integrity in agreements. Contracts, marriage vows, and ordination charges should be treated with the gravity that עֵדָה confers, calling believers to honor commitments before both God and man.
3. Witness of the gathered church. As Israel’s objects bore silent witness, so the assembled congregation today bears living testimony to the saving acts of God (Acts 1:8). Corporate faithfulness upholds truth for coming generations.

Theological Reflection

Every עֵדָה points beyond itself to the ultimate Witness: “Faithful and True” (Revelation 19:11). The Old Testament’s reliance on tangible witnesses prepares hearts to recognize in Christ the perfect guarantor of God’s covenant promises (2 Corinthians 1:20). Thus the term’s 26 appearances collectively invite reverence for truth, steadfast remembrance, and fearless proclamation of the gospel.

בְ֭עֵדֹתֶיךָ בעדתיך הָֽעֵדֹ֔ת הָעֵדֹ֗ת העדת וְ֝עֵדוֹתָ֗יו וְעֵדָ֖ה וְעֵדֹתִ֥י וְעֵדֹתֶ֑יךָ וְעֵדֹתָ֥יו וְעֵדֹתָֽיו׃ ועדה ועדותיו ועדתי ועדתיו ועדתיו׃ ועדתיך לְעֵדָ֔ה לעדה מֵעֵדֹתֶ֑יךָ מעדתיך עֵ֝דֹתֶ֗יךָ עֵ֝דֹתָ֗יו עֵ֭דֹתֶיךָ עֵֽדֹתֶ֨יךָ ׀ עֵדֹתֶ֑יךָ עֵדֹתֶ֣יךָ עֵדֹתֶֽיךָ׃ עֵדֹתָ֗יו עדתיו עדתיך עדתיך׃ ‘ê·ḏō·ṯāw ‘ê·ḏō·ṯe·ḵā ‘êḏōṯāw ‘êḏōṯeḵā ḇə‘êḏōṯeḵā ḇə·‘ê·ḏō·ṯe·ḵā edoTav edoTeicha hā‘êḏōṯ hā·‘ê·ḏōṯ haeDot lə‘êḏāh lə·‘ê·ḏāh leeDah mê‘êḏōṯeḵā mê·‘ê·ḏō·ṯe·ḵā meedoTeicha veeDah veedoTav Veedoteicha veedoTi wə‘êḏāh wə‘êḏōṯāw wə‘êḏōṯeḵā wə‘êḏōṯî wə‘êḏōwṯāw wə·‘ê·ḏāh wə·‘ê·ḏō·ṯāw wə·‘ê·ḏō·ṯe·ḵā wə·‘ê·ḏō·ṯî wə·‘ê·ḏō·w·ṯāwInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts