Original Word: תְּעוּדָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: t`uwdah
Pronunciation: teh-oo-DAH
Phonetic Spelling: (teh-oo-daw')
KJV: testimony
NASB: testimony, attestation
Word Origin: [from H5749 (עוּד - To bear witness)]

1. attestation, i.e. a precept, usage

testimony

From uwd; attestation, i.e. A precept, usage -- testimony.

see HEBREW uwd

Word Origin
from ud
Definition
testimony, attestation
NASB Translation
attestation (1), testimony (2).

תְּעוּדָה noun feminine testimony, attestation; —

1 testimony, prophet. injunction, "" תּוֺרָה Isaiah 8:16,20.

2 attestation, Ruth 4:7 (> fixed usage Buhl^Lex).

Core Concept

The term points to a formal, binding attestation—whether in civil agreements or in the prophetic charge to preserve and obey revealed truth. It carries the sense of an established, documentary witness that guarantees the validity of an action or message.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Ruth 4:7 records the custom of exchanging a sandal “to confirm a matter… the manner of attestation in Israel.”
2. Isaiah 8:16 commands, “Bind up the testimony; seal the law among my disciples.”
3. Isaiah 8:20 summons Judah, “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.”

Historical and Cultural Background

Ancient Near Eastern societies relied on tangible tokens or written records to finalize legal transactions. In Bethlehem, the sandal exchange functioned like an embossed seal or notarized deed, ensuring that property rights were incontestable. Likewise, prophetic scrolls were sealed or tied to preserve their contents from tampering, publicly certifying divine authorship and accuracy.

Theological Themes

1. Trustworthiness of Revelation: The prophets treat the testimony as God-given evidence that must be preserved intact.
2. Covenant Integrity: By echoing legal procedures, the testimony underscores God’s covenant dealings with His people—He binds Himself to promises and holds Israel accountable to stipulations.
3. Light versus Darkness: Isaiah 8:20 sets the testimony as the definitive standard; rejection of it leaves a person “without dawn,” highlighting the moral and spiritual consequences of ignoring divinely authenticated truth.

Relation to the Covenant

Israel’s covenant documents (e.g., the tablets placed in the ark, Deuteronomy 31:26) set a precedent: sacred law was deposited in an inviolable location as a perpetual witness. The term in Isaiah links that earlier practice to the prophetic era, showing continuity in God’s method of safeguarding His word.

Prophetic Dimensions

Isaiah ministered during Assyrian threats and widespread syncretism. By ordering the testimony to be bound and sealed, he established a public, enduring counter-culture record that future generations might compare with unfolding history and recognize the accuracy of divine warning and promise.

Practical Ministry Implications

• Preaching and Teaching: The testimony provides a model for anchoring sermons and lessons in the written word that God Himself has authenticated.
• Church Governance: Covenantal documents, membership covenants, and statements of faith echo the Old Testament principle that formally recorded truth protects the integrity of the community.
• Apologetics: Pointing to fulfilled prophecy validates Scripture’s reliability, just as Isaiah’s sealed testimony vindicated his message when events came to pass.

Christological Fulfillment

Jesus Christ embodies the ultimate testimony: “For this I was born and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth” (John 18:37). He fulfills every legal and prophetic attestation, and His resurrection serves as God’s public certification of the gospel message (Romans 1:4).

Conclusion

Across narrative, legal, and prophetic settings, the testimony functions as God’s endorsed proof—whether confirming a kinsman-redeemer’s transaction or preserving prophetic revelation. Its enduring presence in Scripture summons every generation to uphold, proclaim, and live by the trustworthy word that God has irrevocably sealed.

הַתְּעוּדָ֖ה התעודה וְלִתְעוּדָ֑ה ולתעודה תְּעוּדָ֑ה תעודה hat·tə·‘ū·ḏāh hattə‘ūḏāh hatteuDah tə‘ūḏāh tə·‘ū·ḏāh teuDah velituDah wə·liṯ·‘ū·ḏāh wəliṯ‘ūḏāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts