Lexical Summary pseudés: False, lying, deceitful Original Word: ψευδής Strong's Exhaustive Concordance false, lyingFrom pseudomai; untrue, i.e. Erroneous, deceitful, wicked -- false, liar. see GREEK pseudomai NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pseudomai Definition lying, false NASB Translation false (2), liars (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5571: ψευδήςψευδής, ψευδές (ψεύδομαι), from Homer, Iliad4, 235 down, lying, deceitful, false: Revelation 2:2; μάρτυρες, Acts 6:13; substantively οἱ ψευδεῖς (A. V. liars), Revelation 21:8 (here Lachmann ψεύστης, which see). Topical Lexicon Definition and Conceptual Range The term designates that which is contrary to fact, characterizing persons or statements that distort reality. Scripture consistently links the idea to moral evil, covenant unfaithfulness, and rebellion against the God who “cannot lie” (Titus 1:2). Thus, the word functions not merely as an ethical descriptor but as a spiritual diagnostic: wherever it appears, it exposes the presence of darkness set against divine truth. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. Acts 6:13—The accusers of Stephen are called “false witnesses,” highlighting the judicial gravity of deceit in Israel’s courts and paralleling the earlier trial of Jesus Christ. Historical Background First–century Judaism took false testimony with utmost seriousness, requiring two or three witnesses for legal judgments (Deuteronomy 19:15). Yet both Jesus and Stephen faced orchestrated perjury, showing how religious systems can be subverted by deceit. In the Greco-Roman world, itinerant teachers often sought patronage through persuasive speech; the apostolic church soon confronted pretenders who peddled spurious revelations. The Apocalypse frames this conflict as part of a larger cosmic struggle between the “faithful and true” Word (Revelation 19:11) and the “father of lies” (John 8:44). Theological Significance 1. Truth as God’s self-revelation: Scripture equates truth with the very nature of God (John 14:6). To persist in falsehood is, therefore, to reject His character. Related Biblical Themes • Ninth Commandment—The prohibition against bearing false witness grounds community life in honesty (Exodus 20:16). Practical Ministry Implications 1. Discernment: Churches must evaluate teachers by their doctrine and conduct, following the model of Ephesus (Revelation 2:2). Messianic and Eschatological Dimensions Jesus Christ embodies absolute truth; His followers are set apart “in the truth” (John 17:17). End-time prophecy portrays a culture of deception climaxing in the “man of lawlessness” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10), yet the Lamb ultimately triumphs, consigning every manifestation of ψευδής to final judgment. Summary Strong’s Greek 5571 confronts the reader with a stark binary: truth aligns with God and leads to life; falsehood aligns with Satan and leads to condemnation. Its three New Testament appearances trace that trajectory—from courtroom perjury, through ecclesial testing, to eschatological sentencing—urging believers to walk “in the light, as He is in the light” (1 John 1:7). Forms and Transliterations ψευδεί ψευδεις ψευδείς ψευδεῖς ψευδές ψευδέσι ψευδεσιν ψευδέσιν ψεύδεσιν ψευδή ψευδής ψευδούς ψεύδους ψευδών pseudeis pseudeîs pseudesin pseudésinLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 6:13 Adj-AMPGRK: τε μάρτυρας ψευδεῖς λέγοντας Ὁ NAS: They put forward false witnesses KJV: set up false witnesses, INT: and witnesses false saying the Revelation 2:2 Adj-AMP Revelation 21:8 Adj-DMP Strong's Greek 5571 |