What Does Mark 14:59 Mean in the King James?
But neither so did their witness agree together.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Greek word behind “agree” means “equal”: the testimony is not one witness when its accounts do not match.
THE MEANING
A charge loses force when the testimony against someone does not match. Several voices do not become one corroborating account while their claims remain unequal.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the belief that an accusation becomes reliable simply because several people repeat it; their testimony still has to agree.
THE ROOT
ἴση
isē
GROWS FROM
ἰσο-
equal, the same in measure
The word translated “agree together” is literally about being equal. The verse pictures accounts that do not match, so several voices fail to form one corroborating witness.
ALSO GROWS
isos: equal, the same
ἴσος
This is the adjective used in the verse: the witnesses’ testimony is not equal.
isotēs: equality
ἰσότης
This noun makes the same idea explicit: testimony stands together when its accounts match.
isotimos: of equal value or standing
ἰσότιμος
The shared ἰσο- element carries the idea of matching or equal measure into another word.
μαρτυρία
martyria
GROWS FROM
μαρτυρ-
witness, testimony
The Greek word holds both the act of witnessing and the testimony offered. Here, the witness is not merely a set of voices: their testimony has to cohere as evidence.
ALSO GROWS
martys: witness
μάρτυς
The testimony comes from people who bear witness.
martyreō: to testify, bear witness
μαρτυρέω
The root also names the act of giving testimony, the speaking behind the claims.
martyrion: testimony, evidence
μαρτύριον
This branch shows testimony as evidence offered to establish a matter.
THE PATTERN
Testimony establishes a matter through corroboration; claims that fail to match do not form one witness.
One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.THE THREAD
It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.John uses the same Greek word, μαρτυρία (martyria), meaning witness or testimony. Mark shows what happens when that testimony is unequal: the voices remain separate claims instead of forming one corroborating witness.
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