However, the word martyr comes from a Greek term (marʹtys) that in Bible times meant “witness, ” a person who gives testimony, perhaps at a court hearing, to the truth of what he believes. It was only later that the expression came to mean “one who gives his life for bearing witness, ” or even bearing witness by giving one’s life.
Taču grieķu vārds martis, kas laika gaitā ieguva papildu nozīmi ” moceklis ” — cilvēks, kas zaudējis dzīvību, liecinādams par savu ticību, vai devis liecību ar savu nāvi —, Bībeles laikos nozīmēja ” liecinieks ” — cilvēks, kas apliecina (piemēram, tiesas procesā), ka tas, kam viņš tic, ir patiess.