HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3608
כֶּ֫לֶא
ke.le — prison
imprisonment, confinement, restraint
10 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →BIBLE DICTIONARY + WORD STUDY
Prison
Original Hebrew / Aramaic / Greek connected to this term
How to read this: there is rarely one magic “true meaning” hidden behind an English word. A lexicon records a word’s semantic range. The intended meaning is narrowed by grammar, sentence, author, historical usage and context.
HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H5470
סֹ֫הַר
so.har — prison
1) house of roundness, roundhouse, prison 1a) name of a prison
6 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G1201
δεσμωτήριον
desmōtērion — prison
δεσμωτήριον, -ου, τό [in LXX for בֵּית סֹהַר (Ge), אָסִיר ;] a prison: Mat.11:2, Act.5:21, 23 16:26.† (AS)
4 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3628
כְּלִיא
ke.li — prison
imprisonment
2 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G1831
ἐξέρχομαι
exerchomai — to go out
ἐξέρχομαι, [in LXX chiefly and very frequently for יצא, also for עלה ,בּוֹא, etc. ;] depon., to go, or come out of: Mat.10:11, Mrk.1:35, Jhn.13:30, al.; with inf., Mat.11:8, Mrk.3:21, Luk.7:25, 26 Act.20:8; id. before ἐπί, Mat.26:55, al.; εἰς, Mrk.1:38; ἵνα, Rev.6:2; ἐ. before ἐκ (cl. with genitive loc.), Mrk.5:2, Jhn.4:30, al.; ἔξω, with genitive, Mat.21:17, Mrk.14:68, Act.16:13, Heb.13:13; ἀπό, Mrk.11:12, Luk.9:5, Php.4:15; ἐκεῖθεν, Mat.15:21, Mrk.6:1, Luk.9:4, al.; of demons expelled, before ἐκ (ἀπό), with genitive of person(s), Mrk.1:25, 26 5:8, Luk.4:35, al.; of prisoners released, Mat.5:26, Act.16:40; ptcp., ἐξελθών, with indic., of verb of departure (cf. Dalman, Words, 20f.), Mat.8:32 15:21 24:1, Mrk.16:8, Luk.22:39, Act.12:9, 17 al. Metaphorical, (a) of persons: 2Co.6:17, 1Jn.2:19; of birth or origin, Mat.2:6 (LXX), Heb.7:5 (cf . Gen.35:11); of escape from danger, ἐκ τ. χειρὸς αὐτῶν, Jhn.10:39; of public appearance, 1Jn.4:1; (b) of things: Mat.24:27; esp. of utterances, reports, proclamations: φωνή, Rev.16:17 19:5; φήμη, Mat.9:26, Luk.4:14; ἀκοή, Mrk.1:28; λόγος, Jhn.21:23; δόγμα, Luk.2:1 (cf. δι-εξέρχομαι). (AS)
209 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G3860
παραδίδωμι
paradidōmi — to deliver
παρα-δίδωμι, [in LXX chiefly for נתן ;] correl. to παρδέχομαι, 1. to give or hand over to another: with accusative and dative, Mat.11:27 25:14, Luk.4:6, al.; of being delivered up to a course of teaching, pass. before εἰς, Rom.6:17. 2. to commit, commend: Act.14:26 15:40, 1Pe.2:23. 3. to give or deliver up to prison or judgment: with accusative of person(s), Mat.4:12, Mrk.1:14, Rom.4:25, 2Pe.2:4; id. before ὑπέρ, Rom.8:32; with dative, Mat.5:25, Mrk.15:1, Luk.12:58, Jhn.19:11, al.; id. before ἵνα, Jhn.19:16; with inf., Act.12:4; before εἰς, Mat.10:17 17:22 24:9, Luk.21:12, Act.8:3, 2Co.4:11, al.; τ. Σατανᾷ, 1Ti.1:20; id. before εἰς, 1Co.5:5; with the collat. idea of treachery (= προδίδωμι), with accusative of person(s), Mat.26:25, Mrk.14:11, Jhn.6:64, al.; id. with dative, Mat.26:15, al.; present ptcp., ὁ παραδιδοὺς, Mat.26:25, Mrk.14:42, Jhn.13:11. 4. to hand down, hand on or deliver verbally (traditions, commands, etc.): Mrk.7:13, Luk.1:2, Act.6:14, 1Co.11:2 15:2; pass., 2Pe.2:21, Ju 3. 5. to permit (for exx. in cl., see LS, see word): Mrk.4:29. (AS)
116 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G5087
τίθημι
tithēmi — to place
τίθημι, [in LXX for שִׁית ,נתן ,שׂוּם, etc. ;] 1. causative of κεῖμαι, (a) to place, lay, set: Luk.6:48, Rom.9:33, al.; of laying the dead to rest, Mrk.15:47, Luk.23:55, Jhn.11:34, Act.7:16, al.; before ἐπί, with genitive, Luk.8:16, Jhn.19:19, al.; id. with accusative, Mrk.4:21, 2Co.3:13, al.; ὑπό, Mat.5:15, al.; παρά, Act.4:35, 37. Mid., to have put or placed, to place for oneself: of putting in prison, Act.4:3, 5:18, 25, al.; of giving counsel, βουλήν, Act.27:12; of laying up in one's heart, Luk.1:66 21:14 ( 1Ki.21:12); (b) to put down, lay down: of bending the knees, τ. γόνατα, to kneel, Mrk.15:19, Act.7:60, al.; of putting off garments, Jhn.13:4; of laying down life, τ. ψυχήν, Jhn.10:11, 15 17, 18 13:37, 38 15:13, 1Jn.3:16; of laying by money, παρ ̓ ἑαυτῷ, 1Co.16:2; of setting on food, Jhn.2:10; metaphorically, of setting forth an idea in symbolism, Mrk.4:30. 2. to set, fix, establish: ὑπόδειγμα, 2Pe.2:6. 3. to make, appoint: Mat.22:44, Mrk.12:36, Luk.20:43, Act.2:35, Rom.4:17, al. Mid., to make, set or appoint for oneself: Act.20:28, 1Co.12:28, 1Th.5:9, 1Ti.1:12, al.; before ἵνα, Jhn.15:16 (cf . ἀνα-, προσ-ανα-, ἀπο-, δια-, ἀντι-δια-, ἐκ-, ἐπι-, συν-επι-, κατα-, συν-κατα-, μετα-, παρα-, περι-, προ-, προσ-, συν-, ὑπο-τίθημι). (AS)
96 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H5462
סָגַר
sa.gar — to shut
1) to shut, close 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to shut 1a2) to close, close up 1a3) closed up, closely joined, shut up 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be shut up 1b2) to be shut or closed 1c) (Piel) to shut up, deliver up 1d) (Pual) to be shut up 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to deliver up 1e2) to shut up, imprison 2) pure gold Aramaic equivalent: se.gar (סְגַר "to shut" H5463)
81 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H631
אָסַר
a.sar — to bind
1) to tie, bind, imprison 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to tie, bind 1a2) to tie, harness 1a3) to bind (with cords) 1a4) to gird (rare and late) 1a5) to begin the battle, make the attack 1a6) of obligation of oath (figurative) 1b) (Niphal) to be imprisoned, bound 1c) (Pual) to be taken prisoner
63 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G5438
φυλακή
phulakē — prison/watch: prison
φυλακή, -ῆς, ἡ (φυλάσσω) [in LXX chiefly for מִשְׁמֶרֶת and cogn. forms, also for כֶּלֶא etc. ;] (a) actively, a guarding, guard, watch (Hom., Plat., Xen., al.): cogn. accusative, φυλάσσειν φυλακάς, to keep watch, Luk.2:8; (b) of those who keep watch (as also Lat. custodia), a guard; pl., sentinels, a guard (Hom., al.): Act.12:10; (with) of the place where persons are kept under guard, a prison (Hdt., Thuc., al.): Mat.14:10, Mrk.6:17, Luk.3:20, Act.5:19, 2Co.6:5, 1Pe.3:19, Rev.18:2, al.; (d) of the time during which guard was kept by night (Lest. vigilia; Anthol.), a watch: Mat.14:25 24:43, Mrk.6:48, Luk.12:38 (AS)
45 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H1280
בְּרִיחַ
be.ri.ach — bar
1) bar 1a) of wood 1b) of city gates 2) of tribulation, a fortress, of the earth as a prison (fig.)
35 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H4929
מִשְׁמָר
mish.mar — custody
1) place of confinement, prison, guard, jail, guard post, watch, observance 1a) jail, prison, guard-house 1b) guard, guard post, act of guarding 1c) observances
19 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G1911
ἐπιβάλλω
epiballō — to put on/seize
ἐπι-βάλλω [in LXX for שָׁלַח, שִׁית, etc. ;] 1. trans., to cast, lay or put upon: with accusative and dative, Mrk.11:7, 1Co.7:35; with accusative, before ἐπί with accusative, Rev.18:10, WH, mg.; τ. Χεῖρα (-ας) ἐπί (B1., § 37, 7), of seizing a prisoner, Mat.26:50, Luk.20:19 21:12, Jhn.7:30, Act.5:18 21:27; with dative (Polyb.), Mrk.14:46 Act.4:3; with inf., Act.12:1; τὴν χ. ἐπ᾽ ἄροτρον, Luk.9:62; ἐπίβλημα ἐπὶ ἱμάτιον, Luk.5:36; ἐπὶ ἱματίῳ, Mat.9:16. 2. Intrans., (a) to throw oneself or rush upon: τ. κύματα εἰς τ. πλοῖον, Mrk.4:37; metaphorically, to put one's mind upon (but see Field, Notes, 41 ff.), ἐπιβαλὼν ἔκλαιεν, when he thought thereon (sc. τ. ῥήματι), he wept (EV, txt.; R, mg., he began to weep; cf. M, Pr., 131): Mrk.14:72 (see also Swete, in l); (b) to fall to one's share: τὸ ἐπιβάλλον (sc. dative; Hdt., a1., a technical formula frequently in π.; Deiss., BS, 230, LAE, 152), Luk.15:12.† (AS)
18 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G1198
δέσμιος
desmios — prisoner
δέσμιος, -ον (also -α, -ον; δεσμός), [in LXX for אסר;] 1. binding. 2. bound, captive; ὁ δ., as subst., a prisoner: Mat.27:15, 16, Mrk.15:6, Act.16:25, 27 23:18 25:14, 27 28:16 (Rec.) 17, Heb.10:34 13:3; ὁ δ. τοῦ Χριστοῦ, Eph.3:1, 2Ti.1:8, Phm 1, 9; ὁ δ. ἐν κυρίῳ, Eph.4:1.† (AS)
16 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G4815
συλλαμβάνω
sullambanō — to seize/conceive/help
συλ-λαμβάνω [in LXX for תָּפַשׂ, הָרָה, etc. ;] 1. with accusative, to bring together, collect. 2. to seize, take: with accusative of person(s), as a prisoner, Mat.26:55, Mrk.14:48, Luk.22:54, Jhn.18:12, Act.1:16 12:3; pass., Act.23:27; mid., in sense of act., Act.26:21; σ. ἄγραν ἰχθύων, Luk.5:9. 3. C. dative of person(s), to take part with, assist, succour; mid., in same sense: Luk.5:7, Php.4:3. 4. Of a woman, to conceive: absol., Luk.1:24; before ἐν γαστρί, Luk.1:31; with accusative, Luk.1:36; ib. before ἐν τ. κοιλίᾳ, Luk.2:21; metaphorically, of lust producing sin, Jas.1:15.† (AS)
16 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H4307
מַטָּרָה
mat.ta.rah — (Gate of the) Guard
This name means guard, prison
15 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G520
ἀπάγω
apagō — to lead away
ἀπ-άγω [in LXX for נָהַג, הָלַךְ hi., etc. ;] to lead away: Luk.13:15, Act.23:17 24:7 (R, mg.), 1Co.12:2; esp. of leading to trial (so as law term in Attic), prison and death (MM, VGT, see word): Mat.26:57 27:2, 31, Mrk.14:44, 53 15:16, Luk.21:12 22:66 23:26, Act.12:19; of the direction of a way: Mat.7:13-14 (cf. συν-απ-άγω).† (AS)
14 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G4912
συνέχω
sunechō — to hold/oppress
συν-έχω [in LXX for עָצָר, חָבַר, etc. ;] 1. to hold together (τ. συνέχον τ. πάντα, Wis.1:7): of closing the ears, Act.7:57 (τ. στόμα, Isa.52:15); to hem in, press on every side: Luk.8:45 19:43. 2. to hold fast; (a) of a prisoner, to hold in charge (Luc.; cf. exx. in Deiss., BS, 160; MM, xxiv): Luk.22:63; (b) to constrain: 2Co.5:14; pass., Luk.12:50, Act.18:5 (τ. λόγῳ; cf. Field, Notes, 128), Php.1:23; in pass., of ills, to be seized or afflicted by, suffering from: Mat.4:24, Luk.4:38 8:37, Act.28:8.† (AS)
12 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H2607
חֲנָנִי
cha.na.ni — Hanani
A prophet living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.16.1; father of: Jehu (H3058) § Hanani = "gracious" 1) one of the sons of Heman, a chief musician of David, and head of the 18th course of the service 2) a seer who rebuked Asa, king of Judah, and was imprisoned 2a) maybe, father of Jehu the seer who testified against Baasha 3) one of the priests who in the time of Ezra took a foreign wife 4) brother of Nehemiah whom Nehemiah appointed governor of Jerusalem 5) another priest who was the chief musician under Nehemiah
11 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H615
אָסִיר
a.sir — prisoner
prisoner, captive, bondman
11 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3078
יְהוֹיָכִין
ye.ho.ya.khin — Jehoiachin
A king of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.24.6; son of: Jehoiakim (H3079) and Nehushta (H5179); father of: Zedekiah (H6667I)(?) and Shealtiel (H7597A); also called Jeconiah at 1Ch.3.16,17; 2x27.20; 28.4; 29.2; Coniah at Jer.22.24,28; 37.1; Shallum at Jer.22.11; Jechoniah (KJV: Jechonias; NIV: Jeconiah) inMat.1.11; 1x § Jehoiachin = "Jehovah establishes" king of Judah, son of Jehoiakim, and the next to last king of Judah before the Babylonian captivity; kingship lasted for 3 months and 10 days before he surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar who took him to Babylon and imprisoned him for 36 years when he was finally released
8 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3204
יְכוֹנְיָה
ye.khon.yah — Jeconiah
A king of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.24.6; son of: Jehoiakim (H3079) and Nehushta (H5179); father of: Zedekiah (H6667I)(?) and Shealtiel (H7597A); also called Jeconiah at 1Ch.3.16,17; 2x27.20; 28.4; 29.2; Coniah at Jer.22.24,28; 37.1; Shallum at Jer.22.11; Jechoniah (KJV: Jechonias; NIV: Jeconiah) inMat.1.11; 1x Another name of ye.ho.ya.khin (יְהוֹיָכִין "Jehoiachin" H3078) § Jeconiah = "Jehovah will establish" 1) son of king Jehoiakim of Judah and king of Judah for 3 months and 10 days before he surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar and was taken captive to Babylon where he was imprisoned for the next 36 years; released at the death of Nebuchadnezzar and lived in Babylon until his death 1a) primary spelling 'Jehoiachin'
7 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H5663
עֶ֫בֶד מֶ֫לֶךְ
e.ved me.lekh — Ebed-melech
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.38.7 § Ebed-melech = "servant of the king" an Ethiopian eunuch in the service of king Zedekiah, through whose interference Jeremiah was released from prison
6 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H616
אַסִּיר
as.sir — prisoner
1) prisoners (collective) 2) (CLBL) prisoner, captive
5 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →Historical dictionary entry
The first occasion on which we read of a prison is in the history of Joseph in Egypt. Then Potiphar, “Joseph’s master, took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound” (Gen. 39:20-23). The Heb. word here used (sohar) means properly a round tower or fortress. It seems to have been a part of Potiphar’s house, a place in which state prisoners were kept. The Mosaic law made no provision for imprisonment as a punishment. In the wilderness two persons were “put in ward” (Lev. 24:12; Num. 15:34), but it was only till the mind of God concerning them should be ascertained. Prisons and prisoners are mentioned in the book of Psalms (69:33; 79:11; 142:7). Samson was confined in a Philistine prison (Judg. 16:21, 25). In the subsequent history of Israel frequent references are made to prisons (1 Kings 22:27; 2 Kings 17:4; 25:27, 29; 2 Chr. 16:10; Isa. 42:7; Jer. 32:2). Prisons seem to have been common in New Testament times (Matt. 11:2; 25:36, 43). The apostles were put into the “common prison” at the instance of the Jewish council (Acts 5:18, 23; 8:3); and at Philippi Paul and Silas were thrust into the “inner prison” (16:24; comp. 4:3; 12:4, 5).
Scripture references
Genesis 39:20-23Leviticus 24:12Numbers 15:34Judges 16:21Judges 16:251 Kings 22:272 Kings 17:42 Kings 25:272 Kings 25:292 Chronicles 16:10Isaiah 42:7Jeremiah 32:2Matthew 11:2Matthew 25:36Matthew 25:43Acts 5:18Acts 5:23Genesis 40:3Genesis 42:17Acts 23:10Acts 16:24Jeremiah 35:6-11
Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.