KJV dictionary & concordance
Sense 1: To hold or be capable of holding within limits or capacity. Sense 2: To restrain oneself; to exercise self-control.
Definition sources
First occurrence: 1 Kings 8:27
Complete exact-word concordance
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?
But will God indeede dwell on the earth? Behold, the heauen, and heauen of heauens cannot conteine thee: how much lesse this House that I haue builded?
And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
And with the stones hee built an altar in the Name of the LORD, and hee made a trench about the altar, as great as would containe two measures of seed.
But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?
But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heauen, and heauen of heauens cannot conteine him? who am I then that I should build him an house? saue onely to burne sacrifice before him?
1611 marginal noteHeb. hath retained, or obtained strength.
1611 marginal note1.King. 8.27. 2.chro. 6.18.
But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!
(But wil God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heauen, and the heauen of heauens cannot conteine thee: how much lesse this house which I haue built?)
1611 marginal noteChap. 2.6. esay 66.1. acts. 7.49.
The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the bath may contain the tenth part of an homer, and the ephah the tenth part of an homer: the measure thereof shall be after the homer.
The Ephah and the Bath shal be of one measure, that the Bath may containe the tenth part of an Homer, and the Ephah the tenth part of an Homer: the measure thereof shall be after the Homer.
And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
And there are also many other things which Iesus did, the which if they should be written euery one, I suppose that euen the world it selfe could not conteine the bookes that should be written, Amen.
1611 marginal noteChap. 20.30.
But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
But if they cannot conteine, let them marry: for it is better to marrie then to burne.
Source order
1 · KJV context and cross-references
Historical English dictionary sources
To be continent.
To hold, as a vessel ... Hence, to have capacity; to be able to hold ... To comprehend; to hold within specified limits.
To live in continence or chastity.
