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KJV dictionary & concordance

hold

Meaning of “hold”

Sense 1: To grasp, seize, cling to, carry, wield, support, or keep fast, literally or figuratively. Sense 2: To keep, retain, possess, maintain, continue in, or adhere to. Sense 3: To restrain, confine, or keep back; to contain or have capacity. Sense 4: To regard, account, or judge. Sense 5: To conduct or celebrate an observance. Sense 6: To endure, prevail, or take effect. Sense 7: In hold one's peace or hold one's tongue, to remain silent. Sense 8: As a noun, a grasp or attachment; a place of confinement, refuge, security, or fortification.

Definition sources

KJV context and cross-referencesSkeat 1893Webster 1828
185 occurrences182 verses41 booksKJV PCE

Some verses contain the word more than once.

First occurrence: Genesis 19:16

Complete exact-word concordance

Every verse containing “hold”

KJV PCE

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Showing verses 1–10 of 182 · 185 word occurrences in this result

Genesis 19:16
And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · Genesis 19:16 · retained source text

And while he lingred, the men laid hold vpon his hand, and vpon the hand of his wife, and vpon the hand of his two daughters, the LORD being mercifull vnto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the citie.

1611 marginal noteWisd. 10.6.

Genesis 21:18
Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · Genesis 21:18 · retained source text

Arise, lift vp the lad, and hold him in thine hand: for I will make him a great nation.

Genesis 25:26
And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · Genesis 25:26 · retained source text

And after that came his brother out, and his hand tooke holde on Esaus heele; and his name was called Iacob: and Isaac was threescore yeres old, when shee bare them.

1611 marginal noteOse. 12.3.

Exodus 5:1
AND afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · Exodus 5:1 · retained source text

¶ And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and tolde Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people goe, that they may holde a feast vnto mee in the wildernesse.

Exodus 9:2
For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still,
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · Exodus 9:2 · retained source text

For if thou refuse to let them goe, and wilt hold them still,

Exodus 10:9
And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the Lord.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · Exodus 10:9 · retained source text

And Moses said, We wil goe with our yong, and with our old, with our sonnes and with our daughters, with our flockes and with our heards will we goe: for we must hold a feast vnto the LORD.

Exodus 14:14
The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · Exodus 14:14 · retained source text

The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

Exodus 15:14
The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · Exodus 15:14 · retained source text

The people shall heare, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.

1611 marginal noteDeut. 2.25. iosh. 2.9.

Exodus 15:15
Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · Exodus 15:15 · retained source text

Then the dukes of Edom shal be amased: the mighty men of Moab trembling shall take hold vpon them: all the inhabitants of Canaan shal melt away.

Exodus 20:7
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · Exodus 20:7 · retained source text

Thou shalt not take the Name of the LORD thy God in vaine: for the LORD will not holde him guiltlesse, that taketh his Name in vaine.

1611 marginal noteLeuit. 19.12. deut. 5.11. matt. 5.33.

Complete reference index — all 182 verses

Where “hold” appears

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Definition evidence

Historical English dictionary sources

Historical definitions

To stop; to confine; to restrain from escape; to keep fast; to retain. To embrace and confine, with bearing or lifting. To connect; to keep from separation. To maintain, as an opinion. To consider; to regard; to think; to judge. To contain, or to have capacity to receive and contain. To defend; to keep possession; to maintain. To have; to possess. To refrain; to stop; to restrain; to withhold. To keep; as, hold your peace. To maintain; to retain; to continue. To have in session. To celebrate; to solemnize. To sustain; to support. To carry; to wield. To maintain; to observe in practice.

volume 1, leaf 914 (transitive verb entry)

To be true; not to fail; to stand, as a fact or truth. To continue. To be fast; to be firm; not to give way. To hold on, to continue; not to be interrupted; to proceed in a course. To hold to, to cling or cleave to; to adhere. Hold, used imperatively, signifies stop; cease; forbear; be still.

volume 1, leaves 914-915 (intransitive verb entry)

A grasp with the hand; an embrace with the arms; any act or exertion which keeps a thing fast and prevents escape. Something which may be seized for support; that which supports. A prison; a place of confinement. A lurking place; a place of security. A fortified place; a fort; a castle; often called a strong hold.

volume 1, leaf 915 (noun entry)