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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 12 · 12 word occurrences in this result

2 Samuel 1:11
Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 1:11 · retained source text

Then Dauid tooke hold on his clothes, and rent them, and likewise all the men that were with him.

1611 marginal noteChap. 3.31. and 13.31.

2 Samuel 2:21
And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 2:21 · retained source text

And Abner said to him, Turne thee aside to thy right hand, or to thy left, and lay thee holde on one of the yong men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turne aside from following of him.

1611 marginal noteOr, spoile.

2 Samuel 2:22
And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 2:22 · retained source text

And Abner said againe to Asahel, Turne thee aside from following me: Wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I holde vp my face to Ioab thy brother?

2 Samuel 4:10
When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 4:10 · retained source text

When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, ( thinking to haue brought good tidings) I tooke hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would haue giuen him a reward for his tidings:

1611 marginal noteHeb. hee was in his owne eyes as a bringer, &c.

1611 marginal noteOr, which was the reward I gaue him for his tidings.

1611 marginal noteChap. 1.15.

2 Samuel 5:7
Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 5:7 · retained source text

Neuerthelesse, Dauid tooke the strong hold of Zion: the same is the citie of Dauid.

2 Samuel 5:17
¶ But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 5:17 · retained source text

¶ But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed Dauid King ouer Israel, all the Philistines came vp to seeke Dauid, and Dauid heard of it, and went downe to the hold.

1611 marginal note1.Chron. 11.16. and 14.8.

2 Samuel 6:6
¶ And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 6:6 · retained source text

¶ And when they came to Nachons threshing floore, Uzzah put forth his hand to the Arke of God, and tooke hold of it, for the oxen shooke it.

1611 marginal noteOr, stumbled.

1611 marginal note1.Chron. 13.9.

2 Samuel 13:11
And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 13:11 · retained source text

And when shee had brought them vnto him to eate, hee tooke hold of her, and said vnto her, Come lye with mee, my sister.

2 Samuel 13:20
And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 13:20 · retained source text

And Absalom her brother sayde vnto her, Hath Amnon thy brother beene with thee? But holde nowe thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother, regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absaloms house.

1611 marginal noteHeb. set not thine heart.

1611 marginal noteHeb. and desolate.

2 Samuel 18:9
¶ And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 18:9 · retained source text

¶ And Absalom met the seruants of Dauid; and Absalom rode vpon a mule, and the mule went vnder the thicke boughs of a great Oke, and his head caught hold of the Oke, and hee was taken vp betweene the heauen and the earth, and the mule that was vnder him, went away.

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)