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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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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)