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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 161–170 of 182 · 185 word occurrences in this result

Acts 12:17
But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · Acts 12:17 · retained source text

But he beckening vnto them with the hand, to hold their peace, declared vnto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison: And he said, Goe shew these things vnto Iames, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.

Acts 18:9
Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · Acts 18:9 · retained source text

Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speake, and holde not thy peace:

Romans 1:18
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · Romans 1:18 · retained source text

For the wrath of God is reueiled from heauen against all vngodlinesse, and vnrighteousnesse of men, who hold the trueth in vnrighteousnesse.

1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 1 Timothy 6:12 · retained source text

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternall life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

1 Timothy 6:19
Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 1 Timothy 6:19 · retained source text

Laying vp in store for themselues a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay holde on eternall life.

2 Timothy 1:13
hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 2 Timothy 1:13 · retained source text

Holde fast the fourme of sound words, which thou hast heard of mee, in faith and loue, which is in Christ Iesus.

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)