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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 51–60 of 182 · 185 word occurrences in this result

1 Chronicles 11:16
And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines’ garrison was then at Beth-lehem.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 1 Chronicles 11:16 · retained source text

And Dauid was then in the hold, and the Philistines garison was then at Bethlehem.

1 Chronicles 12:8
And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains;
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 1 Chronicles 12:8 · retained source text

And of the Gadites there separated themselues vnto Dauid, into the hold to the wildernesse, men of might, and men of warre, fit for the battel, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of Lyons, and were as swift as the Roes vpon the mountaines:

1611 marginal noteHeb. of the hoste.

1611 marginal noteHeb. as the Roes vpon the mountaines to make haste.

1 Chronicles 12:16
And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 1 Chronicles 12:16 · retained source text

And there came of the children of Beniamin, and Iudah, to the hold vnto Dauid.

1 Chronicles 13:9
¶ And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 1 Chronicles 13:9 · retained source text

¶ And when they came vnto the threshing floore of Chidon, Uzza put foorth his hand to hold the Arke, for the oxenstumbled.

1611 marginal noteCalled Nachon, 2.Sam. 6.6.

1611 marginal noteOr, shooke it.

2 Chronicles 7:22
And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 2 Chronicles 7:22 · retained source text

And it shalbe answered, Because they forsooke the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and layd hold on others gods, and worshipped them, aud serued them: Therefore hath hee brought all this euil vpon them.

Esther 4:11
All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · Esther 4:11 · retained source text

All the Kings seruants, and the people of the kings prouinces do know, that whosoeuer, whether man or woman, shall come vnto the King into the inner court, who is not called, there is one lawe of his to put him to death, except such to whom the King shall hold out the golden scepter, that he may liue: but I haue not beene called to come in vnto the King, these thirtie dayes.

Job 8:15
He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · Job 8:15 · retained source text

He shall leane vpon his house, but it shall not stand: he shal hold it fast, but it shall not endure.

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)