Read the Bible

KJV dictionary & concordance

lay

Meaning of “lay”

Sense 1: To put, place, set, arrange, deposit, apply, establish, impose, or cause to be in a stated position or condition. Sense 2: As the past tense of lie, to recline, rest, be situated, or remain in a state. Sense 3: In lay with, to have sexual relations. Sense 4: To press or bear upon. Sense 5: In lay up, lay by, or lay in store, to keep, store, or treasure; in lay wait, lay snares, lay an ambush, or lay siege, to prepare or set. Sense 6: In lay hold or lay hands on, to seize, take, apprehend, or touch. Sense 7: In lay down one's life, to surrender or give it; in lay aside, lay apart, or lay away, to remove, reject, or put off.

Definition sources

KJV context and cross-referencesWebster 1828
241 occurrences232 verses41 booksKJV PCE

Some verses contain the word more than once.

First occurrence: Genesis 19:4

Complete exact-word concordance

Every verse containing “lay”

KJV PCE

Remembering a verse with different wording? Find a verse across the Bible →

Showing verses 1–2 of 2 · 2 word occurrences in this result

2 Chronicles 31:7
In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 2 Chronicles 31:7 · retained source text

In the third moneth they began to lay the foundation of the heapes, and finished them in the seuenth moneth.

2 Chronicles 36:21
To fulfil the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 2 Chronicles 36:21 · retained source text

To fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Ieremiah, vntill the land had enioyed her Sabbaths: for as long as shee lay desolate, shee kept Sabbath, to fulfill threescore and tenne yeeres.

1611 marginal noteIer. 25.9,12. & 29.10.

1611 marginal noteLeuit. 26.34. and 35. and 43.

Complete reference index — all 232 verses

Where “lay” appears

Select a book to filter the concordance. Occurrences and verses are counted separately.

Source order

Definition evidence

Historical English dictionary sources

Historical definitions

To put or place. To place in order; to dispose with regularity. To spread or set; as, to lay snares. To put; to apply. To assess; to charge; to impose. To impose, as evil, burden, or punishment. To station; to set; as, to lay an ambush. To lay apart, to put away; to reject. To lay aside, to put off or away; not to retain. To lay by, to reserve for future use. To lay down, to deposit; to resign. To lay hold of, to seize; to catch. To lay up, to store; to treasure; to reposit for future use. To lay siege, to besiege; to encompass with an army. To lay wait, to station for private attack; to lay in ambush for. To lay waste, to destroy; to desolate.

volume 2, leaves 44-45 (transitive verb entry)