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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

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Showing verses 1–6 of 6 · 6 word occurrences in this result

2 Kings 4:11
And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 2 Kings 4:11 · retained source text

And it fell on a day that hee came thither, and hee turned into the chamber, and lay there.

2 Kings 4:29
Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 2 Kings 4:29 · retained source text

Then he said to Gehazi, Gird vp thy loines, and take my staffe in thine hand, and goe thy way: if thou meete any man, salute him not: and if any salute thee, answere him not againe: and lay my staffe vpon the face of the childe.

2 Kings 4:34
And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 2 Kings 4:34 · retained source text

And he went vp, and lay vpon the child, and put his mouth vpon his mouth, and his eyes vpon his eyes, and his hands vpon his hands, and he stretched himselfe vpon the child, and the flesh of the child waxed warme.

2 Kings 9:16
So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 2 Kings 9:16 · retained source text

So Iehu rode in a charet, and went to Iezreel, (for Ioram lay there:) and Ahaziah king of Iudah was come downe to see Ioram.

2 Kings 10:8
¶ And there came a messenger, and told him, saying, They have brought the heads of the king’s sons. And he said, lay ye them in two heaps at the entering in of the gate until the morning.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 2 Kings 10:8 · retained source text

¶ And there came a messenger, and tolde him, saying, They haue brought the heads of the kings sonnes. And he said, Lay ye them in two heaps at the entring in of the gate, vntill the morning.

2 Kings 19:25
Hast thou not heard long ago how I have done it, and of ancient times that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste fenced cities into ruinous heaps.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 2 Kings 19:25 · retained source text

Hast thou not heard long agoe, how I haue done it, and of ancient times that I haue formed it? now haue I brought it to passe, that thou shouldest be to lay waste fenced cities into ruinous heapes.

1611 marginal noteOr, hast thou not heard how I haue made it long agoe, and formed it of ancient times? should I now bring it to be laide waste, and fenced cities to be ruinous heapes?

Complete reference index — all 232 verses

Where “lay” appears

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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)