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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 1–10 of 12 · 12 word occurrences in this result

2 Samuel 2:21
And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 2:21 · retained source text

And Abner said to him, Turne thee aside to thy right hand, or to thy left, and lay thee holde on one of the yong men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turne aside from following of him.

1611 marginal noteOr, spoile.

2 Samuel 4:5
And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-bosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 4:5 · retained source text

And the sonnes of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noone.

2 Samuel 4:7
For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 4:7 · retained source text

For when they came into the house, hee lay on his bedde in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and tooke his head, and gate them away thorow the plaine all night.

2 Samuel 11:4
And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 11:4 · retained source text

And Dauid sent messengers, and tooke her, and shee came in vnto him, and he lay with her, ( for she was purified from her vncleannesse) and shee returned vnto her house.

1611 marginal noteOr, and wh she had purified her selfe, &c. she returned.

1611 marginal noteLeuit. 15.19. and 18.19.

2 Samuel 12:3
But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 12:3 · retained source text

But the poore man had nothing saue one litle ewe lambe, which he had bought and nourished vp: and it grew vp together with him, and with his children, it did eate of his owne meate, and dranke of his owne cup, and lay in his bosome, and was vnto him as a daughter.

1611 marginal noteHeb. morsell.

2 Samuel 12:16
David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 12:16 · retained source text

Dauid therfore besought God for the childe, and Dauid fasted, and went in, and lay all night vpon the earth.

1611 marginal noteHeb. fasted a fast.

2 Samuel 12:24
¶ And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the Lord loved him.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 12:24 · retained source text

¶ And Dauid comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in vnto her, and lay with her: and she bare a sonne, and he called his name Solomon, and the LORD loued him.

1611 marginal noteMatt. 1.6.

2 Samuel 13:5
And Jonadab said unto him, lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 13:5 · retained source text

And Ionadab said vnto him, Lay thee downe on thy bed, and make thy selfe sicke: and when thy father commeth to see thee, say vnto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and giue me meat, and dresse the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eate it at her hand.

2 Samuel 13:6
¶ So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 13:6 · retained source text

¶ So Amnon lay downe, and made himselfe sicke: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said vnto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, & make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.

2 Samuel 13:14
Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 13:14 · retained source text

Howbeit hee would not hearken vnto her voice, but being stronger then shee, forced her, and lay with her.

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)