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 1–7 of 7 · 7 word occurrences in this result

Mark 1:30
But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · Mark 1:30 · retained source text

But Simons wiues mother lay sicke of a feuer: and anone they tell him of her.

Mark 2:4
And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · Mark 2:4 · retained source text

And when they could not come nigh vnto him for preasse, they vncouered the roofe where he was: and when they had broken it vp, they let downe the bed wherin the sick of the palsie lay.

Mark 3:21
And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · Mark 3:21 · retained source text

And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him, for they said, He is beside himselfe.

1611 marginal noteOr, kinsemen.

Mark 5:23
And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · Mark 5:23 · retained source text

And besought him greatly, saying, My litle daughter lieth at the point of death, I pray thee come and lay thy hands on her, that shee may be healed, and she shall liue.

Mark 12:12
And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · Mark 12:12 · retained source text

And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people, for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.

Mark 15:7
And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · Mark 15:7 · retained source text

And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.

Mark 16:18
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · Mark 16:18 · retained source text

They shall take vp serpents, and if they drinke any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them, they shall lay hands on the sicke, and they shall recouer.

1611 marginal noteAct. 28.5.

1611 marginal noteAct. 28.8.

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)