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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 1–3 of 3 · 3 word occurrences in this result

Ruth 3:4
And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · Ruth 3:4 · retained source text

And it shall be when hee lieth downe, that thou shalt marke the place where hee shall lie, and thou shalt goe in, and vncouer his feete, and lay thee downe, and he will tell thee what thou shalt doe.

1611 marginal noteOr, lift vp the clothes that are on his feete.

Ruth 3:8
¶ And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · Ruth 3:8 · retained source text

¶ And it came to passe at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himselfe: and behold, a woman lay at his feete.

1611 marginal noteOr, tooke holde on.

Ruth 3:14
¶ And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · Ruth 3:14 · retained source text

¶ And shee lay at his feete vntill the morning: and she rose vp before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be knowen, that a woman came into the floore.

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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)