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The Blue Letter Bible

Lexicon :: Strong's G5438 - phylakē

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φυλακή
Transliteration
phylakē (Key)
Pronunciation
foo-lak-ay'
Listen
Part of Speech
feminine noun
Root Word (Etymology)
Dictionary Aids

Vine's Expository Dictionary: View Entry

TDNT Reference: 9:241,1280

Strong’s Definitions

φυλακή phylakḗ, foo-lak-ay'; from G5442; a guarding or (concretely, guard), the act, the person; figuratively, the place, the condition, or (specially), the time (as a division of day or night), literally or figuratively:—cage, hold, (im-)prison(-ment), ward, watch.

KJV Translation Count — Total: 47x

The KJV translates Strong's G5438 in the following manner: prison (36x), watch (6x), imprisonment (2x), hold (1x), cage (1x), ward (1x).

KJV Translation Count — Total: 47x
The KJV translates Strong's G5438 in the following manner: prison (36x), watch (6x), imprisonment (2x), hold (1x), cage (1x), ward (1x).

  1. guard, watch

    1. a watching, keeping watch

      1. to keep watch

    2. persons keeping watch, a guard, sentinels

    3. of the place where captives are kept, a prison

    4. of the time (of night) during which guard was kept, a watch i.e. a period of time during which part of the guard was on duty, and at the end of which others relieved them. As the earlier Greeks divided the night commonly into three parts, so, previous to the exile, the Israelites also had three watches in a night; subsequently, however, after they became subject to the Romans, they adopted the Roman custom of dividing the night into four watches

Strong’s Definitions [?](Strong’s Definitions Legend)
φυλακή phylakḗ, foo-lak-ay'; from G5442; a guarding or (concretely, guard), the act, the person; figuratively, the place, the condition, or (specially), the time (as a division of day or night), literally or figuratively:—cage, hold, (im-)prison(-ment), ward, watch.
STRONGS G5438:
φυλακή, φυλακῆς, ἡ (φυλάσσω), from Homer down, the Sept. for מִשְׁמֶרֶת, מִשְׁמָר, מַטָּרָה (a prison), כֶּלֶא (enclosure, confinement), guard, watch, i. e.
a. in an active sense, a watching, keeping watch: φυλάσσειν φυλακάς, to keep watch, Luke 2:8 (often in the Greek writings from Xenophon, an. 2, 6, 10, etc.; Plato legg. 6, p. 758 d. down; (cf. φυλακάς ἔχειν, etc. from Homer (Iliad 9, 1 etc.) on); often also in the Sept. for מִשְׁמָרות שָׁמַר).
b. like the Latincustodia and more frequently the pluralcustodiae (see Klotz, Hdwrbch. (or Harpers' Latin Dict.) under the word), equivalent to persons keeping watch, a guard, sentinels: Acts 12:10 (here A. V. ward) (and very often in secular authors from Homer down).
c. of the place where captives are kept, a prison: Matthew 14:10; Matthew 25:36,(39),43f; Mark 6:17, 27(28); Luke 3:20; Luke 21:12; Luke 22:33; Acts 5:19, 22; Acts 8:3; Acts 12:5f, 17; Acts 16:27, 40; Acts 22:4; Acts 26:10; 2 Corinthians 6:5 (here, as in Hebrews 11:36, A. V. imprisonment); 2 Corinthians 11:23; 1 Peter 3:19; Revelation 18:2 (twice; rendered in A. V. hold and cage (R. V. hold)); Rev. 20:7 (Herodotus 3, 152; Thucydides 3, 34; Plutarch, others; the Sept. for מַטָּרָה, כֶּלֶא בֵּית, and הַכֶּלֶא בֵּית, מִשְׁמָר); βάλλειν or τιθέναι τινα εἰς (τήν) φυλακήν or ἐν (τῇ) φυλακή: Matthew 5:25; Matthew 14:3 (R G, others, ἀπέθετο); Matt. 18:30; Luke 12:58; Luke 23:19, 25; John 3:24; Acts 5:25; Acts 8:3 (here παραδιδόναι εἰς φυλακήν); Acts 12:4; 16:23f,37; Revelation 2:10.
d. of the time (of night) during which guard was kept, a watch i. e. the period of time during which a part of the guard were on duty, and at the end of which others relieved them. As the earlier Greeks divided the night commonly into three parts (see Liddell and Scott, under the word I. 4), so, previously to the exile, the Israelites also had three watches in a night; subsequently, however, after they became subject to Rome, they adopted the Roman custom of dividing the night into four watches: Matthew 24:43; ἐν τῇ δευτέρᾳ, τρίτῃ, Luke 12:38; τετάρτῃ, Matthew 14:25; Mark 6:48. Cf. Winer's RWB under the word Nachtwache; (McClintock and Strong's Cyclopaedia, under the word ; B. D. under the phrase, ).
THAYER’S GREEK LEXICON, Electronic Database.
Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2006, 2011 by Biblesoft, Inc.
All rights reserved. Used by permission. BibleSoft.com

BLB Scripture Index of Thayer's

Matthew
5:25; 14:3; 14:10; 14:25; 18:30; 24:43; 25:36
Mark
6:17; 6:27; 6:48
Luke
2:8; 3:20; 12:38; 12:58; 21:12; 22:33; 23:19; 23:25
John
3:24
Acts
5:19; 5:22; 5:25; 8:3; 8:3; 12:4; 12:5; 12:10; 12:17; 16:23; 16:27; 16:37; 16:40; 22:4; 26:10
2 Corinthians
6:5; 11:23
Hebrews
11:36
1 Peter
3:19
Revelation
2:10; 18:2; 20:7

Word / Phrase / Strong's Search

Strong's Number G5438 matches the Greek φυλακή (phylakē),
which occurs 47 times in 45 verses in the MGNT Greek.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 5:25

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 5:25 - “When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 14:3

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 14:3 - For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias (the former wife of Herod’s brother Philip).

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 14:10

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 14:10 - So John was beheaded in the prison,

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 14:25

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 14:25 - About three o’clock in the morning[fn] Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 18:30

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 18:30 - But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 24:43

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 24:43 - Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 25:36

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 25:36 - I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 25:39

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 25:39 - When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 25:43

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 25:43 - I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 25:44

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 25:44 - “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

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Unchecked Copy Box Mar 6:17

Unchecked Copy BoxMar 6:17 - For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John as a favor to Herodias. She had been his brother Philip’s wife, but Herod had married her.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mar 6:27

Unchecked Copy BoxMar 6:27 - So he immediately sent an executioner to the prison to cut off John’s head and bring it to him. The soldier beheaded John in the prison,

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Unchecked Copy Box Mar 6:48

Unchecked Copy BoxMar 6:48 - He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning[fn] Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them,

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 2:8

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:8 - That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 3:20

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 3:20 - So Herod put John in prison, adding this sin to his many others.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 12:38

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 12:38 - He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn.[fn] But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 12:58

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 12:58 - When you are on the way to court with your accuser, try to settle the matter before you get there. Otherwise, your accuser may drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 21:12

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 21:12 - “But before all this occurs, there will be a time of great persecution. You will be dragged into synagogues and prisons, and you will stand trial before kings and governors because you are my followers.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 22:33

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 22:33 - Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.”

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 23:19

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 23:19 - (Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder.)

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 23:25

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 23:25 - As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished.

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Unchecked Copy Box Jhn 3:24

Unchecked Copy BoxJhn 3:24 - (This was before John was thrown into prison.)

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 5:19

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 5:19 - But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told them,

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 5:22

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 5:22 - But when the Temple guards went to the jail, the men were gone. So they returned to the council and reported,

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 5:25

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 5:25 - Then someone arrived with startling news: “The men you put in jail are standing in the Temple, teaching the people!”

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 8:3

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 8:3 - But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 12:4

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 12:4 - Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover.

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 12:5

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 12:5 - But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 12:6

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 12:6 - The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate.

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 12:10

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 12:10 - They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him.

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 12:17

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 12:17 - He motioned for them to quiet down and told them how the Lord had led him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers what happened,” he said. And then he went to another place.

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 16:23

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:23 - They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape.

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 16:24

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:24 - So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 16:27

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:27 - The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself.

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 16:37

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:37 - But Paul replied, “They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!”

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 16:40

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:40 - When Paul and Silas left the prison, they returned to the home of Lydia. There they met with the believers and encouraged them once more. Then they left town.

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 22:4

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 22:4 - And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison.

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 26:10

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 26:10 - Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many believers[fn] there to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Co 6:5

Unchecked Copy Box2Co 6:5 - We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Co 11:23

Unchecked Copy Box2Co 11:23 - Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.

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Unchecked Copy Box Heb 11:36

Unchecked Copy BoxHeb 11:36 - Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Pe 3:19

Unchecked Copy Box1Pe 3:19 - So he went and preached to the spirits in prison—

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Unchecked Copy Box Rev 2:10

Unchecked Copy BoxRev 2:10 - Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.

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Unchecked Copy Box Rev 18:2

Unchecked Copy BoxRev 18:2 - He gave a mighty shout:
“Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen!
She has become a home for demons.
She is a hideout for every foul[fn] spirit,
a hideout for every foul vulture
and every foul and dreadful animal.[fn]

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Unchecked Copy Box Rev 20:7

Unchecked Copy BoxRev 20:7 - When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison.
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