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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'
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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 - “Come to terms quickly [at the earliest opportunity] with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way [to court], so that your opponent does not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you are thrown into prison.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 14:3

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 14:3 -

For Herod had John arrested and bound him and put him in prison [at the fortress of Machaerus, east of the Jordan, to keep him away] because of [fn]Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip,

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 14:10

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 14:10 - He sent and had John beheaded in the prison.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 14:25

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 14:25 - And in the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.) Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 18:30

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 18:30 - “But he was unwilling and he went and had him thrown in prison until he paid back the debt.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 24:43

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 24:43 - “But understand this: If the head of the house had known what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed 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 clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me [with help and ministering care]; I was in prison, and you came to Me [ignoring personal danger].’

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 25:39

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 25:39 - ‘And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 25:43

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 25:43 - I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me [with help and ministering care].’

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 25:44

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 25:44 - “Then they also [in their turn] will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to You?’

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Unchecked Copy Box Mar 6:17

Unchecked Copy BoxMar 6:17 -

For Herod himself had sent [guards] and had John arrested and shackled in prison because of [fn]Herodias, the wife of his [half-] brother Philip, because he (Herod) had married her.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mar 6:27

Unchecked Copy BoxMar 6:27 - So the king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring back John’s head. And he went and had John beheaded in the prison,

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Unchecked Copy Box Mar 6:48

Unchecked Copy BoxMar 6:48 - Seeing the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.) He came to them, walking on the sea. And [acted as if] He intended to pass by them.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 2:8

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:8 -

In the same region there were shepherds staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 3:20

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 3:20 - he also added this to them all: he locked up John in prison.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 12:38

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 12:38 - “Whether he comes in the second watch (before midnight), or even in the third (after midnight), and finds them so [prepared and ready], blessed are those servants.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 12:58

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 12:58 - “For while you are going with your opponent [at law] to appear before a magistrate, on the way make an effort to settle, so that he does not drag you before the judge, and the judge does not [rule against you and] turn you over to the officer, and the officer does not throw you into prison.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 21:12

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 21:12 -

“But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, turning you over to the synagogues and prisons, and bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 22:33

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 22:33 - And Peter said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death!”

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 23:19

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 23:19 - (He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection that happened in the city, and for murder.)

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 23:25

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 23:25 - And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he handed over Jesus to their will.

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Unchecked Copy Box Jhn 3:24

Unchecked Copy BoxJhn 3:24 - for John had not yet been thrown into prison.

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 5:19

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 5:19 - But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, and leading them out, he said,

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 5:22

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 5:22 - But when the officers arrived, they did not find them in the prison; and they came back and reported,

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 5:25

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 5:25 - But someone came and told them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing [right here] in the temple [area], teaching the people!”

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 8:3

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 8:3 - But Saul began ravaging the church [and assaulting believers]; entering house after house and dragging off men and women, putting them in prison.

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 12:4

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 12:4 - When he had seized Peter, he put him in prison, turning him over to four squads of soldiers of four each to guard him [in rotation throughout the night], planning after the Passover to bring him out before the people [for execution].

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 12:5

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 12:5 - So Peter was kept in prison, but fervent and persistent prayer for him was being made to God by the church.

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 12:6

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 12:6 -

The very night before Herod was to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries were in front of the door guarding the prison.

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 12:10

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 12:10 - When they had passed the first guard and the second, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city. Of its own accord it swung open for them; and they went out and went along one street, and at once the angel left him.

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 12:17

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 12:17 - But motioning to them with his hand to be quiet and listen, he described how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to [fn]James and the brothers and sisters.” Then he left and went to another place.

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 16:23

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:23 - After striking them many times [with the rods], they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely.

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 16:24

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:24 - He, having received such a [strict] command, threw them into the inner prison (dungeon) and fastened their feet in the stocks [in an agonizing position].

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 16:27

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:27 - When the jailer, shaken out of sleep, saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped.

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 16:37

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:37 - But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us in public without a trial, men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison; and now they are sending us out secretly? No! Let them come here themselves and bring us out!”

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 16:40

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:40 - So they left the prison and went to Lydia’s house; and when they had seen the brothers and sisters, they encouraged and comforted them, and left.

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 22:4

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 22:4 - “I persecuted and pursued the followers of this [fn]Way to the death, binding them with chains and putting [followers of Jesus] both men and women into prisons,

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Unchecked Copy Box Act 26:10

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 26:10 - “And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; I not only locked up many of the saints (God’s people) in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being condemned to death, I [fn]cast my vote against them.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Co 6:5

Unchecked Copy Box2Co 6:5 - in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in sleepless nights, in hunger,

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Co 11:23

Unchecked Copy Box2Co 11:23 - Are they [self-proclaimed] servants of Christ?—I am speaking as if I were out of my mind—I am more so [for I exceed them]; with far more labors, with far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, and often in danger of death.

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Unchecked Copy Box Heb 11:36

Unchecked Copy BoxHeb 11:36 - and others experienced the trial of mocking and scourging [amid torture], and even chains and imprisonment.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Pe 3:19

Unchecked Copy Box1Pe 3:19 - in which He also went and preached to the spirits now in prison,

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Unchecked Copy Box Rev 2:10

Unchecked Copy BoxRev 2:10 - ‘Fear nothing that you are about to suffer. Be aware that the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested [in your faith], and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful to the point of death [if you must die for your faith], and I will give you the crown [consisting] of life.

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Unchecked Copy Box Rev 18:2

Unchecked Copy BoxRev 18:2 - And he shouted with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen [certainly to be destroyed] is [fn]Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a dungeon haunted by every unclean spirit, and a prison for every unclean and loathsome bird.

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Unchecked Copy Box Rev 20:7

Unchecked Copy BoxRev 20:7 -

And when the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison (the abyss),

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