Help QuickNav Adv. Options
ESV

ESV

Click to Change

Return to Top

Return to Top

Printer Icon

Print

Copy
Copy Options
Strong's
Red Letter
The Blue Letter Bible

Lexicon :: Strong's G5438 - phylakē

Choose a new font size and typeface
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.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Mat 5:25

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 5:25 - Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Mat 14:3

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 14:3 - For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,[fn]

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Mat 14:10

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

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Mat 14:25

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 14:25 - And in the fourth watch of the night[fn] he came to them, walking on the sea.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Mat 18:30

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 18:30 - He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Mat 24:43

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 24:43 - But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.

Tools

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, I was in prison and you came to me.’

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Mat 25:39

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

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Mat 25:43

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 25:43 - I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Mat 25:44

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 25:44 - Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Mar 6:17

Unchecked Copy BoxMar 6:17 - For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Mar 6:27

Unchecked Copy BoxMar 6:27 - And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s[fn] head. He went and beheaded him in the prison

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Mar 6:48

Unchecked Copy BoxMar 6:48 - And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night[fn] he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them,

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Luk 2:8

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:8 - And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Luk 3:20

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

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Luk 12:38

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 12:38 - If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Luk 12:58

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 12:58 - As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Luk 21:12

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 21:12 - But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Luk 22:33

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 22:33 - Peter[fn] said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Luk 23:19

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 23:19 - a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Luk 23:25

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 23:25 - He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Jhn 3:24

Unchecked Copy BoxJhn 3:24 - (for John had not yet been put in prison).

Tools

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 brought them out, and said,

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 5:22

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

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 5:25

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 5:25 - And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 8:3

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 8:3 - But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 12:4

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 12:4 - And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 12:5

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

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 12:6

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 12:6 - Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 12:10

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 12:10 - When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 12:17

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

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 16:23

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:23 - And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 16:24

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:24 - Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 16:27

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:27 - When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 16:37

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:37 - But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 16:40

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:40 - So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 22:4

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 22:4 - I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women,

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 26:10

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 26:10 - And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box 2Co 6:5

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

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box 2Co 11:23

Unchecked Copy Box2Co 11:23 - Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Heb 11:36

Unchecked Copy BoxHeb 11:36 - Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box 1Pe 3:19

Unchecked Copy Box1Pe 3:19 - in which[fn] he went and proclaimed[fn] to the spirits in prison,

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Rev 2:10

Unchecked Copy BoxRev 2:10 - Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Rev 18:2

Unchecked Copy BoxRev 18:2 - And he called out with a mighty voice,
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
She has become a dwelling place for demons,
a haunt for every unclean spirit,
a haunt for every unclean bird,
a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Rev 20:7

Unchecked Copy BoxRev 20:7 - And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison
BLB Searches
Search the Bible
ESV
  [?]

Advanced Options

Other Searches

Multi-Verse Retrieval
x
ESV
Daily Devotionals
x

Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness.

Daily Bible Reading Plans
x

Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year.

One-Year Plans

Two-Year Plan

Translations available: King James Version, New King James Version, New Living Translation, New International Version, English Standard Version, Christian Standard Bible, New American Standard Bible 2020, New American Standard Bible 1995, Legacy Standard Bible 2021, New English Translation, Revised Standard Version, American Standard Version, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Translation, Webster's Bible, Hebrew Names Version, Reina-Valera 1960, Latin Vulgate, Westminster Leningrad Codex, Septuagint, Morphological Greek New Testament, and Textus Receptus.