Help QuickNav Adv. Options
NIV

NIV

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 - “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Mat 14:3

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 14:3 - Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Mat 14:10

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

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Mat 14:25

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 14:25 - Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Mat 18:30

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 18:30 - “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Mat 24:43

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 24:43 - But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Mat 25:36

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 25:36 - I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Mat 25:39

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

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Mat 25:43

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 25:43 - I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Mat 25:44

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 25:44 - “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Mar 6:17

Unchecked Copy BoxMar 6:17 - For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Mar 6:27

Unchecked Copy BoxMar 6:27 - So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison,

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Mar 6:48

Unchecked Copy BoxMar 6:48 - He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them,

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Luk 2:8

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:8 - And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Luk 3:20

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

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Luk 12:38

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 12:38 - It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Luk 12:58

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 12:58 - As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Luk 21:12

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 21:12 - “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Luk 22:33

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 22:33 - But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Luk 23:19

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 23:19 - (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection 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, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Jhn 3:24

Unchecked Copy BoxJhn 3:24 - (This was before John was 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 doors of the jail and brought them out.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 5:22

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 5:22 - But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported,

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 5:25

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 5:25 - Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 8:3

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 8:3 - But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 12:4

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 12:4 - After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 12:5

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 12:5 - So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 12:6

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 12:6 - The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 12:10

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 12:10 - They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 12:17

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 12:17 - Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 16:23

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:23 - After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 16:24

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:24 - When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 16:27

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:27 - The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 16:37

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:37 - But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 16:40

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:40 - After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. Then they left.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 22:4

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 22:4 - I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison,

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 26:10

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 26:10 - And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box 2Co 6:5

Unchecked Copy Box2Co 6:5 - in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box 2Co 11:23

Unchecked Copy Box2Co 11:23 - Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Heb 11:36

Unchecked Copy BoxHeb 11:36 - Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box 1Pe 3:19

Unchecked Copy Box1Pe 3:19 - After being made alive,[fn] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits—

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Rev 2:10

Unchecked Copy BoxRev 2:10 - Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Rev 18:2

Unchecked Copy BoxRev 18:2 - With a mighty voice he shouted: “ ‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’[fn] She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Rev 20:7

Unchecked Copy BoxRev 20:7 - When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison
BLB Searches
Search the Bible
NIV
  [?]

Advanced Options

Other Searches

Multi-Verse Retrieval
x
NIV
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.