"to take hold of, Mt. 14:31; Mk. 8:23; to lay hold of, seize, Lk. 23:26; Acts 16:19; met. to seize on as a ground of accusation, Lk. 20:20, 26; to grasp, obtain as if by seizure, 1 Tim. 6:12, 19; to assume a portion of, to assume the nature of, or, to attach or ally one’s self to,..."
Definition and meaning
to take hold of, Mt. 14:31; Mk. 8:23; to lay hold of, seize, Lk. 23:26; Acts 16:19; met. to seize on as a ground of accusation, Lk. 20:20, 26; to grasp, obtain as if by seizure, 1 Tim. 6:12, 19; to assume a portion of, to assume the nature of, or, to attach or ally one’s self to, Heb. 2:16
In the original Greek the word is written: ἐπιλαμβάνομαι
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of epilambanomai (G1949) across the King James Bible.
And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.
And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,
And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;
And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.
And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.
And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?
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Common questions
Strong's G1949 (epilambanomai) is a Greek word that means: to take hold of, Mt. 14:31; Mk. 8:23; to lay hold of, seize, Lk. 23:26; Acts 16:19; met. to seize on as a ground of accusation, Lk. 20:20, 26; to grasp, obtain as if by seizure, 1 Tim. 6:12, 19; to as... It appears 18 times in the King James Bible.
The word epilambanomai (G1949) appears 18 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1949 is epilambanomai, a Greek word defined as: to take hold of, Mt. 14:31; Mk. 8:23; to lay hold of, seize, Lk. 23:26; Acts 16:19; met. to seize on as a ground of accusation, Lk. 20:20, 26; to gras. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
epilambanomai is a Greek word found in the New Testament.