"to lie, to be laid; to recline, to be lying, to have been laid down, Mt. 28:6; Lk. 2:12; to have been laid, placed, set, Mt. 3:10; Lk. 3:9; Jn. 2:6; to be situated, as a city, Mt. 5:14; Rev. 21:16; to be in store, Lk. 12:19; met. to be constituted, established as a law, 1 Tim. 1:..."
Definition and meaning
to lie, to be laid; to recline, to be lying, to have been laid down, Mt. 28:6; Lk. 2:12; to have been laid, placed, set, Mt. 3:10; Lk. 3:9; Jn. 2:6; to be situated, as a city, Mt. 5:14; Rev. 21:16; to be in store, Lk. 12:19; met. to be constituted, established as a law, 1 Tim. 1:9; in NT of persons, to be specially set, solemnly appointed, destined, Lk. 2:34; Phil. 1:16; 1 Thess. 3:3; to lie under an influence, to be involved in, 1 Jn. 5:19
In the original Greek the word is written: κεῖμαι
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 keimai (G2749) across the King James Bible.
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
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Common questions
Strong's G2749 (keimai) is a Greek word that means: to lie, to be laid; to recline, to be lying, to have been laid down, Mt. 28:6; Lk. 2:12; to have been laid, placed, set, Mt. 3:10; Lk. 3:9; Jn. 2:6; to be situated, as a city, Mt. 5:14; Rev. 21:16; to... It appears 26 times in the King James Bible.
The word keimai (G2749) appears 26 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2749 is keimai, a Greek word defined as: to lie, to be laid; to recline, to be lying, to have been laid down, Mt. 28:6; Lk. 2:12; to have been laid, placed, set, Mt. 3:10; Lk. 3:9; Jn. 2:6; t. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
keimai is a Greek word found in the New Testament.