Quick Definition
κρατέω v. I lay hold of, obtain
Strong's Definition
from 2904; to use strength, i.e. seize or retain (literally or figuratively)
KJV Usage: hold (by, fast), keep, lay hand (hold) on, obtain, retain, take (by)
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | ἀκρασία · ἀκρατής · ἐγκράτεια · ἐγκρατεύομαι · ἐγκρατής · κραταιόομαι · κραταιός · κράτιστος · κράτος · παντοκράτωρ · περικρατής
18.6 · Attachment · Grasp, Hold
to hold on to, to retain in the hand, to seize to hold on to an object
MAT 9:25 · MAT 12:11 · MAT 18:28 · MAT 22:6 · MAT 28:9 · MRK 1:31 · MRK 5:41 · MRK 9:27 · LUK 8:54 · ACT 3:11 · HEB 4:14 · HEB 6:18 · REV 2:1 · REV 2:13 · REV 2:14 · REV 2:15 · REV 2:25 · REV 3:11
37.16 · Control, Rule · Control, Restrain
to have power over, to control to exercise power or force over someone or something See discussion at 37.17.
37.110 · Control, Rule · Seize, Take into Custody
to seize, to arrest to take a person into custody for alleged illegal activity
MAT 14:3 · MAT 21:46 · MAT 26:4 · MAT 26:48 · MAT 26:50 · MAT 26:55 · MAT 26:57 · MRK 6:17 · MRK 12:12 · MRK 14:1 · MRK 14:44 · MRK 14:46 · MRK 14:49 · MRK 14:51 · ACT 24:6 · REV 20:2
13.34 · Be, Become, Exist, Happen · State
to hold, to keep, to cause to continue to cause a state to continue, on the basis of some authority or power In this expression in JHN 20:23 it is the state of being guilty of sin which is caused to continue. See also discussion at 40.8.
MRK 7:3 · MRK 7:4 · MRK 7:8 · MRK 9:10 · JHN 20:23 · JHN 20:23 · COL 2:19 · 2TH 2:15
68.29 · Aspect · Complete, Finish, Succeed
to accomplish, to do successfully, to carry out to be able to complete or finish, presumably despite difficulties
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
κρατέω krateō 47x
pr. to be strong; to be superior to any one, subdue, vanquish, Acts 2:24; to get into one’s power, lay hold of, seize, apprehend, Mt. 14:3; 18:28; 21:46; to gain, compass, attain, Acts 27:13; in NT to lay hold of, grasp, clasp, Mt. 9:25; Mk. 1:31; 5:41; to retain, keep under reserve, Mk. 9:10; met, to hold fast, observe, Mk. 7:3, 8; 2 Thess. 2:15; to hold to, adhere to, Acts 3:11; Col. 2:19; to restrain, hinder, repress, Lk. 24:16; Rev. 7:1; to retain, not to remit, sins, Jn. 20:23
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
κρατέω, -ῶ
(< κράτος), [in LXX chiefly for חזק hi., also for אחז, etc.;]
to be strong, mighty, hence, to rule, be master, prevail (so chiefly in cl.; in LXX: Es 1:1, I Es 4:38, Wi 14:19, al.).
to get possession of, obtain, take hold of (Hdt., Thuc., al.): c. gen. rei (M, Pr., 65), Ac 27:13; τ. χειρός, Mt 9:25, Mk 1:31 5:41 9:27, Lk 8:54; c. acc. rei, Mt 12:11; c. acc. pers., Mt 14:3 18:28 21:46 22:6 26:4, 48 ff., Mk 3:21 6:17 12:12 14:1, 44 ff., Ac 3:11 24:6, Re 20:2 (cf. II Ki 6:6).
to hold, hold fast (Æsch., Polyb., al.): c. acc. rei, ἐν τ. δεξιᾷ, Re 2:1. Metaph.: c. acc. pers., pass., Ac 2:24; c. acc. rei, Re 2:13, 25 3:11; τ. κεφαλήν (i.e. Christ), Col 2:19; τ. παράδοσιν (-εις), λόγον, διδαχήν, Mk 7:3, 4, 8 9:10, II Th 2:15, Re 2:14, 15; c. gen. rei, He 4:14 6:18; of sins, to retain, Jo 20:23; of restraint, seq. ἵνα μή, Re 7:1; pass., seq. τοῦ μή, Lk 24:16.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
κρατέω. For κρατέω in its primary sense of ‘‘ become master of,’’ “rule,” ‘conquer,’’ we may cite P Oxy I. 33 verso: 8 (late ii/A.D.) πρῶτον μὲν Καῖσαρ ἔϊσωσε Κλεοπάτρ[αν] ἐκράτησεν βασι[λείας, ““ἴπ the first place Caesar saved Cleopatra’s life when he conquered her kingdom” (Edd.). The gen. construction, which is here supplied, is comparatively rare in the NT (cf. Pro/eg. pp. 65, 235), but may be further illustrated by P Par 26°? (B.c. 163-2) (= Se/ections, p. 18) ὑμῖν δὲ γίνοιτο κρατεῖν πάσης ἧς ἂν αἱρῆσθε χώρας, and by the magic P Lond 121®8® (iii/a.p.) (=I. p. 106) Upkre . . . κρατοῦσα [τοῦ ὅλου συστήματος --αἡ invocation to the constellation of the Bear. [See also the interesting parallels to Ac 271% in Field Wo¢es, p. 144.) Another magic papyrus 2. 46‘! (iv/A.D.) (=I. p. 80) κράτει τῇ ἀριστερᾷ σου τὸν δακτύλ(ιον) shows the more common accusative ; see also the curious theological fragment P Oxy XI. 1384? (v/a.D.) where certain angels are represented as having gone up to heaven to seek a remedy for their eyes— σφόγγον κρατοῦντες, ‘holding a sponge,” cf. Rey 24. For the meaning ‘continue to hold,’’ “retain,” as in Ac 233, see P Tebt I. 61 (4)?*° (a land survey—s.c. 118-7) γραφήτωι λαβεῖν] ἑνὸ[ς ἐνιαυ]τοῦ ἐκφόριον, ἐᾶν κ[ρ]ατεῖν, “let it be noted that one year’s rent shall be exacted from them, and they shall be allowed to keep the land” (Edd.): cf. also P Fay 109? (early i/a.D.) ὅταν πρὸς ἀνάνκαιν (/. ἀνάγκην) θέλῃς παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ χρήσασθαί τι, εὐθύς σε οὐ κρατῶι, ‘ whenever you from necessity want to borrow anything from me, I at once give into you’’ (Edd.). In P Oxy II. 237viii. 84 (A.D. 186) παρατιθέτωσαν δὲ Kal ai γυναῖκες ταῖς ὑποστάσεσι τῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐὰν κατά τινα ἐπιχώριον νόμον κρατεῖται τὰ ὑπάρχοντα, “wives shall also insert copies in the property-statements of their husbands, if in accordance with any native Egyptian law they have a claim over their husbands’ property” (Edd.), κρατεῖσθαι is used as equivalent to κατέχειν in 26. 32 (see further Mitteis in Archiv i. p. 188): cf. i. 85 ἡ δὲ κτῆσις μετὰ θάνατον τοῖς τέκνοις κεκράτηται, “but the right of ownership after their death has been settled upon the children ᾿ (Edd.), and P Amb II. 5176 (B.c. 88), a contract for the sale of a house— 7) κρατος ἧς κρ[α]τεῖ Τοτοῆς, ‘over which Totoes has rights,” and the similar use of the compound ἐπικρατέω of rights acquired or exercised over the property of others in P Tebt II. 34314 (ii/A.D.), where see the editors’ note. As further bringing out this strong sense of kpatéw, we may notice that it is joined with κυριεύω in BGU I. 7118 (a.p. 179), 26. 28239 (after A.D. 175), and with δεσπόζω in P Tebt 11. 383% (a.p. 46). At Delos a dedicatory inscr. has been found—Au τῷ πάντων κρατοῦντι Kal Μητρὶ Μεγάληι τῆι πάντων Kpaτούσῃ (BCH vi. (1882), p. 502 No. 25): cf. the use of παντοκράτωρ in the LXX, and see Cumont Relig. Orient. Ρ. 267. In the vi/A.p. P Lond V. 16638 the Emperor is described as ἡ κρατοῦσα Tux h.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
κρατέω (krateō) — to grasp/seize. κρᾰτ-έω, Aeolic dialect κρετέω, aorist infinitive κρέτησαι [Refs 7th c.BC+] — middle, aorist ἐπι-κρατησάμενοι[Refs 2nd c.AD+]:—passive, future κρατήσομαι [Refs 1st c.AD+] and, with variant{κρατηθήσομαι}, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—to be strong, powerful: hence,
I. absolutely, rule, hold sway, Ἤλιδα.., ὅθι κρατέουσιν Ἐπειοί [Refs 8th c.BC+]; μέγα κρατέων ἤνασσε with mighty sway.., [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ὁ κρατῶν the ruler, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἡ κρατοῦσα the lady of the house [Refs 4th c.BC+]
I.2. in Poets, with dative, rule among, μέγα κρατέεις νεκύεσσιν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; Φθίᾳ rule in Phthia, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
I.3. with genitive, to be lord or master of, rule over, πάντων Ἀργείων, πάντων, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; κ. τοῦ βίου to be master of.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τοῦ μὴ πείθεσθαι τοῖς νόμοις κρατῆσαι to be above obedience.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. conquer, prevail, get the upper hand, absolutely, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πλοῖα; πάλᾳ, ἱπποδρομίᾳ, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὴν μάχην variant for{τῇ μάχῃ} in [Refs 1st c.BC+]; πάντα in all things, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ κρατοῦντες the conquerors, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. b to be superior, πλήθους ἕκατι ναυσὶν κρατῆσαι [Refs 4th c.BC+]: absolutely, to be the best, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. c of reports, etc., prevail, become current, φάτις κρατεῖ [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2. c.infinitive, prevail so that, κ. τῷ πλήθει ὥστε μὴ αὐτίκα τὰς πύλας ἀνοίγεσθαι [Refs 5th c.BC+] 'tis better to.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.3. c.genitive, conquer, prevail over, τῶν ἐναντίων [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κ. τῆς διαβολῆς get the better of it, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁ λόγος τοῦ ἔργου ἐκράτει surpassed, went beyond it, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἡ φύσις.. τῶν διδαγμάτων κρατεῖ is better than.., [Refs 4th c.BC+]
II.3. b of food, digest, assimilate, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.4. c.accusative, conquer, master, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μάχῃ, τῷ πολέμῳ τινά, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πάχει μάκει τε in.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; outdo, τοὺς φίλους εὖ ποιῶν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; surpass, κρατεῖ δὲ ὁ τῆς ἡδονῆς [βίος] τὸν τῆς φρονήσεως [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, to be overcome, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III. become master of, get possession of, τῆς ἀρχῆς, τῶν νεκρῶν, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κ. τῆς λέξεως have it at command, remember it, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; master by the intellect, πάντων τῶν τῆς ἱστορίας μερῶν [Refs 2nd c.BC+]:—passive, to be mastered, δεῖ ἐν ταῖς τέχναις καὶ ἐπιστήμαις ταῦτα κρατεῖσθαι [Refs 4th c.BC+]
IV. lay hold of, τῆς χειρός [LXX+NT]
IV.2. c.accusative of things, seize, win and keep, especiallyby force, πᾶσαν αἶαν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; seize, hold fast, arrest, τινα [NT+2nd c.BC+]; secure, grasp, τὴν ἀκατονόμαστον Τριάσα[Refs 5th c.BC+]
IV.3. hold up, support, τινα [Refs 1st c.BC+]; maintain a military post, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; hold fast, τὰς παραδόσεις [NT]; keep, retain, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]:—passive, οὐκ ἦν δυνατὸν κρατεῖσθαι αὐτὸν ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ (i.e. τοῦ θανάτου) [NT]; ἡ κτῆσις τοῖς τέκνοις κεκράτηται has been reserved for, settled upon, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
IV.4. in Law, possess a title to, κ. καὶ κυριεύειν c.genitive, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]: absolutely, tumult, uproar, [Refs 8th c.BC+]
IV.5. hold in the hand, ὁ κρατῶν τοὺς ἑπτὰ ἀδτέρας ἐν τῇ δεξιᾷ αὐτοῦ [NT+1st c.AD+], etc.; δακτύλιον [Refs 4th c.AD+]
IV.6. endure, put up with, τὸν ἀργυροπράτην [Refs 6th c.AD+]
V. control, command, [Refs 5th c.BC+] —passive, αἰσχρὰ τῷ νόμῳ κρατούμενα controlled by.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]
VI. repair, make good, τὸ βεδὲκ (Hebrew) τοῦ οἴκου [LXX]