Quick Definition
a prison, observance
Strong's Definition
a watching, i.e. (figuratively) observance, or (concretely) a prison
Derivation: from G5083 (τηρέω);
KJV Usage: hold
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
τήρησις, τηρησεως, ἡ (τηρέω);
a. a watching: of prisoners (Thucydides 7, 86); the place where prisoners are kept, a prison (R. V. ward): Act_4:3; Act_5:18.
b. a keeping, i. e. complying with obeying: τῶν ἐντολῶν, 1Co_7:19; Sir. 35:23 (Sir_32:23); νόμων, Wis_6:19.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
τήρησις tērēsis 3x
a keeping, custody; meton. a place of custody, prison, ward, Act_4:3 ; Act_5:18 ;
met. practical observance, strict performance, 1Co_7:19
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
** τήρησις , -εως , ἡ
( < τηρέω ),
[in LXX : Wis_6:18 , ( Sir_32:23 ), 1Ma_5:18 , 2Ma_3:40 , 3Ma_5:44 * ;]
1. a watching, hence , imprisonment, ward ( v. Deiss., BS , 267): Act_4:3 ; Act_5:18 .
2. a keeping: τ . ἐντολῶν ( cf. Sir, Wis, ll . c ., and v. Westc . on 1Jn_2:3 .), 1Co_7:19 .†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
τήρησις [page 633]
keeping, protection : cf. P Tebt I. 27 .23 (B.C. 113) τῶν κατ [ὰ ] τὴν τήρησιν τῶν καρπῶν κατ [ὰ τ ]ὸν ὑποδεικνύμενον τρόπον οἰκονομηθέντων , that the protection of the crops be managed in the manner directed (Edd.), P Oxy VII. 1070 .51 (iii/A.D.) μὴ ἀμελήσῃς μὴ ἄρα ποτὲ θέλῃς μ̣[ε ]τὰ σ̣[ο ]ῦ [Ἡρ ]αε̣ίδ̣ι̣ τὴν τήρησιν τῆς ὅλης οἰκίας παραδιδόναι , do not neglect this, lest indeed you choose to hand over the keeping of the whole house to Herais (Ed.), P Grenf II. 73 .14 (late iii/A.D.) (= Selections , p. 118) τ ]αύτην παραδέδωκα τοῖς καλοῖς καὶ πιστοῖς ἐξ αὐτῶν τῶν νεκροτάφων εἰς τήρησιν , I have handed her over to the good and true men among the grave-diggers themselves that they may take care of her, and from the inscrr. Syll 314 (= .3 683) .60 (B.C. 140) πρὸς τὴν τήρησιν τοῦ ὕδατος .
For τήρησις = custody, imprisonment, as in Act_4:3 ; Act_5:18 , cf. BGU II. 388 iii. 7 (ii/iii A.D.) ἐκέλευσεν Σμάραγδον καὶ Ευκαιρον εἰς τὴν τήρησιν παραδοθῆναι .
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
τήρησις [Etym: from τηρέω] τήρησις, εως, "a watching, keeping, guarding", Arist. "vigilance", Thuc. "a means of keeping, a place of custody", id=Thuc.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
τήρησις, -εως, ἡ
(τηρέω), [in LXX: Wis.6:18, (Sir.32:23), 1Ma.5:18, 2Ma.3:40, 3Ma.5:44 * ;]
__1. a watching, hence, imprisonment, ward (see Deiss., BS, 267): Act.4:3 5:18.
__2. a keeping: τ. ἐντολῶν (cf. Sir, Wis, ll. with, and see Westc. on 1Jn.2:3.), 1Co.7:19.†
(AS)