Lexical Summary
krateó: To seize, hold, take hold of, grasp, retain, keep
Original Word: κρατέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: krateó
Pronunciation: krah-teh'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (krat-eh'-o)
KJV: hold (by, fast), keep, lay hand (hold) on, obtain, retain, take (by)
NASB: seize, seized, hold, hold fast, arrested, took, take hold
Word Origin: [from G2904 (κράτος - dominion)]
1. to use strength, i.e. seize or retain
{literally or figuratively}
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
grasp, keep, lay hold
From kratos; to use strength, i.e. Seize or retain (literally or figuratively) -- hold (by, fast), keep, lay hand (hold) on, obtain, retain, take (by).
see GREEK kratos
HELPS Word-studies
Cognate: 2902 kratéō – to place under one's grasp (seize hold of, put under control). See 2904 (kratos).
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
kratosDefinitionto be strong, rule
NASB Translationarrested (3), attained (1), clinging (1), held (1), hold (4), hold fast (4), holding back (1), holding fast (1), holds (1), laid hold (1), observe (1), observing (1), prevented (1), retain (1), retained (1), seize (8), seized (7), take custody (1), take hold (2), taking (2), took (3), took hold (1).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2902: κρατέωκρατέω; imperfect 2 person plural
ἐκρατειτε,
Mark 14:49 Tr marginal reading
WH marginal reading; future
κρατήσω; 1 aorist
ἐκράτησα; perfect infinitive
κεκρατηκέναι; passive, present
κρατοῦμαι; imperfect
ἐκρατουμην; perfect 3 person plural
κεκράτηνται; (
κράτος (which see)); the
Sept. chiefly for
חָזַק, also for
אָחַז (to seize), etc.; from
Homer down;
1. to have power, be powerful; to be chief, be master of, to rule: absolutely for מָלַך, Esther 1:1; 1 Esdr. 4:38; ὁ κρατῶν, Wis. 14:19; οἱ κρατοῦντες, 2 Macc. 4:50; τίνος, to be ruler of one, Proverbs 16:32; Proverbs 17:2 (for מָשַׁל); Wis. 3:8; never so in the N. T.
2. to get possession of; i. e.
a. to become master of, to obtain: τῆς προθέσεως, Acts 27:13 ((Diodorus Siculus 16, 20; others) cf. Buttmann, 161 (140); on the tense, Winers Grammar, 334 (313)).
b. to take bold of: τῆς χειρός τίνος (cf. Winers Grammar, § 30, 8 d.; Buttmann, as above), Matthew 9:25; Mark 1:31; Mark 5:41; Mark 9:27 L T Tr WH; Luke 8:54; τινα τῆς χειρός, to take one by the hand, Mark 9:27 R G, cf. Matthiae, § 331; τινα, to hold one fast in order not to be sent away, Acts 3:11, cf. Meyer at the passage; τούς πόδας τίνος, to embrace one's knees, Matthew 28:9; tropically, τόν λόγον, to lay hold of mentally (cf. our 'catch at'; but others refer this example to 3 b. below), Mark 9:10 (join πρός ἑαυτούς with συζητοῦντες).
c. to lay hold of, take, seize: τινα, to lay hands on one in order to get him into one's power, Matthew 14:3; Matthew 18:28; Matthew 21:46; Matthew 22:6; Matthew 26:4, 48, 50, 55, 57; Mark 3:21; Mark 6:17; Mark 12:12; Mark 14:1, 44, 46, 49, 51; Acts 24:6; Revelation 20:2; (2 Samuel 6:6; Psalm 136:9
3. to hold; i. e.
a. to hold in the hand: τί ἐν τῇ δεξιά, Revelation 2:1 (τῇ ἀριστερά τόν ἄρτον, Plutarch, mor., p. 99 d.).
b. to hold fast, i. e. tropically, not to discard or let go; to keep carefully and faithfully: ὁ ἔχετε, ἔχεις, Revelation 2:25; Revelation 3:11; τό ὄνομα μου, Revelation 2:13; one's authority, τήν κεφαλήν, i. e. ἐκεῖνον ὅς ἐστιν ἡ κεφαλή, Christ, Colossians 2:19; τήν παράδοσιν, Mark 7:3f, 8; τάς παραδόσεις, 2 Thessalonians 2:15; τήν διδαχήν, Revelation 2:14f; also with a genitive of the thing, of blessings in which different individuals are participants: τῆς ὁμολογίας, Hebrews 4:14; τῆς ἐλπίδος, Hebrews 6:18 (others refer this example to 2 above) (cf. 2 Samuel 3:6).
c. to continue to hold, to retain: of death continuing to hold one, passive Acts 2:24; τάς ἁμαρτίας (opposed to ἀφίημι), to retain sins, i. e. not to remit, John 20:23; to hold in check, restrain: followed by ἵνα μή, Revelation 7:1; by τοῦ μή (Winers Grammar, 325 (305); Buttmann, § 140, 16 β.), Luke 24:16. On the construction of this verb with the genitive and accusative, cf. Matthiae, § 359f; Winers Grammar, § 30, 8 d.; Buttmann, 161 (140).
Topical Lexicon
Overview Strong’s Greek 2902 traces a single theme that unites narrative, doctrinal, and prophetic passages: a decisive grasp that either restrains, protects, or perseveres. Whether describing the arrest of Christ, the compassionate touch of healing, or the believer’s tenacious confession, the verb highlights the reality that what is firmly held remains under sure control.
Physical Seizure and Arrests
In the Passion accounts the word conveys the hostile seizure of Jesus (Matthew 26:50; Mark 14:46) and the premeditated plans of the authorities (Matthew 26:4; Mark 14:1). It also depicts earlier attempts to arrest Him (Matthew 21:46; Mark 12:12) and the imprisonment of John the Baptist (Matthew 14:3; Mark 6:17). Luke records the youths who try to seize the fleeing disciple after Gethsemane (Mark 14:51). These scenes underscore the fulfillment of prophecy: no human grip could act until the divinely appointed “hour” arrived.
Healing and Compassionate Touch
The same verb describes Jesus taking hold of Peter’s fevered mother-in-law (Mark 1:31), Jairus’s daughter (Mark 5:41), a demon-tormented boy (Mark 9:27), and the dead child in Luke 8:54. Each miracle required more than a word; it involved a deliberate grasp that communicated both authority and tenderness. The risen Lord allows Mary Magdalene and the other women to “take hold of His feet and worship Him” (Matthew 28:9), turning their desperate clutch into an act of adoration.
Perseverance in Faith and Hope
Doctrinally, the word shifts from physical grip to spiritual perseverance.
• Hebrews 4:14 urges, “let us hold firmly to what we profess.”
• Hebrews 6:18 comforts refugees of conscience who have “fled to take hold of the hope set before us.”
• Revelation 2:25 exhorts, “Nevertheless, hold fast to what you have until I come,” while Revelation 3:11 warns, “Hold fast to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
• 2 Thessalonians 2:15 links perseverance to apostolic instruction: “stand firm and hold to the traditions we passed on to you.”
The emphasis is never on bare human resolve; the gripping is possible because the High Priest who has seized us first (Philippians 3:12’s cognate) enables us to seize Him in return.
Holding Traditions: Godly and Ungodly
Mark 7 twice contrasts the vain “holding” of human traditions (Mark 7:3, 7:8) with obedience to God’s command. The same verb that upholds apostolic teaching in 2 Thessalonians unmasks empty ritual in the Gospels, demonstrating that a firm grip is only as valuable as the object held.
Cosmic Restraint and Eschatological Hope
Revelation widens the canvas. Angels “holding back the four winds of the earth” (Revelation 7:1) delay judgment until God’s servants are sealed. The exalted Christ “holds the seven stars in His right hand” (Revelation 2:1), guaranteeing the security of the churches. Finally, the angel seizes “the dragon, that ancient serpent…and bound him for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:2), proving that evil itself is subject to a stronger grasp.
Historical and Ministerial Significance
Acts employs the verb for Paul’s detainment (Acts 24:6) and for the crowds clinging to Peter after the healing of the lame man (Acts 3:11). In Acts 27:13 sailors believe favorable winds will “hold” long enough for safe passage, revealing the everyday nuance familiar to Luke’s readers. First-century believers faced literal chains; the same term comforted them with promises of a stronger, heavenly hold.
Pastoral Application
Believers today are called to an active grip:
• Hold confession without wavering (Hebrews 4:14).
• Hold hope as an anchor of the soul (Hebrews 6:18-19).
• Hold teaching that accords with Scripture (2 Thessalonians 2:15).
• Hold every gift Christ has entrusted until He returns (Revelation 3:11).
Because the Savior’s grasp precedes and empowers ours, Christians may face suffering, temptation, and cultural pressure confident that “no one can snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28, conceptually parallel).
Key Verse Index
Matthew 26:50; Mark 1:31; Mark 5:41; Luke 8:54; Acts 24:6; Acts 3:11; Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 6:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; Revelation 2:25; Revelation 3:11; Revelation 7:1; Revelation 20:2.
Strong’s 2902 therefore portrays the hand of God and the hand of faith meeting in a mutual, unbreakable hold—assuring the church in every age that what He grasps remains secure.
Forms and Transliterations
εκραταίωσεν εκράτει εκρατήθη εκράτησα εκρατησαμεν εκρατήσαμεν ἐκρατήσαμεν εκρατησαν εκράτησαν ἐκράτησαν εκράτησας εκρατησατε εκρατήσατέ ἐκρατήσατέ εκράτησε εκρατησεν εκράτησεν ἐκράτησεν εκρατουντο εκρατούντο ἐκρατοῦντο κεκρατηκεναι κεκρατηκέναι κεκρατηνται κεκράτηνται κρατει κρατεί κράτει κρατειν κρατείν κρατεῖν κρατεις κρατείς κρατεῖς κρατεισθαι κρατείσθαι κρατεῖσθαι κρατειτε κρατείτε κρατεῖτε κρατήρ κρατήρα κρατήρες κρατησαι κρατήσαι κρατῆσαι κρατησαντες κρατήσαντες κρατησας κρατήσας κρατησατε κρατήσατε κρατησει κρατήσει κρατήση κράτησον κρατήσουσι κρατήσουσιν κρατήσω κρατησωσιν κρατήσωσιν κρατητε κρατήτε κρατῆτε κρατουμενα κρατουντας κρατούντας κρατοῦντας κρατουντες κρατούντες κρατοῦντες Κρατουντος κρατούντος Κρατοῦντος κρατούντων κρατούσι κρατουσιν κρατούσιν κρατοῦσιν κρατωμεν κρατώμεν κρατῶμεν κρατων κρατών κρατῶν ekratesamen ekratēsamen ekratḗsamen ekratesan ekratēsan ekrátesan ekrátēsan ekratesate ekratēsate ekratḗsaté ekratesen ekratēsen ekrátesen ekrátēsen ekratounto ekratoûnto kekratekenai kekratekénai kekratēkenai kekratēkénai kekratentai kekratēntai kekrátentai kekrátēntai kratei krátei kratein krateîn krateis krateîs krateisthai krateîsthai krateite krateîte kratesai kratêsai kratēsai kratē̂sai kratesantes kratēsantes kratḗsantes kratesas kratēsas kratḗsas kratesate kratēsate kratḗsate kratesei kratēsei kratḗsei kratesosin kratēsōsin kratḗsosin kratḗsōsin kratete kratête kratēte kratē̂te kratomen kratômen kratōmen kratō̂men kraton kratôn kratōn kratō̂n kratountas kratoûntas kratountes kratoûntes Kratountos Kratoûntos kratousin kratoûsin
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
