Bible Encyclopedias
Holding

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hōl´ding : Occurs with various shades of meaning: (1) as the translation of tāmakh , "to acquire," it has the sense of taking, obtaining (Isaiah 33:15 , the Revised Version (British and American) "that shaketh his hands from taking a bribe," the English Revised Version, as the King James Version, "holding"); (2) of kūl , "to hold," "contain," having the sense of containing or restraining (Jeremiah 6:11 , "I am weary with holding in"); (3) of kratéō , "to receive," "observe," "maintain" (Mark 7:3 , "holding the tradition of the elders"; 1 Timothy 1:19 , échō , "holding faith and a good conscience"; 1 Timothy 3:9 , "holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience"); (4) holding fast, cleaving to, krateō (Colossians 2:19 , "not holding the head," the Revised Version (British and American) "holding fast"; compare Acts 3:11; Revelation 7:1 , "holding the four winds of the earth, that no wind should blow"); antéchomai , "to hold over against one's self," "to hold fast" (Tit 19, the Revised Version (British and American) "holding to the faithful word"); (5) holding forth, epéchō , "to hold upon, to hold out toward" (Philippians 2:16 , "holding forth the word of life," so the Revised Version (British and American)); Lightfoot has "holding out" (as offering); others, however, render "holding fast," persevering in the Christian faith and life - connecting with being "blameless and harmless" in Philippians 2:15 .