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G2902 - κρατέω (krateo)

Core Data

  • Strong's: G2902
  • Original: κρατέω
  • Transliteration: krateo
  • Pronunciation: krat-eh
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • Occurrences: 46 verses / 50 tokens across 9 NT books
  • First Occurrence: Matthew 9:25 - "took her by the hand"
  • Hapax Legomenon: No

Lexicon Definition

-o; from ; to use strength, i.e. seize or retain (literally or

Louw-Nida Semantic Domain

  • 037006 - Seize, Take into Custody: neighbors ἐκτείνω (G1614), ἐπιβάλλω (G1911), ἐπιλαμβάνομαι (G1949), καταλαμβάνω (G2638), πιάζω (G4084), συλλαμβάνω (G4815), χείρ (G5495)
  • 018001 - Grasp, Hold: neighbors ἅπτω (G680), ἁρπάζω (G726), λαμβάνω (G2983), πιάζω (G4084)
  • 037001 - Control, Restrain: broader control/restraint domain

Translation Distribution (KJV)

Translation Verses %
took 5 10.9%
hold 3 6.5%
holding 3 6.5%
to lay hold 3 6.5%
and took 2 4.3%
had laid hold 2 4.3%
them that hold 2 4.3%
they might take 2 4.3%
other renderings 24 52.2%

Distribution by Book

Book Count Per 100 Verses
Mark 15 2.2
2 Thessalonians 1 2.1
Revelation 8 2.0
Matthew 12 1.1
Colossians 1 1.1
Hebrews 2 0.7
Acts 4 0.4
Luke 2 0.2
John 1 0.1

Semantic Categories

1. Taking by the Hand / Grasping

  • Matthew 9:25 - he took her by the hand.
  • Mark 1:31 - he took her by the hand and lifted her.
  • Mark 5:41 - he took the damsel by the hand.

2. Arrest or Custodial Seizure

  • Matthew 14:3 - Herod laid hold on John.
  • Matthew 26:50, 57 - Jesus is taken and led away.
  • Mark 14:46 - they laid hands on him and took him.

3. Holding or Retaining Teaching / Tradition

  • Mark 7:3-4, 8 - holding tradition.
  • 2 Thessalonians 2:15 - hold the traditions taught.

4. Holding Fast / Persevering

  • Hebrews 4:14 - hold fast the profession.
  • Revelation 2:13, 25; 3:11 - hold fast name/what is already held.

5. Restraint or Being Held

  • Luke 24:16 - eyes were holden.
  • Acts 2:24 - death could not hold him.

Common Collocations

Word Strong's Co-occurrences Typical Pattern
χείρ (hand) G5495 8 took/held by hand; laying hands
ἔχω (have/hold) G2192 8 possession or holding language nearby
Ἰησοῦς (Jesus) G2424 7 narrative scenes involving Jesus
ἐγείρω (raise) G1453 6 taking by hand and raising
δέω (bind) G1210 3 seizure plus binding/custody

Domain Neighbors

  • G1949 ἐπιλαμβάνομαι (epilambanomai) - take hold of.
  • G2983 λαμβάνω (lambano) - take/receive, broader taking verb.
  • G4084 πιάζω (piazo) - seize/catch.
  • G2638 καταλαμβάνω (katalambano) - apprehend/overtake.

Easily Confused Words

Word Strong's Shared Translation Key Difference
λαμβάνω (lambano) G2983 took broad receive/take verb; krateo stresses grasping, holding, or control
ἐπιλαμβάνομαι (epilambanomai) G1949 took taking hold of/laying hold, often with contact; overlaps custodial use
ἔχω (echo) G2192 hold/holding possession/state of having; krateo is active grasp/retain
חָזַק (chazaq) H2388 take/hold dominant Hebrew source; "strengthen/seize/be strong" range

Hebrew Source

Hebrew Source Strong's Co-occurrences PMI Score
חָזַק (chazaq) H2388 46 5.69 21.90
פֶּלֶךְ (pelek) H6418 7 7.84 16.30
אָחַז (achaz) H270 9 5.49 12.64
מַנְעוּל (man`ul) H4514 3 7.47 10.35

See Also

Generated from: gather_word_data.py, search_relationships.py, search_strongs.py, louw_nida.db Last updated: 2026-05-07