UBS Greek Dictionary Article

Form 1

Part of speech: noun, f.

Inflections: φυλακή; -ῆς

Related lemmas: φυλάσσω

Sense 1: jail, prison

Semantic entry: 7.24

Semantic domains: Constructions

Subdomains: Buildings

Definition: a place of detention

Notes: Practically all languages have terms for a jail or a prison, though in some instances a descriptive phrase is employed, ‘a place where people are tied up’ or ‘a place to be chained.’ In some instances, highly idiomatic expressions are used, ‘a place for eating iron’ or ‘a room with rats.’

Further resources: realia:3.21.1

MAT 5:25: RV MAT 5:25 · LV MAT 5:25 · Read together MAT 5:25

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OET-RV MAT 5:25

25 “Resolve things with your opponent as soon as you can, hopefully while you’re still on the way to the court, in case your opponent turns you in to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and then you’ll end up in prison.

OET-LV MAT 5:25

25 Be agreeing with _the opponent of _you quickly, as _long _as which you _are with him on the way, lest the opponent may _give_ you _over to _the judge, and the judge to _the attendant, and you _will _be _being _thrown into prison.

MAT 14:3: RV MAT 14:3 · LV MAT 14:3 · Read together MAT 14:3

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OET-RV MAT 14:3

3 Herodes said this because he’d previously had Yohan (John; Grk. Yoannes) arrested and put in prison because of Herodias, his brother Filippos’s (Philip) wife.

OET-LV MAT 14:3

3 For/Because the Haʸrōdaʸs having _apprehended the Yōannaʸs, bound him and put_ him _away in prison, because _of Haʸrōidias, the wife of _Filippos, the brother of _him.

All 38 recorded passages for this sense

MAT: RV MAT 5:25 · RV MAT 14:3 · RV MAT 14:10 · RV MAT 18:30 · RV MAT 25:36 · RV MAT 25:39 · RV MAT 25:43–44 · LV MAT 5:25 · LV MAT 14:3 · LV MAT 14:10 · LV MAT 18:30 · LV MAT 25:36 · LV MAT 25:39 · LV MAT 25:43–44 · Read together MAT 5:25 · Read together MAT 14:3 · Read together MAT 14:10 · Read together MAT 18:30 · Read together MAT 25:36 · Read together MAT 25:39 · Read together MAT 25:43–44

MRK: RV MRK 6:17 · RV MRK 6:27 · LV MRK 6:17 · LV MRK 6:27 · Read together MRK 6:17 · Read together MRK 6:27

LUK: RV LUK 3:20 · RV LUK 12:58 · RV LUK 21:12 · RV LUK 22:33 · RV LUK 23:19 · RV LUK 23:25 · LV LUK 3:20 · LV LUK 12:58 · LV LUK 21:12 · LV LUK 22:33 · LV LUK 23:19 · LV LUK 23:25 · Read together LUK 3:20 · Read together LUK 12:58 · Read together LUK 21:12 · Read together LUK 22:33 · Read together LUK 23:19 · Read together LUK 23:25

JHN: RV JHN 3:24 · LV JHN 3:24 · Read together JHN 3:24

ACT: RV ACT 5:19 · RV ACT 5:22 · RV ACT 5:25 · RV ACT 8:3 · RV ACT 12:4–6 · RV ACT 12:17 · RV ACT 16:23–24 · RV ACT 16:27 · RV ACT 16:37 · RV ACT 16:40 · RV ACT 22:4 · RV ACT 26:10 · LV ACT 5:19 · LV ACT 5:22 · LV ACT 5:25 · LV ACT 8:3 · LV ACT 12:4–6 · LV ACT 12:17 · LV ACT 16:23–24 · LV ACT 16:27 · LV ACT 16:37 · LV ACT 16:40 · LV ACT 22:4 · LV ACT 26:10 · Read together ACT 5:19 · Read together ACT 5:22 · Read together ACT 5:25 · Read together ACT 8:3 · Read together ACT 12:4–6 · Read together ACT 12:17 · Read together ACT 16:23–24 · Read together ACT 16:27 · Read together ACT 16:37 · Read together ACT 16:40 · Read together ACT 22:4 · Read together ACT 26:10

CO2: RV CO2 6:5 · RV CO2 11:23 · LV CO2 6:5 · LV CO2 11:23 · Read together CO2 6:5 · Read together CO2 11:23

HEB: RV HEB 11:36 · LV HEB 11:36 · Read together HEB 11:36

PE1: RV PE1 3:19 · LV PE1 3:19 · Read together PE1 3:19

REV: RV REV 2:10 · RV REV 20:7 · LV REV 2:10 · LV REV 20:7 · Read together REV 2:10 · Read together REV 20:7

Sense 2: guard post, guard station

Semantic entry: 37.123

Semantic domains: Control, Rule

Subdomains: Guard, Watch Over

Definition: (derivative of φυλάσσω[a] ‘to guard closely,’ 37.120: φυλάσσω) a place or post for guarding

ACT 12:10: RV ACT 12:10 · LV ACT 12:10 · Read together ACT 12:10

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OET-RV ACT 12:10

10 They went past the first guard and then the second, and then came to the iron gate which led out of the prison into the city. The gate opened by itself and they went out onto the street, then at the end of the street the messenger suddenly left him.

OET-LV ACT 12:10

10 And having _passed _through the_first guard and the_second, they _came to the the iron gate, which leading into the city, which automatic was _opened _up to _them, and having _come _out they _went _ahead on_ one _street, and immediately the messenger withdrew from him.

Sense 3: watch, a fourth of the night

Semantic entry: 67.196

Semantic domains: Time

Subdomains: Definite Units of Time: Year, Month, Week, Day, Hour

Definition: one of four periods of time into which the night was divided (during which time certain assigned persons would be on the lookout)

Notes: In general, φυλακή in the NT refers to one of four periods into which the night was divided, based on the Roman custom of dividing the night into four equal periods or watches. In RV MAT 24:43 · LV MAT 24:43 · Read together MAT 24:43 and RV LUK 12:38 · LV LUK 12:38 · Read together LUK 12:38, however, it is possible that the reference is to three night watches, as was typical among Hebrews and Greeks.

MAT 14:25: RV MAT 14:25 · LV MAT 14:25 · Read together MAT 14:25

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OET-RV MAT 14:25

25 In the early hours of the morning, Yeshua went out to them on the lake, walking on the surface.

OET-LV MAT 14:25

25 And in_the_fourth watch of _the night, he _came to them walking on the sea.

MAT 24:43: RV MAT 24:43 · LV MAT 24:43 · Read together MAT 24:43

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OET-RV MAT 24:43

43 But you do know that if a home-owner knew when a thief was going to come, he ’d be there watching, and not allow the thief to break into the house.

OET-LV MAT 24:43

43 But that you _all _are _knowing that if the home _owner had _known in _what watch the thief is _coming, he_ would _watched, and would not allowed the house of _him to _be _dug _through

All 5 recorded passages for this sense

MAT: RV MAT 14:25 · RV MAT 24:43 · LV MAT 14:25 · LV MAT 24:43 · Read together MAT 14:25 · Read together MAT 24:43

MRK: RV MRK 6:48 · LV MRK 6:48 · Read together MRK 6:48

LUK: RV LUK 2:8 · RV LUK 12:38 · LV LUK 2:8 · LV LUK 12:38 · Read together LUK 2:8 · Read together LUK 12:38

Sense 4: haunt, lair, dwelling place

Semantic entry: 85.85

Semantic domains: Existence in Space

Subdomains: Dwell, Reside

Definition: a place for wild animals and evil spirits to dwell

REV 18:2: RV REV 18:2 · LV REV 18:2 · Read together REV 18:2

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OET-RV REV 18:2

2 He called out in a loud voice, saying, “The mighty Bavel (Babylon) has fallen and become a place for demons to live, and a prison for evil spirits and for every kind of scavenging and detestable bird.

OET-LV REV 18:2

2 And he _cried _out with a_mighty voice saying:
Fell, fell Babulōn/(Bāⱱel?
) the great.
And it _became a_dwelling _place of _demons, and a_prison of _every spirit unclean, and a_prison of _every bird unclean, and having _been _hated.

Sense 5: to guard against, to keep under watch, to watch over

Semantic entry: 37.119

Semantic domains: Control, Rule

Subdomains: Guard, Watch Over

Definition: to be on one’s guard against some eventuality

Notes: In a number of languages there is a great deal of difference in terminology employed in speaking about guarding an area in order to apprehend someone and guarding a flock of animals for fear of theft from robbers or danger from wild animals.

Collocations: φυλάσσω φυλακάς

LUK 2:8: RV LUK 2:8 · LV LUK 2:8 · Read together LUK 2:8

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OET-RV LUK 2:8

8 In that same area, there were some shepherds staying out in the fields where they kept watch over their flocks at night.

OET-LV LUK 2:8

8 And shepherds were in the the same region, lodging _in _the _fields and keeping watch the by _night over the flock of _them.

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

φυλακή

Form 1

Sense 1: jail, prison

Sense 2: guard post, guard station

Sense 3: watch, a fourth of the night

Sense 4: haunt, lair, dwelling place

Sense 5: to guard against, to keep under watch, to watch over