φυλακή (fulakή) — jail / prison / guard post

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

Show passage in OET: MAT 5:25

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.

Show passage in OET: MAT 14:3

OET-RV MAT 14:3

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

Jump to OET MAT 5:25 section.

Jump to OET MAT 14:3 section.

All 38 recorded passages for this sense

MAT: OET MAT 5:25 · OET MAT 14:3 · OET MAT 14:10 · OET MAT 18:30 · OET MAT 25:36 · OET MAT 25:39 · OET MAT 25:43–44

MRK: OET MRK 6:17 · OET MRK 6:27

LUK: OET LUK 3:20 · OET LUK 12:58 · OET LUK 21:12 · OET LUK 22:33 · OET LUK 23:19 · OET LUK 23:25

JHN: OET JHN 3:24

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

CO2: OET CO2 6:5 · OET CO2 11:23

HEB: OET HEB 11:36

PE1: OET PE1 3:19

REV: OET REV 2:10 · OET 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

Show passage in OET: ACT 12:10

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.

Jump to OET ACT 12:10 section.

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 OET MAT 24:43 and OET LUK 12:38, however, it is possible that the reference is to three night watches, as was typical among Hebrews and Greeks.

Show passage in OET: MAT 14:25

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.

Show passage in OET: MAT 24:43

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

Jump to OET MAT 14:25 section.

Jump to OET MAT 24:43 section.

All 5 recorded passages for this sense

MAT: OET MAT 14:25 · OET MAT 24:43

MRK: OET MRK 6:48

LUK: OET LUK 2:8 · OET 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

Show passage in OET: REV 18:2

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.

Jump to OET REV 18:2 section.

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

Show passage in OET: LUK 2:8

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.

Jump to OET LUK 2:8 section.