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

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 ()); τί, Matthew 12:11.

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).