φυλακή
phulakē
prison/watch: prison
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek concept, φυλακή (phulakē), is defined as a place of confinement, equivalent to prison in English. This term appears 42 times in the Bible, highlighting its importance in ancient Greek language and culture. φυλακή is primarily used to describe a place where individuals are held captive or imprisoned, whether due to crime, punishment, or other circumstances. Its usage encompasses various settings, including official institutions, homes, and public spaces. This breadth of application suggests that φυλακή was an integral part of ancient societies, influencing daily life and social interactions. The frequency and versatility of φυλακή in the biblical text underscore its significance as a common metaphor and actual location within ancient Greek-speaking communities. Its presence in various contexts indicates the concept of confinement played a crucial role in shaping social relationships, power dynamics, and individual experiences in early Christianity's cultural heritage.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
42 total occurrences across the text
and he sent and beheaded John in the prison.
Matthew 5:25Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison.
Matthew 14:3For Herod had arrested John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.
Matthew 18:30He would not, but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay back that which was due.
Matthew 25:36I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.’
Matthew 25:39When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?’
Matthew 25:43I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
Matthew 25:44“Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?’
Mark 6:17For Herod himself had sent out and arrested John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for he had married her.
Mark 6:27Immediately the king sent out a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring John’s head, and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
Luke 3:20added this also to them all, that he shut up John in prison.
Luke 12:58For when you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, try diligently on the way to be released from him, lest perhaps he drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.
Luke 21:12But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake.
Luke 22:33He said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!”
Luke 23:19one who was thrown into prison for a certain revolt in the city, and for murder.
Luke 23:25He released him who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus up to their will.
John 3:24for John was not yet thrown into prison.
Acts 5:19But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out and said,
Acts 5:22But the officers who came didn’t find them in the prison. They returned and reported,
Acts 5:25One came and told them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.”
Acts 8:3But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house and dragged both men and women off to prison.
Acts 12:4When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.
Acts 12:5Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.
Acts 12:6The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison.
Acts 12:10When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out, and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
Acts 12:17But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.
Acts 16:23When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely,
Acts 16:24who, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison, and secured their feet in the stocks.
Acts 16:27The jailer, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
Acts 16:37But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly without a trial, men who are Romans, and have cast us into prison! Do they now release us secretly? No, most certainly, but let them come themselves and bring us out!”
Acts 16:40They went out of the prison, and entered into Lydia’s house. When they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them, then departed.
Acts 22:4I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
Acts 26:10I also did this in Jerusalem. I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were put to death I gave my vote against them.
2 Corinthians 6:5in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;
2 Corinthians 11:23Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself.) I am more so: in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, and in deaths often.
Hebrews 11:36Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment.
1 Peter 3:19in whom he also went and preached to the spirits in prison,
Revelation 2:10Don’t be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Revelation 18:2He cried with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird!
Revelation 18:2He cried with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird!
Revelation 18:2He cried with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird!
Revelation 20:7And after the thousand years, Satan will be released from his prison,