Lexical Summary kataschesis: Possession, holding, seizure Original Word: κατάσχεσις Strong's Exhaustive Concordance possession. From katecho; a holding down, i.e. Occupancy -- possession. see GREEK katecho NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom katechó Definition a holding fast NASB Translation dispossessing (1), possession (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2697: κατάσχεσιςκατάσχεσις, κατασχέσεως, ἡ (κατέχω), the Sept. often for אֲחֻזָּה, possession; 1. a holding back, hindering: anonymous in Walz, Rhetor. i., p. 616, 20. 2. a holding fast, possession: γῆν δοῦναι εἰς κατάσχεσιν, to give in possession the land, Acts 7:5, as in Genesis 17:8; Deuteronomy 32:49 Alex.; Ezekiel 33:24; Ezekiel 36:2f, 5; Josephus, Antiquities 9, 1, 2; (Test xii. Patr., test. Benj. § 10); with the genitive of the subjunctive τῶν ἐθνῶν, of the territory possessed by (the possession of) the nations, Acts 7:45; (a portion given to keep, Philo, rer. div. haer. § 40 (cf. Psalm 2:8)). The term expresses the idea of a secured holding—property or territory granted and occupied under divine sanction. More than bare ownership, it conveys the settled, covenantal enjoyment of what God bestows. Occurrences in Scripture • Acts 7:5 – Stephen reminds the Sanhedrin that Abraham “no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground… but God promised to give it to him as a possession and to his descendants after him, even though at that time Abraham had no child.” Historical Background 1. Patriarchal era: Abraham’s life was marked by tents and altars, not boundary stones. His only parcel was a burial cave (Genesis 23). The noun therefore highlights the tension between promise and present circumstance. Land as Covenant Possession The word crystallizes the Abrahamic covenant’s territorial clause (Genesis 15:18-21). Possession is God-initiated, timed, and conditioned on faithfulness (Deuteronomy 29:28; 2 Chronicles 7:20). It also carries Sabbath overtones: enjoying rest within God’s allotted sphere (Joshua 22:4). Typological Fulfillment in Christ Hebrews 11:8-16 views Abraham’s earthly grant as an arrow pointing to “a better country—a heavenly one.” Jesus, risen and enthroned, secures the ultimate inheritance (Ephesians 1:11-14). Believers now possess “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 1:3) and await bodily entrance into the perfected creation (Romans 8:19-23; Revelation 21:7). Theological Significance 1. Promise-Fulfillment Continuum: The two Acts references bracket Israel’s story—promise to patriarch, fulfillment through conquest—affirming divine faithfulness. Implications for Christian Life and Ministry • Perseverance of faith: Like Abraham, saints may live in the tension between promise and realization; steadfast trust is required. Related Concepts and Cross-References Inheritance – Numbers 26:53; Galatians 3:18 Rest – Hebrews 4:1-11 Pledge/Guarantee – 2 Corinthians 1:22 Kingdom – Colossians 1:12-13 Perseverance – Hebrews 10:35-39 Summary Strong’s 2697 gathers the biblical storyline of land, covenant, and ultimate inheritance into a single term. From Abraham’s unsatisfied longing to Joshua’s conquest, and from Stephen’s defense to the church’s eschatological hope, it testifies that what God promises He brings to settled fruition, urging believers to trust, steward, and proclaim the possession secured for them in Christ. Englishman's Concordance Acts 7:5 N-AFSGRK: αὐτῷ εἰς κατάσχεσιν αὐτὴν καὶ NAS: that HE WOULD GIVE IT TO HIM AS A POSSESSION, AND TO HIS DESCENDANTS KJV: to him for a possession, and to his INT: to him for a possession it and Acts 7:45 N-DFS Strong's Greek 2697 |
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