2902. krateó
Lexical Summary
krateó: To seize, hold, take hold of, grasp, retain, keep

Original Word: κρατέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: krateó
Pronunciation: krah-teh'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (krat-eh'-o)
KJV: hold (by, fast), keep, lay hand (hold) on, obtain, retain, take (by)
NASB: seize, seized, hold, hold fast, arrested, took, take hold
Word Origin: [from G2904 (κράτος - dominion)]

1. to use strength, i.e. seize or retain
{literally or figuratively}

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
grasp, keep, lay hold

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

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 2902 kratéō – to place under one's grasp (seize hold of, put under control). See 2904 (kratos).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from kratos
Definition
to be strong, rule
NASB Translation
arrested (3), attained (1), clinging (1), held (1), hold (4), hold fast (4), holding back (1), holding fast (1), holds (1), laid hold (1), observe (1), observing (1), prevented (1), retain (1), retained (1), seize (8), seized (7), take custody (1), take hold (2), taking (2), took (3), took hold (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2902: κρατέω

κρατέω; imperfect 2 person plural ἐκρατειτε, Mark 14:49 Tr marginal reading WH marginal reading; future κρατήσω; 1 aorist ἐκράτησα; perfect infinitive κεκρατηκέναι; passive, present κρατοῦμαι; imperfect ἐκρατουμην; perfect 3 person plural κεκράτηνται; (κράτος (which see)); the Sept. chiefly for חָזַק, also for אָחַז (to seize), etc.; from Homer down;

1. to have power, be powerful; to be chief, be master of, to rule: absolutely for מָלַך, Esther 1:1; 1 Esdr. 4:38; 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: ἔχετε, ἔχεις, Revelation 2:25; Revelation 3:11; τό ὄνομα μου, Revelation 2:13; one's authority, τήν κεφαλήν, i. e. ἐκεῖνον ὅς ἐστιν 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).

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Strong’s Greek 2902 traces a single theme that unites narrative, doctrinal, and prophetic passages: a decisive grasp that either restrains, protects, or perseveres. Whether describing the arrest of Christ, the compassionate touch of healing, or the believer’s tenacious confession, the verb highlights the reality that what is firmly held remains under sure control.

Physical Seizure and Arrests

In the Passion accounts the word conveys the hostile seizure of Jesus (Matthew 26:50; Mark 14:46) and the premeditated plans of the authorities (Matthew 26:4; Mark 14:1). It also depicts earlier attempts to arrest Him (Matthew 21:46; Mark 12:12) and the imprisonment of John the Baptist (Matthew 14:3; Mark 6:17). Luke records the youths who try to seize the fleeing disciple after Gethsemane (Mark 14:51). These scenes underscore the fulfillment of prophecy: no human grip could act until the divinely appointed “hour” arrived.

Healing and Compassionate Touch

The same verb describes Jesus taking hold of Peter’s fevered mother-in-law (Mark 1:31), Jairus’s daughter (Mark 5:41), a demon-tormented boy (Mark 9:27), and the dead child in Luke 8:54. Each miracle required more than a word; it involved a deliberate grasp that communicated both authority and tenderness. The risen Lord allows Mary Magdalene and the other women to “take hold of His feet and worship Him” (Matthew 28:9), turning their desperate clutch into an act of adoration.

Perseverance in Faith and Hope

Doctrinally, the word shifts from physical grip to spiritual perseverance.
Hebrews 4:14 urges, “let us hold firmly to what we profess.”
Hebrews 6:18 comforts refugees of conscience who have “fled to take hold of the hope set before us.”
Revelation 2:25 exhorts, “Nevertheless, hold fast to what you have until I come,” while Revelation 3:11 warns, “Hold fast to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
2 Thessalonians 2:15 links perseverance to apostolic instruction: “stand firm and hold to the traditions we passed on to you.”

The emphasis is never on bare human resolve; the gripping is possible because the High Priest who has seized us first (Philippians 3:12’s cognate) enables us to seize Him in return.

Holding Traditions: Godly and Ungodly

Mark 7 twice contrasts the vain “holding” of human traditions (Mark 7:3, 7:8) with obedience to God’s command. The same verb that upholds apostolic teaching in 2 Thessalonians unmasks empty ritual in the Gospels, demonstrating that a firm grip is only as valuable as the object held.

Cosmic Restraint and Eschatological Hope

Revelation widens the canvas. Angels “holding back the four winds of the earth” (Revelation 7:1) delay judgment until God’s servants are sealed. The exalted Christ “holds the seven stars in His right hand” (Revelation 2:1), guaranteeing the security of the churches. Finally, the angel seizes “the dragon, that ancient serpent…and bound him for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:2), proving that evil itself is subject to a stronger grasp.

Historical and Ministerial Significance

Acts employs the verb for Paul’s detainment (Acts 24:6) and for the crowds clinging to Peter after the healing of the lame man (Acts 3:11). In Acts 27:13 sailors believe favorable winds will “hold” long enough for safe passage, revealing the everyday nuance familiar to Luke’s readers. First-century believers faced literal chains; the same term comforted them with promises of a stronger, heavenly hold.

Pastoral Application

Believers today are called to an active grip:
• Hold confession without wavering (Hebrews 4:14).
• Hold hope as an anchor of the soul (Hebrews 6:18-19).
• Hold teaching that accords with Scripture (2 Thessalonians 2:15).
• Hold every gift Christ has entrusted until He returns (Revelation 3:11).

Because the Savior’s grasp precedes and empowers ours, Christians may face suffering, temptation, and cultural pressure confident that “no one can snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28, conceptually parallel).

Key Verse Index

Matthew 26:50; Mark 1:31; Mark 5:41; Luke 8:54; Acts 24:6; Acts 3:11; Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 6:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; Revelation 2:25; Revelation 3:11; Revelation 7:1; Revelation 20:2.

Strong’s 2902 therefore portrays the hand of God and the hand of faith meeting in a mutual, unbreakable hold—assuring the church in every age that what He grasps remains secure.

Forms and Transliterations
εκραταίωσεν εκράτει εκρατήθη εκράτησα εκρατησαμεν εκρατήσαμεν ἐκρατήσαμεν εκρατησαν εκράτησαν ἐκράτησαν εκράτησας εκρατησατε εκρατήσατέ ἐκρατήσατέ εκράτησε εκρατησεν εκράτησεν ἐκράτησεν εκρατουντο εκρατούντο ἐκρατοῦντο κεκρατηκεναι κεκρατηκέναι κεκρατηνται κεκράτηνται κρατει κρατεί κράτει κρατειν κρατείν κρατεῖν κρατεις κρατείς κρατεῖς κρατεισθαι κρατείσθαι κρατεῖσθαι κρατειτε κρατείτε κρατεῖτε κρατήρ κρατήρα κρατήρες κρατησαι κρατήσαι κρατῆσαι κρατησαντες κρατήσαντες κρατησας κρατήσας κρατησατε κρατήσατε κρατησει κρατήσει κρατήση κράτησον κρατήσουσι κρατήσουσιν κρατήσω κρατησωσιν κρατήσωσιν κρατητε κρατήτε κρατῆτε κρατουμενα κρατουντας κρατούντας κρατοῦντας κρατουντες κρατούντες κρατοῦντες Κρατουντος κρατούντος Κρατοῦντος κρατούντων κρατούσι κρατουσιν κρατούσιν κρατοῦσιν κρατωμεν κρατώμεν κρατῶμεν κρατων κρατών κρατῶν ekratesamen ekratēsamen ekratḗsamen ekratesan ekratēsan ekrátesan ekrátēsan ekratesate ekratēsate ekratḗsaté ekratesen ekratēsen ekrátesen ekrátēsen ekratounto ekratoûnto kekratekenai kekratekénai kekratēkenai kekratēkénai kekratentai kekratēntai kekrátentai kekrátēntai kratei krátei kratein krateîn krateis krateîs krateisthai krateîsthai krateite krateîte kratesai kratêsai kratēsai kratē̂sai kratesantes kratēsantes kratḗsantes kratesas kratēsas kratḗsas kratesate kratēsate kratḗsate kratesei kratēsei kratḗsei kratesosin kratēsōsin kratḗsosin kratḗsōsin kratete kratête kratēte kratē̂te kratomen kratômen kratōmen kratō̂men kraton kratôn kratōn kratō̂n kratountas kratoûntas kratountes kratoûntes Kratountos Kratoûntos kratousin kratoûsin
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Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 9:25 V-AIA-3S
GRK: ὄχλος εἰσελθὼν ἐκράτησεν τῆς χειρὸς
NAS: out, He entered and took her by the hand,
KJV: he went in, and took her
INT: crowd having entered he took hold of the hand

Matthew 12:11 V-FIA-3S
GRK: βόθυνον οὐχὶ κρατήσει αὐτὸ καὶ
NAS: on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift
KJV: will he not lay hold on it, and
INT: a pit will not he lay hold of it and

Matthew 14:3 V-APA-NMS
GRK: γὰρ Ἡρῴδης κρατήσας τὸν Ἰωάνην
NAS: had John arrested, he bound
KJV: Herod had laid hold on John,
INT: For Herod having seized John

Matthew 18:28 V-APA-NMS
GRK: δηνάρια καὶ κρατήσας αὐτὸν ἔπνιγεν
NAS: denarii; and he seized him and [began] to choke
KJV: and he laid hands on him,
INT: denarii and having seized him he throttled [him]

Matthew 21:46 V-ANA
GRK: ζητοῦντες αὐτὸν κρατῆσαι ἐφοβήθησαν τοὺς
NAS: When they sought to seize Him, they feared
KJV: when they sought to lay hands on him,
INT: seeking him to lay hold of they feared the

Matthew 22:6 V-APA-NMP
GRK: δὲ λοιποὶ κρατήσαντες τοὺς δούλους
NAS: and the rest seized his slaves
KJV: And the remnant took his servants,
INT: moreover [the] rest having laid hold of the servants

Matthew 26:4 V-ASA-3P
GRK: Ἰησοῦν δόλῳ κρατήσωσιν καὶ ἀποκτείνωσιν
NAS: and they plotted together to seize Jesus
KJV: that they might take Jesus
INT: Jesus by trickery they might seize and kill [him]

Matthew 26:48 V-AMA-2P
GRK: αὐτός ἐστιν κρατήσατε αὐτόν
NAS: I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.
KJV: hold him fast.
INT: he it is seize him

Matthew 26:50 V-AIA-3P
GRK: Ἰησοῦν καὶ ἐκράτησαν αὐτόν
NAS: hands on Jesus and seized Him.
KJV: Jesus, and took him.
INT: Jesus and seized him

Matthew 26:55 V-AIA-2P
GRK: καὶ οὐκ ἐκρατήσατέ με
NAS: teaching and you did not seize Me.
KJV: ye laid no hold on me.
INT: and not you did seize me

Matthew 26:57 V-APA-NMP
GRK: Οἱ δὲ κρατήσαντες τὸν Ἰησοῦν
NAS: Those who had seized Jesus
KJV: And they that had laid hold on Jesus
INT: those who moreover having seized Jesus

Matthew 28:9 V-AIA-3P
GRK: δὲ προσελθοῦσαι ἐκράτησαν αὐτοῦ τοὺς
NAS: them. And they came up and took hold of His feet
KJV: they came and held him
INT: moreover having come to [him] they took hold of his

Mark 1:31 V-APA-NMS
GRK: ἤγειρεν αὐτὴν κρατήσας τῆς χειρός
NAS: to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand,
KJV: And he came and took her by the hand,
INT: he raised up her having taken of the hand

Mark 3:21 V-ANA
GRK: αὐτοῦ ἐξῆλθον κρατῆσαι αὐτόν ἔλεγον
NAS: [of] [this], they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying,
KJV: [of it], they went out to lay hold on him:
INT: him went out to seize him they said

Mark 5:41 V-APA-NMS
GRK: καὶ κρατήσας τῆς χειρὸς
NAS: Taking the child by the hand,
KJV: And he took the damsel by the hand,
INT: And having taken the hand

Mark 6:17 V-AIA-3S
GRK: Ἡρῴδης ἀποστείλας ἐκράτησεν τὸν Ἰωάννην
NAS: and had John arrested and bound
KJV: had sent forth and laid hold upon John,
INT: Herod having sent seized John

Mark 7:3 V-PPA-NMP
GRK: οὐκ ἐσθίουσιν κρατοῦντες τὴν παράδοσιν
NAS: their hands, [thus] observing the traditions
KJV: not, holding the tradition
INT: not eat holding the tradition

Mark 7:4 V-PNA
GRK: ἃ παρέλαβον κρατεῖν βαπτισμοὺς ποτηρίων
NAS: they have received in order to observe, such as the washing
KJV: they have received to hold, [as] the washing
INT: which they received to hold washings of cups

Mark 7:8 V-PIA-2P
GRK: τοῦ θεοῦ κρατεῖτε τὴν παράδοσιν
NAS: of God, you hold to the tradition
KJV: of God, ye hold the tradition
INT: of God you hold to the tradition

Mark 9:10 V-AIA-3P
GRK: τὸν λόγον ἐκράτησαν πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς
NAS: They seized upon that statement,
KJV: And they kept that saying with
INT: that saying they kept among themselves

Mark 9:27 V-APA-NMS
GRK: δὲ Ἰησοῦς κρατήσας τῆς χειρὸς
NAS: But Jesus took him by the hand
KJV: But Jesus took him by the hand,
INT: and Jesus having taken by the hand

Mark 12:12 V-ANA
GRK: ἐζήτουν αὐτὸν κρατῆσαι καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν
NAS: And they were seeking to seize Him, and [yet] they feared
KJV: they sought to lay hold on him,
INT: they sought him to lay hold of and they feared

Mark 14:1 V-APA-NMP
GRK: ἐν δόλῳ κρατήσαντες ἀποκτείνωσιν
NAS: how to seize Him by stealth
KJV: sought how they might take him by
INT: by stealth having taken they might kill [him]

Mark 14:44 V-AMA-2P
GRK: αὐτός ἐστιν κρατήσατε αὐτὸν καὶ
NAS: I kiss, He is the one; seize Him and lead Him away
KJV: that same is he; take him, and
INT: he is seize him and

Mark 14:46 V-AIA-3P
GRK: αὐτῷ καὶ ἐκράτησαν αὐτόν
NAS: They laid hands on Him and seized Him.
KJV: him, and took him.
INT: on him and seized him

Strong's Greek 2902
47 Occurrences


ἐκρατήσαμεν — 1 Occ.
ἐκράτησαν — 4 Occ.
ἐκρατήσατέ — 2 Occ.
ἐκράτησεν — 3 Occ.
ἐκρατοῦντο — 1 Occ.
κεκρατηκέναι — 1 Occ.
κεκράτηνται — 1 Occ.
κρατῆσαι — 4 Occ.
κρατήσαντες — 3 Occ.
κρατήσας — 6 Occ.
κρατήσατε — 3 Occ.
κρατήσει — 1 Occ.
κρατήσωσιν — 1 Occ.
κρατῆτε — 1 Occ.
κράτει — 1 Occ.
κρατεῖν — 1 Occ.
κρατεῖς — 1 Occ.
κρατεῖσθαι — 1 Occ.
κρατεῖτε — 2 Occ.
κρατῶμεν — 1 Occ.
κρατῶν — 2 Occ.
κρατοῦντας — 3 Occ.
κρατοῦντες — 1 Occ.
Κρατοῦντος — 1 Occ.
κρατοῦσιν — 1 Occ.

2901
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