The meaning of Holding in the Bible
(From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)

hol'-ding: Occurs with various shades of meaning: (1) as the translation of tamakh, "to acquire," it has the sense of taking, obtaining (Isaiah 33:15, the Revised Version (British and American) "that shaketh his hands from taking a bribe," the English Revised Version, as the King James Version, "holding"); (2) of kul, "to hold," "contain," having the sense of containing or restraining (Jeremiah 6:11, "I am weary with holding in"); (3) of krateo, "to receive," "observe," "maintain" (Mark 7:3, "holding the tradition of the elders"; I Timothy 1:19, echo, "holding faith and a good conscience"; I Timothy 3:9, "holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience"); (4) holding fast, cleaving to, krateo (Colossians 2:19, "not holding the head," the Revised Version (British and American) "holding fast"; compare Acts 3:11; Revelation 7:1, "holding the four winds of the earth, that no wind should blow"); antechomai, "to hold over against one's self," "to hold fast" (Tit. 19, the Revised Version (British and American) "holding to the faithful word"); (5) holding forth, epecho, "to hold upon, to hold out toward" (Philippians 2:16, "holding forth the word of life," so the Revised Version (British and American)); Lightfoot has "holding out" (as offering); others, however, render "holding fast," persevering in the Christian faith and life—connecting with being "blameless and harmless" in Philippians 2:15.

W. L. Walker

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