← G1199 G1201 →

δεσμοφύλαξ

desmophýlax

G1200 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A guard or overseer responsible for securing and supervising individuals held in custody; specifically, a person charged with the care and detention of prisoners. The term most commonly refers to an official in charge of a prison or jail, with duties ranging from guarding cells to ensuring the security of the facility and the individuals within it. Contextually, the concept includes both the administrative and practical aspects of managing detainment.

Semantic Range

jailer, prison guard, keeper of prisoners, overseer of detention, custodian in a place of confinement

Root / Etymology

The term is a compound of δεσμός (desmos, 'bond, chain, fetter') and φύλαξ (phylax, 'guard, watcher, keeper'). It thus literally means 'keeper/guard of bonds' or 'one who guards those in chains.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term δεσμοφύλαξ does not occur outside of Koine Greek literature in significant frequency, but is attested in the New Testament (e.g., Acts 16:23, 27, 36) and other Hellenistic documents to refer specifically to a functionary or official whose responsibility is the safekeeping of prisoners. In the Roman world, such individuals might be state officials (civilians appointed, soldiers assigned, or slaves tasked) with oversight of a prison (δεσμωτήριον). Greek and Roman prisons were not institutions for long-term incarceration as in modern times, but more often temporary holding facilities for pretrial detention, punishment pending execution, or securing dangerous individuals. Unlike other terms such as φύλαξ (generic 'guard' or 'watchman'), δεσμοφύλαξ is specialized for detention contexts. English Bible translations often use 'jailer' or 'keeper of the prison,' which aligns with the administrative and custodial role but does not always capture the full spectrum of authority (from local municipal guard to Roman officer) or the physical and administrative responsibilities. The term is absent from classical Attic literature, reflecting a linguistic development within later (Koine or Hellenistic) Greek.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from δεσμόν and φύλαξ; a jailer (as guarding the prisoners):--jailor, keeper of the prison.

Root Family

δεσμοφύλαξ (desmophylax) — to bind, to watch, to guard, to keep; keeper of those in bonds

Root δεσμο-, φυλακ- to bind, to watch, to guard, to keep

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1200-02 δεσμοφύλαξ desmophulax N NOM M SG jailer guardian of bonds jailer 2
G1200-01 δεσμοφύλακι desmophulaki N DAT M SG jailer to the prison-guard prison-guard 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1200-01 Acts 16:23 δεσμοφύλακι desmophulaki N DAT M SG jailer to the prison-guard prison-guard
G1200-02 Acts 16:27 δεσμοφύλαξ desmophulax N NOM M SG keeper of the prison guardian of bonds keeper of the prison
G1200-02 Acts 16:36 δεσμοφύλαξ desmophulax N NOM M SG jailer guardian of bonds jailer
← G1199 Greek Lexicon G1201 →