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φυλακή

phylakḗ

G5438 noun

SILEX Entry

Root φυλακ- to guard, to watch, to keep under surveillance

Definition

An act or process of guarding, watch, or protection; also, a place where guarding occurs (such as a prison or enclosure); by extension, a watch or guard (the person on duty), or a period of time during which a watch is kept (watch of the day or night). Used both for literal guarding and for metaphorical states of being kept, confined, or under guard.

Semantic Range

guarding, guarding action, a guard post, watchman, a period of watch, place of being guarded (prison, enclosure), condition of being guarded or imprisoned, watch of the night or day, metaphorical states of confinement or custody

Root / Etymology

From the root φυλακ-, related to the verb φυλάσσω (‘to guard, watch, keep’). The noun form denotes the action, place, or condition associated with guarding. No evidence for non-Greek origin; it is native Greek formation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, φυλακή originally referred to the act of guarding, a post for sentries, or the persons engaged in guarding. By the Hellenistic period, its semantic range broadened to include places where prisoners are kept (prison, cell), the condition of being under guard (imprisonment), and designated time intervals for guards (watch of the night or day). In the Septuagint, φυλακή translates various Hebrew terms for guard-post, custody, or watch, sometimes for periods of time (such as the night watches). In the New Testament, it can refer to a literal prison or jail, a period of time (watch of the night), or the state of being imprisoned. English translations sometimes narrow φυλακή to 'prison,' but its broader uses include temporal, spatial, and personal aspects of guarding. In some contexts (e.g., Revelation), it can refer figuratively to a place of confinement or a symbolic condition of being held. There is overlap with terms like δεσμωτήριον ('prison house'), but φυλακή emphasizes the aspect of guarding or watching over, more than solely the detention itself.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from φυλάσσω; a guarding or (concretely, guard), the act, the person; figuratively, the place, the condition, or (specially), the time (as a division of day or night), literally or figuratively:--cage, hold, (im-)prison(-ment), ward, watch.

Root Family

φυλακή (phylakē) — guarding, watch, guard post, place of confinement, custody

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G5438-03 φυλακῇ phulake N DAT F SG prison guarding-place 19
G5438-04 φυλακὴν phulaken N ACC F SG prison a place of guarding 15
G5438-05 φυλακῆς phulakes N GEN F SG prison of guarding 6
G5438-02 φυλακὰς phulakas N ACC F PL prisons watches 3
G5438-01 φυλακαῖς phulakais N DAT F PL prisons to places of guarding 3

Occurrences in Scripture

46 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G5438-04 Matthew 5:25 φυλακὴν phulaken N ACC F SG a place of guarding
G5438-03 Matthew 14:3 φυλακῇ phulake N DAT F SG guarding-place
G5438-03 Matthew 14:10 φυλακῇ phulake N DAT F SG guarding-place
G5438-03 Matthew 14:25 φυλακῇ phulake N DAT F SG guarding-place
G5438-04 Matthew 18:30 φυλακὴν phulaken N ACC F SG a place of guarding
G5438-03 Matthew 24:43 φυλακῇ phulake N DAT F SG guarding-place
G5438-03 Matthew 25:36 φυλακῇ phulake N DAT F SG guarding-place
G5438-03 Matthew 25:39 φυλακῇ phulake N DAT F SG guarding-place
G5438-03 Matthew 25:43 φυλακῇ phulake N DAT F SG guarding-place
G5438-03 Matthew 25:44 φυλακῇ phulake N DAT F SG guarding-place
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