1201. desmótérion
Strong's Lexicon
desmótérion: Prison, jail

Original Word: δεσμωτήριον
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: desmótérion
Pronunciation: des-mo-TAY-ree-on
Phonetic Spelling: (des-mo-tay'-ree-on)
Definition: Prison, jail
Meaning: a prison.

Word Origin: From δεσμώτης (desmótēs, meaning "prisoner") and related to δεσμός (desmós, meaning "bond" or "chain")

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H1004 (בַּיִת, bayith): Often translated as "house" or "prison" in contexts where it refers to a place of confinement.

- H5470 (סוּג, sug): Meaning "to shut in" or "enclose," used in contexts of imprisonment.

Usage: The term "desmótérion" refers to a place of confinement, typically a prison or jail. In the New Testament, it is used to describe the physical location where individuals are held in custody, often for legal or punitive reasons. The word emphasizes the state of being bound or restricted, both physically and metaphorically.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, prisons were not primarily used for long-term punishment but rather as holding places for those awaiting trial or execution. Conditions in these prisons were often harsh, with prisoners facing overcrowding, poor sanitation, and limited access to food and water. The concept of imprisonment also carried a significant social stigma, as it was associated with criminality and shame.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from desmos and -térion (suff. denoting place)
Definition
a prison
NASB Translation
imprisoned (1), prison house (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1201: δεσμωτήριον

δεσμωτήριον, δεσμωτηρίου, τό, a prison, jail: Matthew 11:2; Acts 5:21, 23; Acts 16:26. (Genesis 40:3; (Herodotus), Thucydides, Plato, Demosthenes, others.)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
prison.

From a derivative of desmon (equivalent to desmeo); a place of bondage, i.e. A dungeon -- prison.

see GREEK desmon

see GREEK desmeo

Forms and Transliterations
δεσμωτηριον δεσμωτήριον δεσμωτηριου δεσμωτηρίου δεσμωτηριω δεσμωτηρίω δεσμωτηρίῳ desmoterio desmōtēriō desmoteríoi desmōtēríōi desmoterion desmotḗrion desmōtērion desmōtḗrion desmoteriou desmoteríou desmōtēriou desmōtēríou
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 11:2 N-DNS
GRK: ἐν τῷ δεσμωτηρίῳ τὰ ἔργα
NAS: while imprisoned, heard
KJV: in the prison the works
INT: in the prison the works

Acts 5:21 N-ANS
GRK: εἰς τὸ δεσμωτήριον ἀχθῆναι αὐτούς
NAS: and sent [orders] to the prison house for them to be brought.
KJV: sent to the prison to have them
INT: to the jail to bring them

Acts 5:23 N-ANS
GRK: ὅτι Τὸ δεσμωτήριον εὕρομεν κεκλεισμένον
NAS: We found the prison house locked
KJV: Saying, The prison truly found we
INT: The prison we found shut

Acts 16:26 N-GNS
GRK: θεμέλια τοῦ δεσμωτηρίου ἠνεῴχθησαν δὲ
NAS: that the foundations of the prison house were shaken;
KJV: the foundations of the prison were shaken:
INT: foundations of the prison were opened and

Strong's Greek 1201
4 Occurrences


δεσμωτηρίῳ — 1 Occ.
δεσμωτήριον — 2 Occ.
δεσμωτηρίου — 1 Occ.















1200
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