δεσμωτήριον (desmōtērion)
desmōtērion
prison
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun desmōtērion refers to a place of confinement, specifically a prison or jail. Derived from roots related to bonds or fetters, it denotes the physical structure where captives are held rather than the abstract concept of imprisonment itself. In the New Testament, this term appears in only four verses, grounding its meaning in specific narrative moments of restriction and authority.
Its usage highlights the reality of human legal power over bodily freedom. Matthew 11:2 uses the word when John the Baptist, imprisoned by Herod, sends disciples to ask Jesus if He is the Messiah. Similarly, Acts 5 records the Jewish authorities locking the apostles in a public holding facility (verses 21 and 23), while Acts 16 describes Paul and Silas secured in an inner cell after their arrest in Philippi. These instances show the word applied to both prophetic suffering and apostolic witness.
Translators consistently render desmōtērion as "prison" or "jail," capturing its straightforward sense of a secure enclosure for detainees. The term emphasizes the tangible nature of confinement, serving as a backdrop for stories where divine presence intersects with human legal systems. It reminds readers that early Christian figures faced real-world incarceration alongside spiritual conflict.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word desmōtērion points to a physical place of confinement, a jail where individuals are held by human authority. In the New Testament, it appears only four times, grounding its meaning in real moments of restriction. It is not an abstract idea but a tangible structure, reminding us that early believers faced actual legal consequences for their faith.
Consider John the Baptist, who wrote from this very place to ask Jesus if He was the Messiah (Matthew 11:2). Or think of Paul and Silas, whose bonds were loosened after an earthquake in Philippi (Acts 16:26). These stories show that while human systems can lock bodies, they cannot contain the work of God. The word serves as a backdrop for divine intervention in moments of deepest confinement.
For your life, this term offers comfort when you feel restricted by circumstances. It reminds you that physical limitations do not equal spiritual abandonment. Even in the darkest cells, God’s presence remains accessible. You are never truly alone, even when locked away from freedom.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- prison house2×
- prison house;1×
- prison1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- δεσμωτήριον2×
- δεσμωτηρίῳ1×
- δεσμωτηρίου·1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 11:2
Now when John heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples
This occurrence highlights John the Baptist's doubt and inquiry from within confinement, showing that faith can waver even for great prophets.
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Acts 5:23
“We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”
The report of an empty, locked prison underscores the supernatural deliverance of the apostles despite strict human security.
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Acts 16:26
Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were loosened.
This verse connects a physical earthquake with spiritual liberation, showing how God can break bonds without human assistance.