τήρησις (tērēsis)
tērēsis
jail/keeping
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun tērēsis refers to the act of keeping watch or guarding, which in the New Testament most frequently denotes imprisonment or the state of being held in custody. This usage appears in Acts, where it describes the physical confinement of the apostles (Acts 4:3; 5:18), reflecting a literal "watching" over prisoners.
Beyond its penal sense, the word also signifies the observance or keeping of commands. In 1 Corinthians 7:19, Paul contrasts circumcision with uncircumcision, stating that neither matters, but only "keeping God's commands" (tērēsis entolōn). Here, it emphasizes faithful adherence to divine instruction rather than ritual status.
Derived from the verb tēreō, the term carries a consistent sense of vigilance—whether guarding a person in jail or guarding one’s conduct through obedience. Its dual meaning highlights how early Christian writers viewed both physical restraint and spiritual fidelity as forms of being "kept" under authority.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tērēsis reminds us that being 'kept' can take many forms. In Acts, it describes the physical confinement of the apostles, showing how their message was so powerful that authorities felt compelled to hold them in custody. This literal guarding highlights the tension between human control and divine mission.
Yet Paul shifts this idea in 1 Corinthians 7:19. He writes that external labels like circumcision matter less than tērēsis entolōn—keeping God's commandments. Here, the focus moves from physical restraint to spiritual fidelity. It is not about being locked away, but about being held fast to what God has said.
This dual meaning offers comfort. Whether you feel confined by circumstances or called to faithful obedience, you are under a watchful care. The same word that describes prison walls also describes the discipline of love that guides your steps each day.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- keeping1×
- custody1×
- [the] jail1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- τήρησις1×
- τήρησιν1×
- τηρήσει1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 4:3
They laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was now evening.
This verse uses tērēsis to describe the physical custody of the apostles, illustrating how their preaching led to immediate legal restriction.
-
Acts 5:18
and laid hands on the apostles, then put them in public custody.
Here the term appears again in the context of public imprisonment, emphasizing the official nature of the restraint placed on the early church leaders.
-
I Corinthians 7:19
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is keeping God’s commandments.
Paul uses tērēsis to contrast ritual status with faithful obedience, showing that keeping God's commands is what truly matters in Christ.