Bible Dictionaries
Possess, Possession

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

"to hold fast, hold back," signifies "to possess," in 1 Corinthians 7:30; 2 Corinthians 6:10 . See HOLD.

"to procure for oneself, acquire, obtain," hence, "to possess" (akin to B, No. 1), has this meaning in Luke 18:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:4; in Luke 21:19 , RV, "ye shall win" (AV, "possess ye"), where the probable meaning is "ye shall gain the mastery over your souls," i.e., instead of giving way to adverse circumstances. See OBTAIN.

"to be in existence," and, in a secondary sense, "to belong to," is used with this meaning in the neuter plural of the present participle with the article signifying one's "possessions," "the things which he possesseth," Luke 12:15; Acts 4:32; in Hebrews 10:34 , RV, "possessions" (AV, "goods"); cp. B, No. 4. See GOODS.

"to be possessed of a demon or demons:" see DEMON , B.

Note: In Acts 8:7; 16:16 , AV, echo, "have," is translated "to be possessed of," in the sense of No. 4, above, RV, "had" and "having."

akin to A, No. 2, denotes "a possession, property," Matthew 19:22; Mark 10:22; Acts 2:45; 5:1 .

primarily "a holding back" (akin to A, No. 1), then, "a holding fast," denotes "a possession," Acts 7:5 , or "taking possession," Acts 7:45 , with the article, lit., "in the (i.e., their) taking possession."

"an obtaining, an inquisition," is translated "(God's own) possession" in Ephesians 1:14 , RV, which may mean "acquisition," AV, "purchased possession;" 1 Peter 2:9 , RV, "God's own possession," AV, "a peculiar (people)." See OBTAIN.

primarily "subsistence" (akin to A, No. 3), later denoted "substance, property, possession" in Hebrews 10:34 , RV (AV, "substance"). See GOODS , SUBSTANCE.

Note: In Acts 28:7 , AV, choria, "lands" (RV), is translated "possessions."

"of one's own possession, one's own," qualifies the noun laos, "people," in Titus 2:14 , AV, "peculiar," see RV. In the Sept., Exodus 19:5; 23:22; Deuteronomy 7:6; 14:2; 26:18 .