κατείχετο

katéchō

was afflicted

To hold fast or firmly, to keep possession of, to restrain or suppress. In various contexts, it can mean to physically hold or seize, to retain in memory, to prevent or hinder, or to keep possession or control over something. The word may also be applied in abstract contexts (e.g., holding on to truth, suppressing information, or restraining actions or persons).

G2722

John 5:4 · Word #28

Lexicon G2722

Lemmaκατέχω
Transliterationkatéchō
Strong'sG2722
DefinitionTo hold fast or firmly, to keep possession of, to restrain or suppress. In various contexts, it can mean to physically hold or seize, to retain in memory, to prevent or hinder, or to keep possession or control over something. The word may also be applied in abstract contexts (e.g., holding on to truth, suppressing information, or restraining actions or persons).

Morphology V IMPF PASS IND 3P SG All morphology codes

Part of Speech V — Verb — An action or state of being
Tense IMPF — Imperfect — Continuous or repeated past action
Voice PASS — Passive — The subject receives the action
Mood IND — Indicative — States a fact or reality
Person 3P — 3rd person — The one spoken about ("he/she/it/they")
Number SG — Singular — One

Common Translation

Phrasewas afflicted
Literalwas-held-down

Lexical Info

Lemmaκατέχω
Strong'sG2722

SIBI-P1 Translation G2722-09

was being held fast

Morphological NotesVerb; imperfect tense (past ongoing), passive voice, indicative mood, 3rd person singular.
Rendering RationaleThe imperfect passive indicative denotes an ongoing past action in which the subject was being acted upon. "Was being held fast" preserves the intensified sense of κατά (down/against) with ἔχω (hold), conveying sustained restraint or firm holding.

View full lexicon entry for G2722 →

SILEX v2

SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)

was being held fast

Same as P1Yes
Rationale'Was being held fast' conveys the passive, ongoing sense of the verb in context as per SILEX; P1 is correct.