Apprehend
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words [1]
properly signifies "to lay hold of;" then, "to lay hold of so as to possess as one's own, to appropriate." Hence it has the same twofold meaning as the Eng. "to apprehend;" (a), "to seize upon, take possession of," (1) with a beneficial effect, as of "laying hold" of the righteousness which is of faith, Romans 9:30 (not there a matter of attainment, as in the Eng. versions, but of appropriation); of the obtaining of a prize, 1—Corinthians 9:24 (RV, "attain"); of the Apostle's desire "to apprehend," or "lay hold of," that for which he was apprehended by Christ, Philippians 3:12,13; (2) with a detrimental effect, e.g., of demon power, Mark 9:18; of human action in seizing upon a person, John 8:3,4; metaphorically, with the added idea of overtaking, of spiritual darkness in coming upon people, John 12:35; of the Day of the Lord, in suddenly coming upon unbelievers as a thief, 1—Thessalonians 5:4; (b), "to lay hold of" with the mind, to understand, perceive, e.g., metaphorically, of darkness with regard to light, John 1:5 , though possibly here the sense is that of (a) as in John 12:35; of mental perception, Acts 4:13; 10:34; 25:25; Ephesians 3:18 . See Attain , No. 2, COME, Note (8), Find, Obtain, Overtake, Perceive, Take
Hold.
"to lay hold of," with the suggestion of firm pressure or force, is used in the Gospels only in John, six times of efforts to seize Christ, and is always rendered "take" in the RV, John 7:30,32,44; 8:20; 10:39; 11:57 . The AV has "laid hands on" in John 8:20 . In Acts 12:4; 2—Corinthians 11:32 (AV), it is translated respectively "apprehended" and "apprehend" (RV, "had taken," and "take"). In Revelation 19:20 it is used of the seizure of the Beast and the False Prophet. In John 21:3,10 it is used of catching fish. Elsewhere in Acts 3:7 . See Catch , LAY Hands On Take. In the Sept., S. of Song of Solomon 2:15 .
King James Dictionary [2]
Apprehend', L apprehendo, of ad and prehendo, to take or seize.
1. To take or seize to take hold of. In this literal sense, it is applied chiefly to taking or arresting persons by legal process, or with a view to trial as to apprehend a thief. 2. To take with the understanding, that is, to conceive in the mine to understand, without passing a judgment, or making an inference.
I apprehend not why so many and various laws are given.
3. To think to believe or be of opinion, but without positive certainty as, all this is true, but we apprehend it is not to the purpose.
Notwithstanding this declaration, we do not apprehend that we are guilty of presumption.
4. To fear to entertain suspicion or fear of future evil as, we apprehend calamities from a feeble or wicked administration.
Webster's Dictionary [3]
(1): (v. t.) Hence: To take or seize (a person) by legal process; to arrest; as, to apprehend a criminal.
(2): (v. t.) To take hold of with the understanding, that is, to conceive in the mind; to become cognizant of; to understand; to recognize; to consider.
(3): (v. t.) To know or learn with certainty.
(4): (v. i.) To think, believe, or be of opinion; to understand; to suppose.
(5): (v. i.) To be apprehensive; to fear.
(6): (v. t.) To take or seize; to take hold of.
(7): (v. t.) To anticipate; esp., to anticipate with anxiety, dread, or fear; to fear.
Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary [4]
In the language of Scripture, this word is peculiarly significant. Paul the apostle best explains it, when he saith, "I follow after, if that I may apprehend that, for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus." ( Philippians 3:12) that is, if by faith, I may be enabled to lay hold of Christ Jesus, as the Lord by grace hath laid hold of me.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [5]
ap - rē̇ - hend ´: Occurs in the New Testament in two meanings: "to arrest" (πιάζω , piázō ; Acts 12:4; 2 Corinthians 11:32 the Revised Version (British and American), "take"); and "to seize," "grasp," "take into one's possession," "attain," "inquire eagerly" ( καταλαμβάνω , katalambánō , the American Standard Revised Version "laid hold on," "laid fast hold of," Philippians 3:12 , Philippians 3:13; Ephesians 3:18 ). In John 1:5 , "The darkness apprehended it not," the Revised Version, margin gives "overcame not." See Comprehend .
