Chain

King James Dictionary

Chain n.

1. A series of links or rings connected, or fitted into one another, usually made of some kind of metal, as a chain of gold, or of iron but the word is not restricted to any particular kind of material. It is used often for an ornament about the person. 2. That which binds a real chain that which restrains, confines, or fetters a bond.

If God spared not the angels that sinned, but delivered them into chains of darkness.  2 Peter 2 .

3. Bondage affliction.

He hath made my chain heavy.  Lamentations 3 .

4. Bondage slavery.

In despotism the people sleep soundly in their chains.

5. Ornament.  Proverbs 1:9 . 6. A series of things linked together a series of things connected or following in succession as a chain of causes, of ideas, or events a chain of being. 7. A range, or line of things connected, as a chain of mountains. 8. A series of links, forming an instrument to measure land. 9. A string of twisted wire, or something similar, to hang a watch on, and for other purposes. 10. In France, a measure of wood for fuel, and various commodities, of various length. 11. In ship-building, chains are strong links or plates of iron, bolted at the lower end to the ships side, used to contain the blocks called dead eyes, by which the shrouds of the mast are extended. 12. The warp in weaving, as in French.

Chain- ump. This consists of a long chain, equipped with a sufficient number of valves, moving on two wheels, one above the other below, passing downward through a wooden tube and returning through another. It is managed by a long winch, on which several men may be employed at once.

Chain-shot, two balls connected by a chain, and used to cut down masts, or cut away shrouds and rigging.

Chain-wales of a ship, broad and thick planks projecting from a ships side, abreast of and behind the masts, for the purpose of extending the shrouds, for better supporting the masts, and preventing the shrouds from damaging the gunwale.

Chain-work, work consisting of threads, cords and the like, linked together in the form of a chain as lineal chaining or tambour work, reticulation or net work, &c.

Top-chain, on board a ship, a chain to sling the sail-yards in time of battle, to prevent their falling, when the ropes that support them are shot away.

CHAIN,

1. To fasten, bind or connect with a chain to fasten or bind with any thing in the manner of a chain. 2. To enslave to keep in slavery.

And which more blest? Who chaind his country, say

Or he whose virtue sighed to lose a day?

3. To guard with a chain, as a harbor or passage. 4. To unite to form chain-work.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Of gold on Joseph's neck ( Genesis 41:42). Was the badge of a judge, and a prime minister, in Egypt. Judges wore the image of Thmei, or truth, attached from their neck (compare  Proverbs 1:9). Daniel was given by Belshazzar a chain of gold about his neck, a token of investiture as "the third ruler in the kingdom" of Babylon ( Daniel 5:7;  Daniel 5:29). Secondly, Chares , besides the necklace, were used for ornament, hanging down to the waist ( Ezekiel 16:11;  Isaiah 3:19).

"Chains," Hanetiphot , from Naataph , to drop; pendants about the neck, dropping on the breast. Some had ornamental miniature lunettes attached ( Isaiah 3:18), "round tires like the moon," such as the Midianites adorned their camels' necks with ( Judges 8:21-26; compare  Numbers 31:50); the Chumarah or crescent is still worn in front of the headdress in western Asia; ( Isaiah 3:20) "tablets" or scentbottles, lit. houses of the breath or soul, were often suspended by chains. "Tinkling ornaments," i.e. step chains attached to ankle rings, shortened the step so as to give a tripping (margin) gait ( Isaiah 3:16;  Isaiah 3:18).

Prisoners were chained to one or even two guards, by a chain from each hand, as Peter ( Acts 12:6-7). Paul's right hand was chained to the soldier's left ( Acts 28:20). Originally he was bound with two chains ( Acts 21:33). Joseph's "feet they hurt with fetters, he was laid in (margin his soul, came into) iron," i.e. his soul suffered more pain than even the fetters caused to his body. As the Hebrew verb is feminine, and "the iron" masculine, the Prayer-Book version, "the iron entered into his soul," is wrong ( Psalms 105:18).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Chain. Chains were used,

1. As Badges Of Office ; The gold chain placed about Joseph's neck,  Genesis 41:42, and that promised to Daniel,  Daniel 5:7, are instances of this first use. In  Ezekiel 16:11, the chain is mentioned as the symbol of sovereignty.

2. For Ornaments ; Chains for ornamental purposes were worn by men as well as women.  Proverbs 1:9.  Judith 10:4. The Midianites adorned the necks of their camels with chains.  Judges 8:21;  Judges 8:26. Step-chains were attached to the ankle-rings.  Isaiah 3:16;  Isaiah 3:18.

3. For Confining Prisoners ; The means adopted for confining prisoners among the Jews were fetters similar to our handcuffs.  Judges 16:21;  2 Samuel 3:34;  2 Kings 25:7;  Jeremiah 39:7. Among the Romans, the prisoner was handcuffed to his guard, and occasionally to two guards.  Acts 12:6-7;  Acts 21:33.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Ἅλυσις (Strong'S #254 — Noun Feminine — halusis — hal'-oo-sis )

denotes "a chain or bond for binding the body, or any part of it (the hands or feet)." Some derive the word from a, negative, and luo, "to loose," i.e., "not to be loosed;" others from a root connected with a word signifying "to restrain." It is used in  Mark 5:3,4;  Luke 8:29;  Acts 12:6,7;  21:33;  28:20;  Ephesians 6:20;  2—Timothy 1:16;  Revelation 20:1 . See Bond.

 2—Peter 2:4 Jude 1:6Bond.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): (n.) That which confines, fetters, or secures, as a chain; a bond; as, the chains of habit.

(2): (n.) A series of things linked together; or a series of things connected and following each other in succession; as, a chain of mountains; a chain of events or ideas.

(3): (n.) A series of links or rings, usually of metal, connected, or fitted into one another, used for various purposes, as of support, of restraint, of ornament, of the exertion and transmission of mechanical power, etc.

(4): (n.) An instrument which consists of links and is used in measuring land.

(5): (n.) Iron links bolted to the side of a vessel to bold the dead-eyes connected with the shrouds; also, the channels.

(6): (n.) The warp threads of a web.

(7): (v. t.) To protect by drawing a chain across, as a harbor.

(8): (v. t.) To fasten, bind, or connect with a chain; to fasten or bind securely, as with a chain; as, to chain a bulldog.

(9): (v. t.) To keep in slavery; to enslave.

(10): (v. t.) To unite closely and strongly.

(11): (v. t.) To measure with the chain.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Chains were also used as fetters wherewith prisoners were bound ( Judges 16:21;  2 Samuel 3:34;  2 Kings 25:7;  Jeremiah 39:7 ). Paul was in this manner bound to a Roman soldier ( Acts 28:20;  Ephesians 6:20;  2 Timothy 1:16 ). Sometimes, for the sake of greater security, the prisoner was attached by two chains to two soldiers, as in the case of Peter ( Acts 12:6 ).

Copyright Statement These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., DD Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

Bibliography Information Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Chain'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/c/chain.html. 1897.

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Proverbs 1:9 (a) In this passage, wisdom, knowledge, and the law of GOD are compared to three golden links which adorn those who possess them.

 Lamentations 3:7 (b) Jeremiah compares his many sorrows to links in a chain which weigh him down and prevent his progress.

 Ezekiel 7:23 (b) The combination of circumstances and conditions which the Lord would bring upon Israel in punishment are compared to links in a chain to bind His people.

 Revelation 20:1 (b) GOD's commandments restrict, prohibit, and defeat Satan and are compared to links that form a chain for his utter punishment. (See2Pe  2:4;  Judges 1:6).

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

CHAIN is used in two different senses. 1 . Chains for securing prisoners are denoted by a variety of words in OT and NT, which are also rendered by ‘ bonds ’ or ‘fetters,’ although the monuments show that ropes were more generally used for this purpose. 2 . A chain of precious metal was worn as a sign of rank, as by Joseph and Daniel, or purely as an ornament. See Ornaments, § 2 .

A. R. S. Kennedy.

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

See Chains

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(represented by several Hebrews and Gr. terms). Chains of different metals appear to have been used by the ancients for various purposes, similar to those of modern times.

1. As A Badge Of Office. — The gold chain ( רָבַיד , Rabid ´ ) placed about Joseph's neck ( Genesis 41:42), and that promised to Daniel ( Daniel 5:7, named הִמְנַיךְ , Hamnik ´ ), are instances of the first use (comp.  1 Esdras 3:6). In Egypt it was one of the insignia of a judge, who wore a jeweled image of Thmei or Truth attached to it (Wilkinson's Anc. Egypt. 2:26); it was also worn by the prime minister. In Persia it was considered not only a mark of royal favor (Xenophon, Anab. 1:2, § 27), but a token of investiture (Daniel l. c.; Morier's Second Journey, p. 93). In  Ezekiel 16:11, the chain is mentioned as the symbol of sovereignty. The breastplate of the high-priest was in like manner fastened to the ephod with golden chains ( Exodus 39:16;  Exodus 39:21). (See Attire).

2. Chains for Ornamental Purposes (comp.  Judith 10:4) were worn by men as well as women in many countries both of Europe (Smith's Dict. Of Class. Ant. s.v. Torques) and Asia (Wilkinson, 3:375), and probably this was the case among the Hebrews ( Proverbs 1:9). The necklace ( עֲנָק , anak ´ ) consisted of pearls, corals, etc., threaded on a string; the beads were called חֲרוּזַים , Charuzim ´ , that is, Perforated ( Song of Solomon 1:10, "chains," where a' of gold" is interpolated). Besides the necklace, other chains were worn ( Judith 10:4) hanging down as far as the waist, or even lower. Some were adorned with pieces of metal, shaped in the form of the moon, named שִׁהֲרֹנַים (saharonim ´ , Sept. Μήνισκοι ; Vulg. Lunulae ; A. V. round tires like the moon;  Isaiah 3:18); a similar ornament, the Hil '''''Â''''' L'' still exists in Egypt (Lane's Modern Egyptians, App. A.). The Midianites adorned the necks of their camels with such ( Judges 8:21;  Judges 8:26); the Arabs still use a similar ornament (Wellsted, 1:301). To other chains were suspended various trinkets, as scent-bottles, הִנֶּפֶשׁ בָּתֵּי (bottey ´ han-ne ´ phesh, tablets or Houses Of The Soul,  Isaiah 3:20), and mirrors, גַּלְיוֹנַים (gilyonim ´ ,  Isaiah 3:23). Step-Chains, צְעָדוֹת Tse Ä Doth ´ , Tinkling Ornaments), were attached to the ankle-rings, which shortened the step and produced a mincing gait ( Isaiah 3:16;  Isaiah 3:18). (See Anklet); (See Necklace). The particular female ornaments thus rendered in  Isaiah 3:19 ( נְטַפוֹת , Net'Photh', Sept. Κάθεμα , Vulg. Torques), signify Drops or pendants to earrings or other articles of jewelry. (See Earring).

3. The means adopted for Confining Prisoners among the Jews were either manacles or fetters of copper or iron, similar to our handcuffs, נְחֻשְׁתִּיַם (Nechushta ´ Yim, lit. Two Brasses, as though made in halves), fastened on the wrists and ankles, and attached to each other by a chain ( Judges 16:21;  2 Samuel 3:34;  2 Kings 25:7;  Jeremiah 39:7). It was a custom among the lRomans likewise to fasten a prisoner with a light chain to the soldier who was appointed to guard him. One end of it was attached to the right hand of the prisoner, and the other to the left hand of the soldier. This is the Chain by which Paul was so often bound, and to which he repeatedly alludes ( Acts 28:20;  Ephesians 6:20;  2 Timothy 1:16). When the utmost security was desired, the prisoner was attached by two chains to two soldiers, as was the case with Peter ( Acts 12:6; Walch, De Vinculis Petri, Jen. 1758). (See Smith's Dict. Of Class Antiq. s.v. Catena.) (See Fetter).

Idols, it appears, were fixed in their shrines with chains ( Isaiah 40:19). Pride is Emblematically termed a chain which keeps men under its power ( Psalms 73:6; comp.  1 Esdras 1:40; Wisd. 17:37;  Sirach 6:24;  Sirach 6:29).

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Chains of gold appear to have been as much used among the Hebrews, for ornament or official distinction, as they are among ourselves at the present day. The earliest mention of them occurs in , where we are told that a chain of gold formed a part of the investiture of Joseph in the high office to which he was raised in Egypt; a later instance occurs in , from which we learn that a golden chain was part of a dress of honor at Babylon. In Egypt the judges wore chains of gold, to which was attached a jeweled figure of Thmei, or Truth; and in that country similar chains were also worn as ornaments by the women. It is not, however, necessary to suppose that the Hebrews derived this custom from the Egyptians; for the fact that chains are mentioned among the spoil of the Midianites shows that they were in use among people whose condition of life more nearly resembled that of the Israelites before they obtained possession of Canaan. It would seem that chains were worn both by men and women (; ), and we find them enumerated among the ornaments of brides (; ).

It was a custom among the Romans to fasten a prisoner with a light chain to the soldier who was appointed to guard him. One end of it was attached to the right hand of the prisoner, and the other to the left hand of the soldier. This is the chain by which Paul was so often bound, and to which he repeatedly alludes (; ; ). When the utmost security was desired, the prisoner was attached by two chains to two soldiers, as was the case with Peter ().