Bible Dictionary: Chain

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Smith's Bible Dictionary

Chain

Chains were used,

As badges of office;
For ornament;
For confining prisoners.
the gold chain placed about Joseph's neck, (Genesis 41:42) and that promised to Daniel, (Daniel 5:7) are instances of the first use. In (Ezekiel 16:11) the chain is mentioned as the symbol of sovereignty.
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 8:21,26) Step-chains were attached to the ankle-rings. (Isaiah 3:16,18)
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; 21:33)

Easton's Bible Dictionary

(1.) A part of the insignia of office. A chain of gold was placed about Joseph's neck (Genesis 41:42); and one was promised to Daniel (5:7). It is used as a symbol of sovereignty (Ezek. 16:11). The breast-plate of the high-priest was fastened to the ephod by golden chains (Exodus 39:17, 21).

(2.) It was used as an ornament (Proverbs 1:9; Cant. 1:10). The Midianites adorned the necks of their camels with chains (Judges 8:21, 26).

(3.) 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).

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (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.

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

3. (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.

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 fasten, bind, or connect with a chain; to fasten or bind securely, as with a chain; as, to chain a bulldog.

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

9. (v. t.) To unite closely and strongly.

10. (v. t.) To measure with the chain.

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

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

CHAIN; CHAINS

chan, chanz: Chains were used by the Hebrews:

(1) As ornaments: 'ets`adhah, neTiphah, `anaq, rabhidh, sharsherah, rattoq. As ornaments for the person they were worn about the ankles (Numbers 31:50 Isaiah 3:20) and about the neck (Songs 4:9 Ezekiel 16:11). They were used as ornaments for the ephod and breastplate of the high priest (Exodus 28:14; Exodus 39:15). These chains were of pure gold. Solomon placed chains before the oracle in the temple (1 Kings 6:21), and these were also of pure gold. They were used as ornaments for graven images (Isaiah 40:19) and around the necks of prized animals. This was true of the camels taken from the Midianites by Gideon (Judges 8:21, 26).

(2) As marks of distinction: rabhidh, hamunekh (hamnikh): That seems to be true of the chain which Pharaoh placed about the neck of Joseph (Genesis 41:42), and of the one which the king of Babylon promised to the wise men (Daniel 5:7).

(3) As means of confining prisoners: nechosheth; halusis: A number of passages that were translated "chains" in the King James Version are translated "fetters" in the Revised Version (British and American) (see Judges 16:21 2 Samuel 3:34). Among the Romans the prisoner was chained to one or two guards (Acts 12:6, 7; Acts 21:33 Ephesians 6:20 2 Timothy 1:16). These chains were perhaps made of copper or an alloy of copper and tin.

(4) As a figurative expression: `anaq. The Psalmist likens pride to a chain about the neck (Psalm 73:6), and in Proverbs it is stated that the young man who hears the instruction of his father and forsakes not the law of his mother shall find that they are chains about his neck (Proverbs 1:9). In Revelation 20:1 the angel is described as descending with a great chain in his hand. According to the King James Version Peter speaks of the fallen angels as having been delivered into "chains of darkness" (2 Peter 2:4), seira, and Jude speaks of them as being reserved in "everlasting chains" (Jude 1:6, the Revised Version (British and American) "bonds"), desmos.

See also PUNISHMENTS.

A. W. Fortune

Greek

254. halusis -- a chain
... a chain. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: halusis Phonetic Spelling:
(hal'-oo-sis) Short Definition: a light chain Definition: a (light) chain ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/254.htm - 6k

4577. seira -- chain.
... seira. 4578 . chain. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: seira Phonetic
Spelling: (si-rah') Short Definition: a chain Definition: a chain. ... chain. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4577.htm - 6k

1199. desmos -- a band, bond
... a band, bond. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine; Noun, Neuter Transliteration: desmos
Phonetic Spelling: (des-mon') Short Definition: a bond, chain Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1199.htm - 6k

1299. diatasso -- to arrange thoroughly, ie to charge, appoint
... [Such an order also goes all the necessary proper "chain-of-command," which
further underlines its binding (authoritative) nature. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1299.htm - 8k

1394. dosis -- the act of giving, a gift
... 1394 (from 1325 , "give") -- gift, emphasizing the intention (aim) that motivates
the giving and the chain-reaction of giving-and-responding. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1394.htm - 6k

996. boetheia -- help
... help. From boethos; aid; specially, a rope or chain for frapping a vessel -- help.
see GREEK boethos. (boetheiais) -- 1 Occurrence. (boetheian) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/996.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

7569. rattoq -- a chain
... 7568, 7569. rattoq. 7570 . a chain. Transliteration: rattoq Phonetic
Spelling: (rat-toke') Short Definition: chain. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/7569.htm - 6k

8331. sharshah -- chain
... sharshah. 8332 . chain. Transliteration: sharshah Phonetic Spelling: (shar-shaw')
Short Definition: chain. Word Origin the same as sharsherah, qv. chain ...
/hebrew/8331.htm - 6k

7572. rattiqah -- chain
... 7571, 7572. rattiqah. 7573 . chain. Transliteration: rattiqah Phonetic Spelling:
(rat-tee-kaw') Short Definition: chain. ... chain From rathaq; a chain -- chain ...
/hebrew/7572.htm - 5k

7577. rethuqah -- a chain
... 7576, 7577. rethuqah. 7578 . a chain. Transliteration: rethuqah Phonetic
Spelling: (reth-oo-kaw') Short Definition: chains. ... chain. ...
/hebrew/7577.htm - 6k

8333. sharsherah -- chain
... 8332, 8333. sharsherah. 8334 . chain. Transliteration: sharsherah Phonetic
Spelling: (shar-sher-aw') Short Definition: chains. ... chain. ...
/hebrew/8333.htm - 6k

7242. rabid -- a chain (ornament for the neck)
... 7241, 7242. rabid. 7243 . a chain (ornament for the neck). Transliteration:
rabid Phonetic Spelling: (raw-beed') Short Definition: necklace. ... chain. ...
/hebrew/7242.htm - 6k

2002. hamnika -- a chain, necklace
... 2001b, 2002. hamnika. 2003 . a chain, necklace. Transliteration: hamnika
Phonetic Spelling: (ham-neek') Short Definition: necklace. ... chain. ...
/hebrew/2002.htm - 6k

5178. nechosheth -- copper, bronze
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition copper, bronze NASB Word Usage brass
(2), bronze (130), bronze chains (1), bronze fetters (2), chain (1), copper ...
/hebrew/5178.htm - 6k

685. etsadah -- an armlet
... bracelet, chain. A variation from ts'adah; properly, a step- chain; by analogy,
a bracelet -- bracelet, chain. see HEBREW ts'adah. 684, 685. etsadah. 686 . ...
/hebrew/685.htm - 6k

2397. chach -- hook, ring, fetter
... bracelet, chain, hook. Once (Ezek. 29:4) chachiy {khakh-ee'}; from the same as
chowach; a ring for the nose (or lips) -- bracelet, chain, hook. ...
/hebrew/2397.htm - 6k

Library

O Christ, to Break the Chain
... CANON FOR EASTER DAY BY ST. JOHN OF DAMASCUS O Christ, to break the chain. tr.,
John Brownlie ... O Christ, to break the chain. That held the sons of men enslaved,. ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the greek church/o christ to break the.htm

The Chain of Circumstance had Lengthened by Several Links Round ...
... XXXIII. The chain of circumstance had lengthened by several links round
the radiant life of Sylvie� The chain of circumstance ...
/.../corelli/the master-christian/xxxiii the chain of circumstance.htm

Links in the Chain. December 30.
... Links in the Chain. December 30. The heart will cry out at times, Oh! blissful
future! Oh, dreary present! But let us not repine. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/daily thoughts /links in the chain december.htm

There are one or Two More Things on which He Wishes Condemnation ...
... One is this: that these men say that the body is a prison, and like a chain round
the soul; and that they assert that the soul does not depart, but returns to ...
/.../40 there are one or.htm

The Seventh (And Last) vision "On Earth"
... (The Key and the Chain). b^1 xx. -2. Time. ... xx.1. And I saw an angel descending out
of heaven, having the key of the Abyss, and a great chain in his hand. ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the seventh and last vision.htm

The Prison-House.
... to him. I think we may believe that a yet closer link than that of the iron
chain at last united the prisoner and the guard. I think ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon lii the prison-house.htm

Spurgeon's Parable.
... He said: "There was once a tyrant who ordered one of his subjects into his presence,
and ordered him to make a chain. The poor blacksmith ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/spurgeons parable.htm

What Things were done by Agrippa at Jerusalem when He was Returned ...
... And for the golden chain which had been given him by Caius, of equal weight with
that iron chain wherewith his royal hands had been bound, he hung it up within ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 6 what things were.htm

Servants of Sin.
... There was a tyrant in the old times who ordered one of his subjects to
make an iron chain of a certain length, in a given time. ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon xlii servants of sin.htm

Proposition ii: There must have Existed from Eternity one ...
... [4] This matter has been well illustrated by a late able writer.--"Suppose a chain
hung down out of the heavens, from an unknown height; and, though every link ...
/.../ii proposition ii there must.htm

Thesaurus

Chain (21 Occurrences)
... A chain of gold was placed about Joseph's neck (Genesis 41:42); and one was promised
to Daniel (5:7). It is used as a symbol of sovereignty (Ezek. 16:11). ...
/c/chain.htm - 18k

Neck-chain (1 Occurrence)
Neck-chain. Neck, Neck-chain. Necked . Multi-Version Concordance
Neck-chain (1 Occurrence). Psalms 73:6 Therefore pride ...
/n/neck-chain.htm - 6k

Chain-ornaments (1 Occurrence)
Chain-ornaments. Chaining, Chain-ornaments. Chains . Multi-Version
Concordance Chain-ornaments (1 Occurrence). Proverbs ...
/c/chain-ornaments.htm - 6k

Chain-work (1 Occurrence)
Chain-work. Chainwork, Chain-work. Chair . Multi-Version Concordance
Chain-work (1 Occurrence). 1 Kings 7:17 There were ...
/c/chain-work.htm - 6k

Ankle-chain
Ankle-chain. Anklechain, Ankle-chain. Ankle-chains . Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia ANKLET; ANKLE-CHAIN. an'-klet, an ...
/a/ankle-chain.htm - 7k

Necklace (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A string of beads, etc., or any continuous
band or chain, worn around the neck as an ornament. ...
/n/necklace.htm - 10k

Link (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A torch made of tow and pitch, or the like.
2. (n.) A single ring or division of a chain. ... Cf. Chain, n., 4. ...
/l/link.htm - 8k

Chainwork (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Work looped or linked after the manner of a chain;
chain stitch work. Multi-Version Concordance Chainwork (1 Occurrence). ...
/c/chainwork.htm - 6k

Fetter (4 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A chain or shackle for the feet; a chain by which an animal is confined
by the foot, either made fast or disabled from free and rapid motion; a bond; a ...
/f/fetter.htm - 8k

Chains (100 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia CHAIN; CHAINS. chan, chanz: Chains were
used by the Hebrews: (1) As ornaments: 'ets`adhah, neTiphah ...
/c/chains.htm - 39k

Bible Concordance

Chain (21 Occurrences)

Mark 5:3 He lived in the tombs. Nobody could bind him any more, not even with chains,
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 13:16 And this woman, daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan had bound for no less than eighteen years, was she not to be loosed from this chain because it is the Sabbath day?"
(WEY)

Acts 28:20 For this cause therefore I asked to see you and to speak with you. For because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ephesians 6:20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
(Root in WEB WEY ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Timothy 1:16 May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 20:1 I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 41:42 Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it on Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in robes of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Numbers 31:50 We have therefore brought an oblation for the LORD, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before the LORD.
(Root in KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT)

1 Kings 7:17 There were nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for the capitals which were on the top of the pillars; seven for the one capital, and seven for the other capital.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 3:5 The greater house he made a ceiling with fir wood, which he overlaid with fine gold, and ornamented it with palm trees and chains.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 73:6 Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS)

Proverbs 1:9 for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NIV)

Song of Songs 4:9 You have ravished my heart, my sister, my bride. You have ravished my heart with one of your eyes, with one chain of your neck.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT)

Song of Songs 7:1 How beautiful are thy feet in sandals, O prince's daughter! Thy rounded thighs are like jewels, The work of the hands of a skilful workman.
(See JPS)

Isaiah 51:14 The prisoner, bent under his chain, will quickly be made free, and will not go down into the underworld, and his bread will not come to an end.
(BBE)

Lamentations 3:7 He has walled me about, that I can't go forth; he has made my chain heavy.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 7:23 Make the chain; for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Ezekiel 16:11 I decked you with ornaments, and I put bracelets on your hands, and a chain on your neck.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Daniel 5:7 The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whoever shall read this writing, and show me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS RSV NIV)

Daniel 5:16 But I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations, and dissolve doubts; now if you can read the writing, and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS RSV NIV)

Daniel 5:29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Chain

Chain Letters

Related Terms

Neck-chain (1 Occurrence)

Chain-ornaments (1 Occurrence)

Chain-work (1 Occurrence)

Ankle-chain

Necklace (9 Occurrences)

Link (2 Occurrences)

Chainwork (1 Occurrence)

Fetter (4 Occurrences)