Custody, in a biblical context, often refers to the act of guarding, keeping, or protecting something or someone. This concept is seen throughout Scripture in various forms, including the safeguarding of individuals, the protection of sacred objects, and the spiritual responsibility entrusted to believers.

Custody of Individuals

In the Old Testament, custody frequently pertains to the physical guarding of individuals. For example, in Genesis 40:3, Joseph is placed in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, along with Pharaoh's cupbearer and baker: "So he imprisoned them in the house of the captain of the guard, the same prison where Joseph was confined." This instance highlights the use of custody as a means of detaining individuals for legal or protective reasons.

Similarly, in Acts 12:4, the New Testament recounts the imprisonment of Peter: "When he had seized him, he put him in prison, handing him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover." Here, custody is used to prevent Peter's escape and to ensure he remains under control until his trial.

Custody of Sacred Objects

The concept of custody also extends to the protection of sacred objects and places. In Numbers 3:28, the Levites are given the responsibility of the custody of the tabernacle: "The number of all the males a month old or more was 8,600. They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary." This duty underscores the importance of safeguarding the holy items and spaces dedicated to the worship of God.

Furthermore, in 2 Kings 22:4, King Josiah commands the high priest Hilkiah to take custody of the funds collected for temple repairs: "Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him count the money that has been brought into the house of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people." This passage illustrates the trust and responsibility placed upon individuals to manage and protect resources intended for God's service.

Spiritual Custody

Beyond physical and material custody, Scripture also speaks to the spiritual custody entrusted to believers. In 1 Timothy 6:20, Paul exhorts Timothy to guard what has been entrusted to him: "O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called 'knowledge.'" This charge emphasizes the importance of preserving the purity of the faith and the teachings of the Gospel.

Additionally, in 2 Timothy 1:14, Paul again urges Timothy to keep the faith: "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you; guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us." This highlights the believer's responsibility to maintain the integrity of the Christian doctrine and to rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength.

Custody in the Context of Stewardship

Custody in the Bible is often linked with the broader concept of stewardship. Believers are called to be faithful stewards of all that God has entrusted to them, whether it be their time, talents, resources, or spiritual gifts. In 1 Peter 4:10, the apostle Peter writes, "As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another." This passage underscores the responsibility of Christians to manage and utilize their God-given gifts for the benefit of others and the glory of God.

In summary, custody in the biblical sense encompasses the protection and management of individuals, sacred objects, and spiritual truths. It is a theme that underscores the importance of responsibility, faithfulness, and stewardship in the life of a believer.1. (n.) A keeping or guarding; care, watch, inspection, for keeping, preservation, or security.

2. (n.) Judicial or penal safe-keeping.

3. (n.) State of being guarded and watched to prevent escape; restraint of liberty; confinement; imprisonment.

CUSTODY

kus'-to-di (yadh, pequddah): In Esther 2:3, 8 bis. 14, yadh, "the hand," is translated "Custody": pequddah, "numbering," "chanrge"; occurs in Numbers 3:36 the Revised Version (British and American) "the appointed charge," margin, Hebrew "the office of the charge."

5083. tereo -- to watch over, to guard
... word teros (a guard) Definition to watch over, to guard NASB Word Usage continue
(1), guard (1), guards (1), heed (2), heeds (1), held in custody (1), keep (27 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5083.htm - 10k

4912. sunecho -- to hold together, to hold fast, pass. to be ...
... controls (1), covered (1), crowding (1), devoting...completely (1), distressed
(1), gripped (1), hard-pressed (1), hem (1), holding...in custody (1), suffering ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4912.htm - 7k

5432. phroureo -- to guard
... Word Origin from phrouros (a guard) Definition to guard NASB Word Usage guard (1),
guarding (1), kept in custody (1), protected (1). to guard, protect. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5432.htm - 7k

5439. phulakizo -- to imprison
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: phulakizo Phonetic Spelling: (foo-lak-id'-
zo) Short Definition: I imprison Definition: I imprison, deliver into custody. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5439.htm - 6k

2902. krateo -- to be strong, rule
... holding fast (1), holds (1), laid hold (1), observe (1), observing (1), prevented
(1), retain (1), retained (1), seize (8), seized (7), take custody (1), take ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2902.htm - 9k

3860. paradidomi -- to hand over, to give or deliver over, to ...
... 9), handed...over (1), handed down (4), handed over (4), hands (1), permits (1),
put (1), putting (1), risked (1), surrender (1), taken into custody (2), turn ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3860.htm - 11k

2892. koustodia -- a guard
... guard, sentry. Of Latin origin; "custody", ie A Roman sentry -- watch. (koustodian) --
1 Occurrence. (koustodias) -- 2 Occurrences. 2891, 2892. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2892.htm - 6k

6486. pequddah -- oversight, mustering, visitation, store
... 11), responsibility (2), stored (1). account, that have the charge, custody,
that which. Feminine passive participle of paqad; visitation ...
/hebrew/6486.htm - 6k

3027. yad -- hand
... charge (7), close* (1), coast (1), command (3), compulsion* (3), consecrate* (3),
consecrated* (4), control (1), courage* (1), creditor* (1), custody (4), debt ...
/hebrew/3027.htm - 8k

4929. mishmar -- place of confinement, jail, prison, guard, watch ...
... Word Origin from shamar Definition place of confinement, jail, prison, guard, watch,
observance NASB Word Usage confinement (4), custody (2), diligence (1 ...
/hebrew/4929.htm - 6k

4931. mishmereth -- a guard, watch, charge, function
... watch. Fem. Of mishmar; watch, ie The act (custody), or (concr.) The sentry,
the post; obj. Preservation, or (concr.) Safe; fig. ...
/hebrew/4931.htm - 6k

Fragment v. Nor Will the Diligence and Care of that Servant be ...
... Fragment V. Nor will the diligence and care of that servant be less who
has the custody? Nor will the diligence and care of that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/theonas/epistle of phileas/fragment v nor will the.htm

Preparations for the Invasion of Greece.
... The creditors, in fact, do not desire that it should be, as owners of property always
prefer a safe annual income from it to the custody of the principal; and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/xerxes/chapter iv preparations for the.htm

Of the Need for Some Protest against the Psychics and their Self ...
... of it,"to suffer there not penalty, but discipline, and not the world's tortures,
but his own habitual observances; and to go forth out of custody to (the ...
/.../on fasting in opposition to the psychics/chapter xiiof the need for.htm

The Mourner's Comfort.
... of all worlds! Is death to hold that prey? Is the grave to retain in gloomy
custody that immaculate frame? Is the living temple ...
/.../macduff/memories of bethany/viii the mourners comfort.htm

Calamities Suffered by the People after the Expulsion of John. The ...
... by the people as one who had been hired for this plot, and led to the prefect; but
John sent some bishops of his party to free him from custody before he had ...
/.../chapter xxi calamities suffered by the.htm

How the Samaritans Made a Tumult and Pilate Destroyed Many of Them ...
... were bought and sold, and gave them leave to have the care of the high priest's
vestments, with all their ornaments, and to have them under the custody of the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 4 how the samaritans.htm

Epistle v. To Cyriacus, Bishop.
... that I speak, in all that I say, against the proud conduct of certain persons, still,
through the bounty of Almighty God, never relinquish custody of inward ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle v to cyriacus bishop.htm

Whether the Essence of Theft Consists in Taking Another's Thing ...
... belongs to one person simply, from belonging to another in some respect: thus a
deposit belongs simply to the depositor, but with regard to its custody it is ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the essence of theft.htm

John Chapter xi. Jan-54
... And there is a difference as to the kind of custody one may be placed in,
who is afterwards to be taken before the judge. For the ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xlix john chapter xi.htm

Sermons on the Card.
... condition, that he shall take upon him to be the chief captain and defender of his
town of Calais, and to be true and faithful to him in the custody of the same ...
/.../latimer/sermons on the card and other discourses/sermons on the card.htm

Custody (27 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CUSTODY. kus'-to-di (yadh, pequddah): In Esther
2:3, 8 bis. ... Multi-Version Concordance Custody (27 Occurrences). ...
/c/custody.htm - 15k

Jail (15 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A kind of prison; a building for the confinement of persons held in lawful
custody, especially for minor offenses or with reference to some future ...
/j/jail.htm - 10k

Bail (1 Occurrence)
... 5. (vt) To set free, or deliver from arrest, or out of custody, on the undertaking
of some other person or persons that he or they will be responsible for the ...
/b/bail.htm - 8k

Hegai (3 Occurrences)
... 15), and heghe', Hege (Esther 2:3)): One of the officers of the Persian king Ahasuerus;
a chamberlain or eunuch (keeper of women), into whose custody the "fair ...
/h/hegai.htm - 8k

Confinement (6 Occurrences)
... Confinement (6 Occurrences). Genesis 40:3 He put them in custody in the house of
the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound. ...
/c/confinement.htm - 8k

Citadel (20 Occurrences)
... provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the beautiful young
virgins to the citadel of Susa, to the women's house, to the custody of Hegai ...
/c/citadel.htm - 13k

Arrested (24 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Mark 1:14 Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee,
preaching the Good News of the Kingdom of God, (See RSV). ...
/a/arrested.htm - 13k

Susa (20 Occurrences)
... provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the beautiful young
virgins to the citadel of Susa, to the women's house, to the custody of Hegai ...
/s/susa.htm - 13k

Charge (379 Occurrences)
... 18. (n.) A person or thing committed or entrusted to the care, custody,
or management of another; a trust. 19. (vt) Custody or care ...
/c/charge.htm - 41k

Castle (26 Occurrences)
... of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan
the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hegai the ...
/c/castle.htm - 15k

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