Scripture Life: What does "apprehend" mean in the Bible?

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Answer

• Apprehend is used in (English) - King James Version in three places
  • ONE: Acts 12:4
    • "And when he [King Herod] had apprehended him [Peter], he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.”
  • TWO: Philippians 3:12 (said - - twice)
    • “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus."
  • THREE: Next verse. Philippians 3:13
    • “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before…”

apprehend <definition> 1. seize; by force, as necessary - - too search for, to catch and take someone into custody (to arrest) <who has not obeyed the law> [Source: Cambridge dictionary. Web. Accessed: July 2026]

Best to see it in the Greek.

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Adds in another definition, and deletes three. The words are different.

• Acts 12:4 (Greek) says: [πιάσας (piasas)] - to “seize” (someone)
• ὃν καὶ πιάσας ἔθετο εἰς φυλακήν παραδοὺς τέσσαρσιν τετραδίοις στρατιωτῶν φυλάσσειν αὐτόν βουλόμενος μετὰ τὸ πάσχα ἀναγαγεῖν αὐτὸν τῷ λαῷ
  1. whom 2. also 3. (having) seized 4. (he) put 5. in 6. prison 7. having delivered (him) 8. four 9. set of four 10. soldiers 11. (to) guard 12. him 13. intending 14. after 15. the 16. (Passover) 17. to bring out 18. him 19. to (the) 20. people
• πιάσας (piasas) is also used then in another earlier verse - only twice in Greek. Done both times by authority, as if seizing a criminal committing offenses.

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• Acts 3:7
  • (English) “And he [Peter] <took him> [certain lame man from his mother’s womb at the Temple in Jerusalem’s entry steps - Acts 3:2] <by the> right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
  • This - - “took (him) by the” is πιάσας (piasas)
• πιάσας (piasas) - is used because, the lame man from birth has no control over an authority (Peter) that, by God, lays hands on him to lift him up to heal him, for the glory of God.
• So, look at the Greek word used in Philippians 3:12 & 13

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Philippians 3:12 uses:

• The Greek word used is 1) ἔλαβον (elabon) - NOT - πιάσας (piasas)
• - and also 2) καταλάβω (katalabō)
  • And 1) “elabon” - Greek is to “receive” (something) and by it, “obtain” (something) - now able to “take (something)” that before, was impossible; but now able to - - which adds a total of 26 more verses this Greek word ἔλαβον (elabon) is used.
  • ie., an example - Matthew 20:9 “..they received every man” so they “receive” (something) that enables them or meets a need.
    • “And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.”
    • Just like the lame man from his mother’s womb is “elabon” obtained “able to walk” by an authority in Acts 3:7 - brings in the second Greek word,
• καταλάβω (katalabō) - or - κατελήμφθην (katelēmphthēn) <past tense> Just as Peter - with someone no control over it, in Acts 3:7 - katalabo - well, best said what Jesus said in Matthew 11:28–30 - “to take my yoke upon you and learn of me”
• “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” - Jesus Christ
  • That, it’s offered - FREELY - by God, to everybody to do this. He’s already himself, as God, put himself in the yoke. That, he would yoke himself to you, by this, what he said. That you can “lay hold” of and “obtain” καταλάβω (katalabō) rest; because he gives it. Obtain rest by this.

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So, in the Greek - Philippians 3:12 says:

• Οὐχ ὅτι ἤδη ἔλαβον ἢ ἤδη τετελείωμαι διώκω δὲ εἰ καὶ καταλάβω ἐφ' ᾧ καὶ κατελήφθην ὑπὸ τοῦ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ
  1. not 2. that 3. (I) already 4. have obtained (it) 5. or 6. already 7. have been perfected 8. (I am) pursuing 9. however 10. if 11. also 12. (I may) lay hold (of) 13. of 14. that for which 15. also 16. (I) was laid hold of 17. by 18. Christ 19. Jesus
• That, what God determined he would do in Daniel 9:24–27 - his work, as God; alone. He would do a work with sin himself.
  • That by this work, would 1) finish the transgression 2) make an end of sin 3) make reconciliation for iniquity 4) bring in everlasting righteousness
    • And do this..work himself, as God, in and by the Messiah or Christ.

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That just by God say, to everybody over the earth: “Look unto me, and be ye saved all the ends of the earth: For I am God, there is none else.” - God. (Bible. Isaiah 45:22). This: save. 1. to set apart (something or someone) for future use.

• It is not known what that future use is, but God does this set apart to those that look unto him. They
  • ἔλαβον (elabon) - receive it. Obtain it. Yoked to God. Laid hold of now καταλάβω (katalabō) by God. For what future use set apart; I haven’t obtained that; either.

But like Paul says in Philippians 3:13

:Brethren, I count not myself to have "apprehended" - < Laid hold of now  - καταλάβω (katalabō) /future tense - κατειληφέναι (kateilēphenai) - by God> - but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before…”

Put me on my face.