### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **katakleíō**, represented by `{{G2623}}`, means to **shut up** or incarcerate. It is a compound word derived from κατά and κλείω, literally meaning to shut down, as in a dungeon. It appears 3 times across 2 unique verses, consistently referring to the act of imprisonment as a tool of authority.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{G2623}}` is used to describe specific acts of persecution. In Luke's Gospel, it is recorded that Herod "added yet this above all, that he **shut up** John in prison" [[Luke 3:20]], demonstrating the use of incarceration by a secular ruler to silence a prophet. Similarly, the Apostle Paul recounts his past actions against the church, stating that he **shut up** many of the saints in prison with authority from the chief priests [[Acts 26:10]], linking the act to official religious opposition.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide a fuller context for the actions associated with `{{G2623}}`:
* `{{G5438}}` **phylakḗ** (a guarding or... prison): This is the word for the prison itself, the location where individuals are **shut up**. It appears alongside `{{G2623}}` in both [[Luke 3:20]] and [[Acts 26:10]]. In other contexts, it can refer to a "cage" or "hold" [[Revelation 18:2]], emphasizing confinement.
* `{{G337}}` **anairéō** (to take away violently, i.e. abolish, murder): This word describes what can follow imprisonment. Paul notes that after he shut up the saints, he gave his vote when they were **put to death** [[Acts 26:10]], connecting incarceration directly to martyrdom.
* `{{G2702}}` **kataphérō** (to bear down... specially, to cast a vote): In [[Acts 26:10]], Paul uses this word to describe how he "gave" his voice against the saints he had imprisoned, indicating his active participation in their condemnation.
### Theological Significance
The use of `{{G2623}}` carries significant weight, highlighting key themes within the biblical text.
* **A Tool of Persecution:** The word is exclusively used to describe the imprisonment of God's faithful messengers, including John the Baptist and the early saints, by hostile powers.
* **The Consequence of Faithfulness:** Being **shut up** is presented as a direct result of proclaiming the truth. John was imprisoned by Herod, and the saints were imprisoned for their faith in Jerusalem.
* **An Act of Authority:** In both documented cases, the act of using `{{G2623}}` is carried out by individuals with official power—a king in [[Luke 3:20]] and those acting with the authority of the chief priests in [[Acts 26:10]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{G2623}}` is a precise verb that signifies more than just closing a door; it means to incarcerate or imprison a person. Its limited but powerful use in Scripture firmly places it within the context of persecution. It illustrates how secular and religious authorities used imprisonment as a weapon to suppress and punish the righteous, making it a key term in understanding the opposition faced by John the Baptist and the early church.
TRV