SG Heritage Dictionary

Retain [Verb intransitive] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. To belong to; to depend on; as coldness mixed with a somewhat languid relish retaining to bitterness.

2. [Not in use. We now use pertain.]

3. To keep; to continue. [Not in use.]

Retain [Verb transitive] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. To hold or keep in possession; not to lose or part with or dismiss. The memory retains ideas which facts or arguments have suggested to the mind.

2. They did not like to retain God in their knowledge. Romans 1:28 .

3. To keep, as an associate; to keep from departure.

4. Whom I would have retained with me. Philemon 1:13 .

5. To keep back; to hold.

6. An executor may retain a debt due to him from the testator.

7. To hold from escape. Some substances retain heat much longer than others. Metals readily receive and transmit heat, but do not long retain it. Seek cloths that retain their color.

8. To keep in pay; to hire.

9. A Benedictine convent has now retained the most learned father of their order to write in its defense.

10. To engage; to employ by a fee paid; as, to retain a counselor.

Retain [Verb intransitive] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. To belong; to pertain.

2. To keep; to continue; to remain.

Retain [Verb transitive] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. To continue to hold; to keep in possession; not to lose, part with, or dismiss; to retrain from departure, escape, or the like.

2. To keep in pay; to employ by a preliminary fee paid; to hire; to engage; as, to retain a counselor.

3. To restrain; to prevent.

Retainable [Adjective] Webster's Dictionary 1913

Capable of being retained.

Retainal [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

The act of retaining; retention.

Retained [Participle passive] Webster's Dictionary 1828

Held; kept in possession; kept as an associate; kept in pay; kept from escape.

Retained [Imperfect tense and past participle] Webster's Dictionary 1913

of Retain

Retainer [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. One who retains; as an executor, who retains a debt due from the testator.

2. One who is kept in service; an attendant; as the retainers of the ancient princes and nobility.

3. An adherent; a dependant; a hanger on.

4. A servant, not a domestic, but occasionally attending and wearing his master's livery.

5. Among lawyers, a fee paid to engage a lawyer or counselor to maintain a cause.

6. The act of keeping dependents, or being in dependence.

Retainer [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. One who, or that which, retains.

2. One who is retained or kept in service; an attendant; an adherent; a hanger-on.

3. Hence, a servant, not a domestic, but occasionally attending and wearing his master's livery.

4. The act of a client by which he engages a lawyer or counselor to manage his cause.

5. The act of withholding what one has in his hands by virtue of some right.

6. A fee paid to engage a lawyer or counselor to maintain a cause, or to prevent his being employed by the opposing party in the case; -- called also retaining fee.

7. The act of keeping dependents, or the state of being in dependence.

Retaining [Participle present tense] Webster's Dictionary 1828

Keeping in possession; keeping as an associate; keeping from escape; hiring; engaging by a fee.

Retaining [Present participle and verbal noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

of Retain

Retainment [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

The act of retaining; retention.

King James Bible KJV Bible

Berean Standard Bible BSB Bible

16 KJV and 11 BSB verses contain “Retain” — showing the first 20. Show all 24 verses (searchable)

Leviticus 25:29

And if a man sell a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold; within a full year may he redeem it.

If a man sells a house in a walled city, he retains his right of redemption until a full year after its sale; during that year it may be redeemed.

Leviticus 25:48

After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him:

he retains the right of redemption after he has sold himself. One of his brothers may redeem him:

Numbers 36:7

So shall not the inheritance of the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe: for every one of the children of Israel shall keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.

No inheritance in Israel may be transferred from tribe to tribe, because each of the Israelites is to retain the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.

Numbers 36:9

Neither shall the inheritance remove from one tribe to another tribe; but every one of the tribes of the children of Israel shall keep himself to his own inheritance.

No inheritance may be transferred from one tribe to another, for each tribe of Israel must retain its inheritance.”

Judges 7:8

So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.

So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred men, who took charge of the provisions and rams’ horns of the others. And the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley.

Judges 19:4

And his father in law, the damsel’s father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.

His father-in-law, the girl’s father, persuaded him to stay, so he remained with him three days, eating, drinking, and lodging there.

Job 2:3

And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil. He still retains his integrity, even though you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.”

Job 2:9

Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

Then Job’s wife said to him, “Do you still retain your integrity? Curse God and die!”

Proverbs 3:18

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed.

Proverbs 4:4

He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.

Proverbs 11:16

A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.

A gracious woman attains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.

Ecclesiastes 8:8

There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.

As no man has power over the wind to contain it, so no one has authority over his day of death. As no one can be discharged in wartime, so wickedness will not release those who practice it.

Jeremiah 21:9

He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey.

Whoever stays in this city will die by sword and famine and plague, but whoever goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who besiege you will live; he will retain his life like a spoil of war.

Jeremiah 38:2

Thus saith the LORD, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live.

“This is what the LORD says: Whoever stays in this city will die by sword and famine and plague, but whoever surrenders to the Chaldeans will live; he will retain his life like a spoil of war, and he will live.

Ezekiel 18:16

Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,

He does not oppress another, or retain a pledge, or commit robbery. He gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.

Daniel 10:8

Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.

So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision. No strength remained in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless.

Daniel 10:16

And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.

And suddenly one with the likeness of a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and said to the one standing before me, “My lord, because of the vision, I am overcome with anguish, and I have no strength.

Daniel 11:6

And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king’s daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.

After some years they will form an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to seal the agreement. But his daughter will not retain her position of power, nor will his strength endure. At that time she will be given up, along with her royal escort and her father and the one who supported her.

Micah 7:18

Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance— who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?

John 20:23

Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”