Greek word · G254

ἅλυσις

halysis

chain

A chain or fetter, especially the one binding a prisoner by the wrist, often to a soldier.

Appears 11 times in 10 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated November 01, 2026

What it means

ἅλυσις, -εως, ἡ

a chain, bond: Mark 5:3-4, Luke 8:29, Acts 12:6-7 21:33 28:20, Ephesians 6:20, 2 Timothy 1:16, Revelation 20:1.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

Range of meaning: A chain or fetter, especially the one binding a prisoner by the wrist, often to a soldier.
Against the English: Most modern versions write 'chains' (plural), which reads as a general figure of speech. The Greek singular 'my chain' (as in KJV, WEB and YLT) points to the actual physical object.
Used elsewhere in the period: Acts 28:16 and 28:20: in Rome Paul lived with a soldier guarding him and said, 'for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain'. Ephesians 6:20: 'an ambassador in a chain'.

Range of meaning: A chain, especially for binding prisoners (wrists, or wrist to guard). By extension, imprisonment itself.
Against the English: All versions say 'chains'. BSB's 'wrists' for 'hands' is a fair reading of how such chains were worn.
Used elsewhere in the period: Mark 5:3–4 (the demoniac's chains); Acts 21:33; 28:20 (Paul 'bound with this chain'); Ephesians 6:20 ('an ambassador in a chain'). Under Roman military custody a prisoner was chained to a soldier: Seneca, Epistles 5.7, says 'the same chain fastens the prisoner and the soldier.'

Range of meaning: A chain or fetter, especially one binding the wrists or linking a prisoner. It is distinct from desmos, a more general word for "bond" (Paul's usual word for his imprisonment, e.g. Eph 3:1; 4:1, "prisoner").
Against the English: The Greek is singular. KJV "bonds" and most modern "chains" use the plural, which suggests a prisoner loaded with shackles. YLT's "a chain" keeps the singular, which probably reflects the literal arrangement.
Used elsewhere in the period: In Acts 28:16, 20, Paul in Rome lives under guard with a soldier and says "I am wearing this chain" (tēn halysin tautēn). 2 Timothy 1:16 praises Onesiphorus for not being ashamed of Paul's "chain." Roman "military custody" (custodia militaris) commonly meant the prisoner was chained by the wrist to a soldier (see Rapske, Paul in Roman Custody). Some commentators, such as Markus Barth, suggest a play on the ornamental chains of office envoys could wear on state occasions. The evidence for this is thin and the idea is not needed to see the paradox.

Mark · 3

Mark 5:3 ἁλύσει with a chain

This man had been living in the tombs and could no longer be restrained, even with chains.
Mark 5:4 ἁλύσεσιν ἁλύσεις with chains, chains

Though he was often bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and shattered the shackles. Now there was no one with the strength to subdue him.

Luke · 1

Luke 8:29 ἁλύσεσιν with chains

For Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and been driven by the demon into solitary places.

Acts · 4

Acts 12:6 ἁλύσεσιν with chains

On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries standing guard at the entrance to the prison.

Here: Chains, probably fastened at the wrists (v.7 says they fell 'from his hands') and linked to the soldier on each side.
Acts 12:7 ἁλύσεις chains

Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists.

Here: The chains (plural) that bound Peter's wrists to the two soldiers sleeping on either side of him (v. 6).
Acts 21:33 ἁλύσεσιν with chains

The commander came up and arrested Paul, ordering that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.

Here: Metal chains, the ordinary restraint for a prisoner held by soldiers. Paul later calls himself an 'ambassador in a chain' (Eph 6:20) and mentions 'this chain' in Acts 28:20.
Acts 28:20 ἅλυσιν chain

So for this reason I have called to see you and speak with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”

Here: A chain, here very likely the light chain that linked a prisoner's wrist to the soldier guarding him (28:16). It is placed early in its clause for emphasis.

Ephesians · 1

Ephesians 6:20 ἁλύσει, a chain,

for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.

Here: Singular, "a chain." Most likely the literal chain of Roman custody that fastened a prisoner to a soldier. Set beside "ambassador," it makes a deliberate contradiction.

2 Timothy · 1

2 Timothy 1:16 ἅλυσίν chain

May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he has often refreshed me and was unashamed of my chains.

Here: Singular: 'my chain'. This is the actual chain of a Roman prisoner, often fastened to a guarding soldier, and it stands for Paul's whole disgraced condition. The word is placed before the verb for emphasis: 'my chain he was not ashamed of'.

Revelation · 1

Revelation 20:1 ἅλυσιν a chain

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the Abyss, holding in his hand a great chain.

Here: The kind of chain used to bind prisoners (compare Acts 12:6; 28:20). It anticipates 'he bound him' in 20:2.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.