Lexical Definition

‎ἐπέχω‎ epéchō (ep-ekh'-o) to hold fast/out ^G:V
from ‎ἐπί‎ and ‎ἔχω‎

give (take) heed unto, hold forth, mark, stay.

• to hold upon, i.e. (by implication) to retain
• (by extension) to detain
• (with implication, of ‎νοῦς‎) to pay attention to

Abbott-Smith

ἐπ-έχω [in LXX for חָדַל, etc.; also Si 8:1 31(34):2, II Mac 5:25 9:25, al. ;]
1. to hold upon.
2. Like παρέχω (as in Hom., al.), to hold out, offer: λόγον ζωῆς, Phl 2:16.
3. to hold or direct towards, Sc.νοῦν;
(a) absol., to intend, purpose;
(b) to observe, give attention to (v. MM, Exp., xiv): seq. πῶς, Lk 14:7; c. dat. pers., Ac 3:5, I Ti 4:16.
4. to stay, wait: Ac 19:22 (in legal phrase, MM, Exp., l.c.).†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

ἐπέχω,

future ἐφέξω (see. infr. IV. [Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist ἐπέσχον, imperative ἐπίσχες, infinitive ἐπισχεῖ; poetry [Refs 5th c.BC+]: perfect [Refs] (Samos, 4th c.BC):—have or hold upon, θρῆνυν.., τῷ κεν ἐπισχοίης (variant{ἐπίσχοιας}) [Refs 8th c.BC+] hold it to or for.., [Refs 3rd c.BC+] holding it out like a torch, [NT]middle, hold by, [Refs 3rd c.BC+].

__II hold out to, present, offer, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; εἴ ποτέ τοι.. μαζὸν ἐπέσχον [Refs 5th c.BC+] I offered not mother's food with my breast, [Refs]: with infinitive, [Refs 6th c.BC+]: absolutely, [Refs] —middle, ἐπισχόμενος (i.e. τὴν κύλικα) ἐξέπιεν having put it to his lips, [Refs 7th c.BC+]; present a sum of money, τῇ πόλει [Refs]
__II.2 extend, spread out, [Refs 4th c.BC+].
__II.3 simply, hold, [Refs]; of writings, contain, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__II.4 enjoin, impose a task, with dative person, [Refs 6th c.AD+]
__III hold or direct towards, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:— middle, absolutely, ἐπισχόμενος βάλεν ἰῷ having aimed at him he hit him, [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__III.b intransitive, aim at, attack, τί μοι ὧδ᾽ ἐπέχει; why thus launch out against me? [Refs 8th c.BC+]: with dative, ἀκτῇσιν ἐπέσχεθον held straight for the beach, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__III.2 ἐπέχειν τὴν διάνοιαν ἐπί τινι direct one's mind to a thing, [Refs 5th c.BC+], etc.; also ἐ. ἑαυτόν τινι attend to him, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__III.2.b absolutely, ἐπέχειν (i.e. τὸν νοῦν) intend, purpose, with infinitive, [Refs 5th c.BC+] with dative _of things_, to be intent upon, ταῖς ἀρχαῖς, διαβάσει, etc., [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__III.3 stand facing, face in a line of battle, οὗτοι (i.e. οἱ Μῆδοι) [Refs 5th c.BC+].
__IV hold back, keep in check, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐπισχὼν ἡνίαν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; χρησμοὺς ἐ. withhold them, [Refs] keep him down with the stick, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; confine, as the earth a corpse, [Refs 1st c.BC+]:—middle, [Refs 6th c.BC+]:—passive, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; to be prevented, hindered, [Refs 4th c.AD+]; of the menses, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__IV.b stay or adjourn proceedings, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὴν ζημίαν καὶ τὴν κατασκαφήν [Refs 4th c.BC+]; suspend payments, in passive, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__IV.c [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with infinitive, σε μήτε νὺξ μήτε ἡμέρα ἐπισχέτω ὥστε ἀνεῖναι.. let them not stop thee so that thou neglect.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, μηδενὸς ἐπεχομένου no objection being taken, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__IV.d impersonal, [Refs 2nd c.AD+].
__IV.2 absolutely, stay, pause, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; refrain, [Refs 5th c.BC+] if you tarry, [Refs 5th c.BC+] wait and see whether.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐπίσχες, absolutely, hold! stop! [Refs 5th c.BC+]; in participle, [Refs 5th c.BC+], +others; τὸ ἐπισχεῖν, opposed to τὸ παραχρῆμα, [Refs 5th c.BC+] came after a short interval, [Refs 5th c.BC+] they very shortly died, [Refs 5th c.BC+] did not halt for the purpose of occupying a camp (unless it, = 'had no intention of occupying').
__IV.2.b with genitive of things, stop or cease from, [Refs 6th c.BC+]: so with infinitive, leave off, cease to do, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with participle, cease doing, [Refs 6th c.BC+]
__IV.2.c as technical term of the Sceptics, suspend judgement, doubt, [Refs 1st c.BC+].
__IV.3 middle, maintain reserve, [Refs 2nd c.BC+] (assuming variant).
__V reach or extend over a space, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ὁπόσσον ἐπέσχε πυρὸς μένος so far as the fire reached, [Refs 5th c.BC+] “Aër.” 5, etc.: aorist middle, ἐπέσχετο he lay outstretched, [Refs 8th c.BC+].
__VI have power over, occupy a country, [Refs 5th c.BC+], etc.; of things, ἐπ᾽ ὀκτὼ μῆνας Κυρηναίους ὀπώρη ἐ. occupies or engages them, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὧν τὰς χρόας τὸ [Refs 6th c.BC+]: generally, occupy, τὴν κρατίστην μοῖραν ἐ. hold the foremost place, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; δίκην ἐπέχειν ἡμᾶς φυτῶν we are like plants, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__VI.2 absolutely, prevail, predominate, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πάντῃ ἐπεῖχε γαλήνη Timo [Refs 5th c.BC+].
__VI.2.b of Time, continue, [ἐπέχων καὶ οὐκ ἀνιείς \_continuously,\_ Plato Philosophus [{5-6th c.BC}] “Theaetetus” 165e; ἐπὶ πλείους ἡμέρας ὁ σεισμὸς ἐπεῖχεν Dio Cassius Historicus [{2-3rd c.AD}] 68.25 ">Refs 6th c.BC+]; σκότος, νὺξ ἐπέσχε, came on, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
__VII middle, future ἐπιέξομαι, meet, Oracle texts in [Refs 5th c.BC+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: Phil.2.16}