κατέχουσιν [2 verses](verb 3rd pl pres ind act ) "Keep" is from katecho, which means to "hold fast", "hold back", "withhold", "inhibit",  "gain possession of", "be master of", "possess, occupy", "follow close upon", "press hard", "control oneself", "keep back for oneself", and "embezzle".  - "Keep" is from a verb that means to "hold fast", "hold back", "withhold", "inhibit",  "gain possession of", "be master of",  and"possess, occupy". It is not the common word translated as "keep" , which is usually translated as "to have". This is a more complex form of that word meaning "keep under" but it has a number of specific uses.