"If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." (John 14:23)

In its early development, the word "keep" meant to seize, lay hold of; to snatch or take. It had the sense of to take in, or receive, or contain, or hold. In its later development it came also to mean to have regard, to care for or to reckon.

More recently, it has come to mean to pay attention to or to observe, or to dutifully abide by an ordinance, law, custom, practice, covenant, promise or faith.

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