Cage <1,,5438, phulake>
from phulasso, "to guard," denotes (a) "a watching, keeping watch," Luk 2:8; (b) "persons keeping watch, a guard," Act 12:10; (c) "a period during which watch is kept," e.g., Mat 24:43; (d) "a prison, a hold." In Rev 18:2, AV, Babylon is described figuratively, first as a "hold" and then as a "cage" of every unclean and hateful bird (RV, "hold" in both clauses; marg., "prison"). The word is almost invariably translated "prison." See HOLD, IMPRISONMENT, PRISON, WARD, WATCH.
