Meaning
primarily "anything round," and so "whatever might be wrapped round a thing, a twisted rope," came to mean "a body of men at arms," and was the equivalent of the Roman manipulus. It was also used for a larger body of men, a cohort, about 600 infantry, commanded by a tribune. It is confined to its military sense. See, e.g., Mat 27:27, and corresponding passages.
<2,,1199, desmos>
"a band, fetter, anything for tying" (from deo, "to bind, fasten with chains, etc."), is sometimes translated "band," sometimes "bond;" "bands," in Luk 8:29, Act 16:26, Act 22:30, AV only. In the case of the deaf man who had an impediment in his speech, whom the Lord took aside, Mar 7:35, the AV says "the string of his tongue was loosed;" the RV, more literally, "the bond of his tongue." See BOND, CHAIN, STRING.
<3,,4886, sundesmos>
an intensive form of No. 2, denoting "that which binds firmly together," is used metaphorically of the joints and bands of the mystic body of Christ, Col 2:19; otherwise in the following phrases, "the bond of iniquity," Act 8:23; "the bond of peace," Eph 4:3; "the bond of perfectness," Col 3:14. See BOND.
<4,,2202, zeukteria>
"a bond" (connected with zugos, "a yoke"), is found once, of the rudder band of a ship, Act 27:40.
