Bible Dictionary
ATTAIN
In Scripture, attain means to obtain, reach, arrive at, or become able to accomplish something. It may describe reaching a place, possessing a condition, or pursuing righteousness and spiritual maturity.
Definition
To attain means to obtain, reach, arrive at, possess, become able to do, or lay hold of something. Its meaning varies according to the Hebrew or Greek term and the context.
Biblical Usage
Scripture speaks of attaining righteousness, innocence, salvation, a place, or a condition, and of pursuing or apprehending what has not yet been fully obtained.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>a-tan': The rendering of qanah = "buy," "get" (Pr 1:5); nasagh= "reach," "a meal-offering .... according as he is able" (Eze 46:7 margin), "not attained unto the days" (Ge 47:9); yakhol or yakhowl ="be able," "overcome," "attain to innocency" (Ho 8:5); bo' = "come," "follow" (2Sa 23:19,23; 1Ch 11:21,25); katantao="arrive at" (Ac 27:12 the King James Version; Php 3:11); katalambano ="take eagerly," "seize," "apprehend," "attained to righteousness" (Ro 9:30); phthano ="have arrived at" (Ro 9:31 the King James Version; Php 3:16); lambano -"take," "get a hold of," "catch," the Revised Version (British and American) "already obtained" (Php 3:12); parakoloutheo = "follow," "trace out," "conform to" (1Ti 4:6). Here the Revised Version (British and American) corrects the King James Version.</p><p>Frank E. Hirsch</p>