Greek word · G1235

διαγρηγορέω

diagrēgoreō

to wake

Built on grēgoreō ('be awake, keep watch') plus the prefix dia-, which can mean 'thoroughly' or 'throughout'. So it can mean either (1) 'become fully awake, wake right up' or (2) 'stay awake the whole time'. BDAG lists both senses.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

δια-γρηγορέω, -ῶ

(a) prop., to remain awake (R, mg.);

(b) to be fully awake (R, txt.): Luke 9:32.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Luke 9:32

Range of meaning

Built on grēgoreō ('be awake, keep watch') plus the prefix dia-, which can mean 'thoroughly' or 'throughout'. So it can mean either (1) 'become fully awake, wake right up' or (2) 'stay awake the whole time'. BDAG lists both senses.

Against the English

BSB 'when they awoke' and NLT 'When they woke up' take sense (1) and imply the disciples had been asleep. WEB 'fully awake' and similar wording in NIV/ESV/NASB take sense (1) but stress full alertness. NRSV 'since they had stayed awake' takes sense (2). KJV 'when they were awake' leaves the question open.

Used elsewhere in the period

Very rare. It occurs only here in the NT and not in the Septuagint. Outside the Bible it is attested in later Greek, for example Herodian (3rd century AD), in the sense of staying awake. The root grēgoreō is the key word of Jesus' 'keep awake / watch' sayings (e.g., Mark 13:35-37; 14:34-38).

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 9:32 διαγρηγορήσαντες having awoken fully

    Meanwhile Peter and his companions were overcome by sleep, but when they awoke, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with Him.

    Here: Appears only here in the NT. It is either 'having come fully awake' or 'having kept awake through it'. In both cases the point is that they were truly alert when they saw, not dreaming.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.