Greek word · G3524

νηφαλέος

nēphaleos

sober

Basically "not drunk, wineless": sober in the literal sense. By extension clear-headed, alert, in control of one's mind. The related verb nēphō means "be sober, be alert" (1 Thess 5:6, 8; 1 Pet 5:8).

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 24, 2026

What it means

νηφάλιος (-λεος, Rec., in 1Ti, ll. with), -ον (in cl., -α, -ον),

(νήφω),

1. in cl., of drink, not mixed with wine.

2. In later writers (Plut., al.), of persons, sober, temperate: 1 Timothy 3:2 3:11, Titus 2:2.†

(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 Titus 2:2

Range of meaning: Basically "not drunk, wineless": sober in the literal sense. By extension clear-headed, alert, in control of one's mind. The related verb nēphō means "be sober, be alert" (1 Thess 5:6, 8; 1 Pet 5:8).
Against the English: BSB, NIV, NASB and WEB say "temperate"; KJV and YLT "sober"; ESV "sober-minded." "Sober-minded" brings out the mental side but can lose the literal point about wine. "Temperate" today often suggests moderate drinking or, through the 19th-century temperance movement, abstaining from alcohol.
How it drifted: In 19th-century usage "temperance" came to mean abstaining from alcohol, which makes "temperate" sound like a call for total abstinence. The Greek word is about not being under wine's control and keeping a clear head.
Used elsewhere in the period: Classical writers use nēphalia for "wineless" offerings made to certain gods without wine. In the New Testament the word appears only in the Pastoral letters: overseers (1 Tim 3:2) and women (deacons' wives or women deacons, 1 Tim 3:11). Philo and Josephus use the word family both for literal sobriety and for mental alertness.

From the study of 1 Timothy 3:11

Range of meaning: Literally 'wineless, sober'. In Greek religion, νηφάλια were offerings made without wine. It extends to temperate, clear-headed, self-possessed, able to think straight.
Against the English: KJV 'sober', BSB/WEB 'temperate', YLT 'vigilant', ESV 'sober-minded', NIV 'temperate'. Each covers part of the word. Today 'sober' mostly means only 'not drunk', and 'vigilant' leaves out the wine.
How it drifted: Modern 'sober' has narrowed to the alcohol sense. The Greek word held both the literal and the mental sense at once.
Used elsewhere in the period: Required of the overseer (3:2) and older men (Titus 2:2). The related verb νήφω means 'be alert, be clear-headed' (1 Thess 5:6, 8; 2 Tim 4:5; 1 Pet 5:8). Philo and Josephus use the word group of abstaining from wine.

From the study of 1 Timothy 3:2

Range of meaning: Originally 'wineless.' Nēphalia were offerings poured without wine. From there it means sober, then clear-headed, alert, self-possessed. The related verb nēphō means 'be sober, keep a clear head, stay watchful' (1 Thess 5:6, 8; 1 Pet 5:8).
Against the English: BSB/WEB/NASB 'temperate,' ESV 'sober-minded,' KJV 'vigilant.' 'Vigilant' catches the watchful, alert side. 'Temperate' catches the moderate side. Neither gets both.
How it drifted: In KJV English 'vigilant' and 'sober' are swapped from what a modern reader expects. 'Vigilant' translates nēphalios and 'sober' translates sōphrōn (the next word). A modern reader seeing 'sober' assumes 'not drunk,' but here the KJV means 'sensible.'
Used elsewhere in the period: In the NT only in the Pastoral Letters (1 Tim 3:2, 11; Titus 2:2). Onasander's handbook on the ideal general, written in the first century AD, lists a general's qualities as 'sound-minded, self-controlled, sober (nēptēs), frugal, hardworking, intelligent, not money-loving… if possible a father of children, able to speak, of good reputation.' The list is strikingly similar to this one.

Where it appears

1 Timothy · 2

1 Timothy 3:2 νηφάλιον, sober,

An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

Here: Originally 'wineless.' Here it means clear-headed and in control of himself. Wine is part of it, but 3:3 handles wine separately, so the main idea here is a steady, alert mind.
1 Timothy 3:11 νηφαλίους, clear-minded,

In the same way, the women must be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in all things.

Here: The word is rooted in not being drunk, and it widens to a steady, clear mind. It matches the overseer's 'sober' (3:2) and the deacons' 'not given to much wine' (3:8).

Titus · 1

Titus 2:2 νηφαλίους sober-minded

Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, and sound in faith, love, and perseverance.

Here: Literally not under the influence of wine, and by extension clear-headed and alert. Coming first in the list, and with verse 3 warning older women against being "enslaved to much wine," the literal sense about drinking is clearly in view, along with the wider sense of a clear mind.

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