Greek word · G69

ἀγρυπνέω

agrypneō

be watchful

Literally 'to be without sleep' (a- 'not' + hypnos 'sleep'). It can mean lying awake from distress, staying up deliberately, keeping watch, and figuratively being alert and on guard.

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀγρυπνέω, -ῶ (ἄγρυπνος, seeking sleep ; ἀγρεύω, ὕπνος),

[in LXX chiefly for שׁקד ;]

to be sleepless, wakeful (Theogn., Xen., al.); metaphorically (LXX) = cl. ἐγρήγορα, to be watchful, vigilant: Mark 13:33, Luke 21:36, Ephesians 6:18, Hebrews 13:17.†

SYN.: γρηγορέω, which see; νήφω, associated with γ. in 1 Peter 5:8, expressing a wariness which results from self-control, a condition of moral, not merely mental alertness (see M, Th., I, 5:6). (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 Ephesians 6:18

Range of meaning

Literally 'to be without sleep' (a- 'not' + hypnos 'sleep'). It can mean lying awake from distress, staying up deliberately, keeping watch, and figuratively being alert and on guard.

Against the English

KJV 'watching' now sounds like 'observing' or 'looking at'. The Greek means staying awake, refusing to doze off at your post. 'Stay alert' (BSB), 'keep alert' (ESV) and 'be on the alert' (NASB) are better, though they lose the physical picture of sleeplessness.

How it drifted

Older English 'watch' meant 'stay awake on guard' (as in a night 'watch'). That sense has faded, so 'watching thereunto' now reads as passive observation.

Used elsewhere in the period

Greek Old Testament: Psalm 102:7 (101:8 LXX), 'I lay awake'; Proverbs 8:34, the one who 'keeps watch' daily at Wisdom's gates. New Testament: Mark 13:33 and Luke 21:36 ('stay awake at every occasion, praying', a close parallel to this verse); Hebrews 13:17 (leaders 'keep watch' over souls). Paul lists agrypnia, 'sleepless nights', among his hardships (2 Corinthians 6:5; 11:27).

From the study of Hebrews 13:17

Range of meaning

Literally 'be sleepless, lie awake.' From that, 'keep watch, stay alert, be on guard' (BDAG s.v. ἀγρυπνέω).

Against the English

'Watch over' (BSB, NASB, ESV 'keeping watch') is accurate but loses the vivid sense of lost sleep. KJV 'watch for' is close.

Used elsewhere in the period

Mark 13:33 and Luke 21:36 ('stay awake' for the end); Eph 6:18 ('keep alert' in prayer). In the Greek Old Testament it describes the sleepless person (Ps 102:7 [101:8 LXX]; Prov 8:34). In Ezra 8:29 it is the order given to the men guarding the temple silver and gold until it is weighed and accounted for before the priests. That is a close match for 'watch… as those who will give account.' The image also recalls Ezekiel's watchman, who answers for the people he fails to warn (Ezek 3:17–21; 33:1–9).

From the study of Luke 21:36

Range of meaning

Literally 'to be sleepless' (a- 'not' + hypnos 'sleep'): to lie awake, keep a night vigil, go without sleep. By extension it means to stay alert, to be on guard, or to keep careful watch over something.

Against the English

'Watch' (KJV, BSB, YLT) can now suggest 'observe' or 'look at'. ESV's 'stay awake' keeps the literal picture. NASB's 'keep on the alert' and NLT's 'keep alert' give the figurative sense.

How it drifted

In English, 'watch' has largely moved from 'keep a watch, stay awake on guard' (as in a night watch) to 'look at, observe'. In prophecy-focused settings, 'watch' is often heard as 'watch world events for signs'. The Greek word is about not being asleep, not about scanning the news.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint, Psalm 102(101):7 'I lay awake' and Ezra 8:29 'guard (them) watchfully'. Sirach uses it for lying awake over wealth or worry (Sir 31:1–2). Mark 13:33 uses the same command in the parallel discourse. Ephesians 6:18 joins it with prayer ('keeping alert in it with all perseverance'), and Hebrews 13:17 uses it for leaders who 'keep watch over your souls'.

Similar words

Where it appears

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 13:33 ἀγρυπνεῖτε do watch

    Be on your guard and stay alert! For you do not know when the appointed time will come.

    Here: Literally 'go without sleep'. It is the picture of someone who does not doze off on night duty. It has no 'and' before it, so the two commands come in quick succession, like alarms: 'Watch out! Stay awake!'

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 21:36 ἀγρυπνεῖτε do watch

    So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”

    Here: A present-tense command: 'keep on staying awake'. It literally means going without sleep, and here it pictures a life that has not dozed off. It answers v.34, where hearts are 'weighed down' by drinking and the worries of daily life.

Ephesians · 1

  1. Ephesians 6:18 ἀγρυπνοῦντες watching

    Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.

    Here: Literally 'not sleeping'. It is the image of someone who stays awake on watch, like a sentry, which fits the armour picture just before. Jesus used it in his call to 'stay awake' for the coming crisis (Mark 13:33; Luke 21:36).

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 13:17 ἀγρυπνοῦσιν watch

    Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.

    Here: Literally 'to be sleepless' (a-, 'not' + hypnos, 'sleep'). The picture is a night watchman or shepherd who stays awake so that others can be safe. The present tense means they are doing it continually.

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