ἀγρυπνία

From the study of 2 Corinthians 11:27

Range of meaning

Not sleeping: lying awake, insomnia, staying up on purpose. The word is neutral about the cause, which could be work, worry, guard duty, illness or prayer.

Against the English

KJV's "watchings" (from the Latin vigiliis) suggests religious vigils or keeping watch in prayer. Modern versions have "sleepless nights" or "without sleep", which is more accurate.

How it drifted

In older English "watch" simply meant "stay awake". To a modern church reader "watchings" sounds like a devotional practice, such as watching and praying.

Used elsewhere in the period

Sirach 38:26–30 (Septuagint) uses agrypnia for the lost sleep of farmers and craftsmen who stay up finishing their work. Sirach 31:1–2 uses it for lying awake over wealth. Elsewhere in the NT it occurs only in 2 Corinthians 6:5, another list of Paul's hardships. Paul says he worked "night and day" (1 Thess 2:9).

From the study of 2 Corinthians 6:5

Range of meaning

From agrypneō, "to lie awake" or "to be watchful." The noun means sleeplessness or wakefulness. It can be voluntary (staying alert) or involuntary (insomnia, being kept up). Greek medical writers used it for insomnia.

Against the English

KJV, WEB and YLT say "watchings." Modern readers may take that as keeping guard or holding religious vigils. BSB, NIV and ESV say "sleepless nights," which matches the Greek better.

How it drifted

In older English "watching" meant staying awake at night. That sense has faded, and "watchings" now suggests sentry duty or devotional vigils. The Greek word does not say why Paul was awake.

Used elsewhere in the period

2 Cor 11:27 has "in sleeplessness often (en agrypniais pollakis)." The noun appears only in these two verses in the New Testament. The related verb is used for alertness in prayer (Eph 6:18; Mark 13:33) and for leaders "keeping watch" over souls (Heb 13:17). In the Greek Old Testament, Sirach 31:1–2 (34:1–2 in some versions) speaks of sleeplessness caused by anxiety over wealth.

From the study of Sirach 31:2

Range of meaning

Sleeplessness. This covers both voluntary watchfulness (a guard on duty, someone keeping a vigil, a scholar working late) and involuntary insomnia. The context decides which.

Against the English

The KJV's 'watching' meant 'staying awake' in 1611 (as in 'watch and pray', 'watches of the night'). A modern reader hears 'watching' as looking at something. The WEB's 'wakeful' is accurate.

How it drifted

In older English 'watch' meant 'stay awake' (compare 'wake'). The main modern sense of looking at something has pushed that out.

Used elsewhere in the period

Sirach uses it repeatedly: 31:1 ('wakefulness over wealth wastes the flesh'), 38:26–27 and 38:28 (craftsmen who lie awake over their work), 42:9 (a father's sleeplessness over a daughter). Paul lists his agrypniai among his hardships (2 Cor 6:5; 11:27).