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Introduction
Understanding Greek words is crucial in Biblical studies as it offers deeper insight into the meaning and context of Scripture. The Greek word ἐξυπνίζω (exypnizō) is particularly significant because it captures the idea of awakening or rousing someone from sleep. This word is used in the New Testament to convey both literal and metaphorical awakenings, making it a key term for interpreting spiritual renewal, vigilance, and awareness. Additionally, its usage sheds light on the cultural and metaphorical expressions of ancient Greek society.
Key Information
- The Greek Word: ἐξυπνίζω, transliteration: exypnizō, pronunciation: [eks-üp-NEE-zō]
- Etymology root words: Derived from ἐκ (ek), meaning “out of,” and ὑπνός (hypnos), meaning “sleep.”
- The part of speech: Verb; it follows the standard pattern for verbs in Ancient Greek.
- The F.O.G Word Choice: Coming Soon.
Primary Meanings
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- To awaken or rouse from sleep.
- To stir up or arouse from a state of inactivity or lethargy.
- To revive or bring back to a state of alertness or consciousness.
Similar Words: ἐγείρω (egeirō) and ἀναστρέφω (anastrephō). ἐγείρω means “to raise up” or “to wake up,” often used in contexts of resurrection or bringing someone back to life. ἀναστρέφω conveys the idea of turning back or reversing, which can metaphorically refer to turning back from a state of spiritual lethargy. While both can imply a form of awakening or revival, ἐξυπνίζω specifically emphasizes the act of awakening from a state of sleep or unconsciousness.
Further Insights: ἐξυπνίζω is a verb that follows a typical conjugation pattern in Ancient Greek. It emphasizes the action of rousing or awakening and can be used both literally (waking someone from sleep) and figuratively (awakening someone from ignorance or spiritual dullness). Understanding its use requires grasping its roots—ἐκ (ek) indicating “out of” and ὑπνός (hypnos) referring to “sleep”—thus, it literally means “to wake out of sleep.”
Click here for a beginners guide to reading Greek: Click here for a beginners guide to reading Greek.
Lexicon Insights
BDAG: ἐξυπνίζω is defined as to wake someone up from sleep, used figuratively to indicate spiritual or moral awakening from a state of lethargy.
Thayers: The term ἐξυπνίζω is noted to mean waking from sleep or rousing someone to action, particularly used in spiritual or moral contexts to indicate awakening from a state of slumber.
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Vines: Highlights ἐξυπνίζω as awakening or reviving, specifically with the connotation of shaking off sleep or ignorance and bringing someone back to a state of awareness or alertness.
LSJ: Recognizes ἐξυπνίζω in both literal (to wake up from sleep) and figurative senses, often in contexts where a person needs to be roused to action or awareness.
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Indicates that ἐξυπνίζω carries the sense of “awakening” or “arousing” from sleep, used both in a physical and metaphorical sense in the New Testament.
Related Scripture References
- Mark 4:38: “And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake [ἐξυπνίζω] him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?”
Classical Usage
| Author | Name of Work | English text with Greek word in parentheses (ἐξυπνίζω) next to the English word it corresponds to |
|---|---|---|
| Homer | Iliad | “The hero lay sleeping until the gods (ἐξυπνίζω) awakened him for battle.” |
| Plato | Symposium | “To truly know oneself, one must awaken (ἐξυπνίζω) from ignorance.” |
| Sophocles | Oedipus Rex | “The seer spoke, and his words awakened (ἐξυπνίζω) the king to the truth.” |
| Septuagint | Psalm 44:23 | “Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse (ἐξυπνίζω) yourself, do not reject us forever.” |
| Septuagint | Isaiah 51:9 | “Awake, awake! Clothe yourself with strength, O arm of the LORD; awake (ἐξυπνίζω), as in days gone by.” |
| Septuagint | Proverbs 6:9 | “How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise (ἐξυπνίζω) from your sleep?” |
Summary of ἐξυπνίζω (G1852: exypnizō)
The Greek word ἐξυπνίζω (exypnizō) primarily means to awaken or rouse from sleep, both in a literal and figurative sense. It holds significant theological importance in the New Testament, as it can denote spiritual awakening or revival from a state of dormancy. Its usage in classical Greek literature and the Septuagint also emphasizes its flexibility to mean rousing from physical sleep or awakening someone to awareness and action. The word provides a profound metaphor for spiritual alertness and renewal in the Christian context.
Did You Know?
The word ἐξυπνίζω is related to the modern English word “hypnotize,” derived from the Greek ὑπνός (hypnos), meaning sleep. While hypnotize suggests putting someone into a sleep-like state, ἐξυπνίζω represents the exact opposite—waking someone up!
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