ἀγρυπν-έω G0069
be wakeful, keep watch; stay alert with vigilant spiritual readiness and prayerful attentiveness
Originally meaning to lie awake or suffer sleepless nights, ἀγρυπνέω takes on a deeply metaphorical sense in the NT: spiritual vigilance. Jesus commands it in the eschatological discourse (Mark 13:33), Luke pairs it with prayer (Luke 21:36), Paul links it to persevering intercession (Eph 6:18), and Hebrews applies it to pastoral oversight — leaders who 'keep watch' over souls (Heb 13:17). The Spanish 'velad/velan' and French 'veiller' capture the watchman metaphor beautifully, while German 'wachen' preserves the same staying-awake imagery.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Be watchful, keep alert — to maintain vigilant spiritual readiness, often paired with prayer. The literal classical sense of lying awake through the night becomes in the NT a metaphor for sustained spiritual attentiveness. Jesus uses it eschatologically: 'Watch and pray' (Mark 13:33; Luke 21:36). Paul extends it to intercessory perseverance on behalf of all the saints (Eph 6:18). In Hebrews 13:17 it describes the sleepless care of church leaders who will give account for the souls in their charge. The Romance translations (spa 'velad,' fra 'veiller') evoke the same watchman imagery, linking vigilance with active duty rather than passive waiting. 4×
AR["اِسهَروا", "اِسْهَرُوا", "ساهِرينَ", "يَسْهَرُونَ"]·ben["জাগ্রত-থাকো", "জেগে-থাক", "জেগে-থাকতে", "পাহারা-দিচ্ছে"]·DE["wachen", "ἀγρυπνεῖτε"]·EN["be-watchful", "being-watchful", "keep-watch", "stay-awake"]·FR["veiller"]·heb["הִתְעוֹרְרוּ", "שִׁקְדוּ", "שׁוֹמְרִים", "שׁוֹקְדִים"]·HI["जगते-हुए", "जागते-रहते-हैं", "जागते-रहो"]·ID["Berjaga-jagalah", "berjaga-jaga", "berjaga-jagalah"]·IT["agrupnountes", "agrupnousin", "vegliare"]·jav["Waspada", "njagi", "sami-melek", "tètep-jaga"]·KO["깨어-있으라", "깨어-있으며", "지켜본다"]·PT["velam", "vigiai", "vigiando"]·RU["бодрствуйте", "бодрствуют", "бодрствуя"]·ES["velad", "velan", "velando"]·SW["kesheni", "mkikesha", "wanakesha"]·TR["uyanik-olarak", "uyanık-duruyorlar", "uyanık-kalın", "uyanık-olun"]·urd["جاگتے-رہتے-ہیں", "جاگتے-رہو"]
Related Senses
H7965 1. peace, absence of conflict (198×)H3467 1. save, deliver, rescue (Hifil active) (156×)H5127 1. flee, run away (Qal) (144×)G1515 1. peace, well-being, harmony (93×)H8002 1. peace offering(s) (87×)G4982 1. save spiritually, grant salvation (79×)H3444 1. salvation, deliverance (67×)H4422 1. Nifal: escape, flee (63×)H1272 1. flee, run away (Qal) (58×)H6869b 1. distress, trouble (57×)G4991 1. of salvation (46×)G2347 1. tribulation, affliction, distress (45×)H0983 1. security, safety, confidence (42×)H6031b 1. Piel: afflict, oppress (42×)H6040 1. affliction, misery, suffering (36×)H3468 1. salvation, deliverance (33×)G5343 1. flee, run away (28×)H3467 2. savior, deliverer (Hifil participle substantive) (28×)H8668 1. salvation, deliverance (27×)H8252 1. be quiet, be at rest (26×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀγρυπν-έω, perfect ἠγρύπνηκαRefs 5th c.BC+:—lie awake, pass sleepless nights, Refs 6th c.BC+; opposed to καθεύδω, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἀγρυπνεῖν τὴν νύκτα to pass a sleepless night, Refs 4th c.BC+; οἱ -οῦντες sufferers from insomnia, Refs 1st c.AD+ __2 metaphorically, to be watchful, LXX+NT: with infinitive, μηθέν σε ἐνοχλήσεινRefs __3 with accusative, lie awake and think of, τινάRefs