καθεύδω G2518
To sleep physically; figuratively, to be spiritually lethargic, morally inattentive, or dead.
A common verb for lying down to sleep, used both literally and with rich figurative extension. Jesus sleeps in the storm-tossed boat (Matthew 8:24), and the ruler's daughter 'sleeps' in death (Matthew 9:24). In the parables and exhortations, sleeping becomes a metaphor for spiritual drowsiness: the foolish virgins sleep while waiting (Matthew 25:5), and Paul urges believers not to sleep as others do (1 Thessalonians 5:6). Spanish dormir, French dormir, and German schlafen serve both senses without distinction, but Greek context and domain consistently differentiate physical rest from spiritual warning.
Senses
1. to sleep physically — To be in a state of natural, physical sleep or slumber. Matthew 8:24 describes Jesus sleeping during the storm; Matthew 26:40-43 shows the disciples sleeping in Gethsemane from exhaustion. Spanish dormía, French dormir, and German schlafen all render straightforward physical rest. Mark 4:38 and Matthew 13:25 similarly describe literal sleeping. 12×
AR["أَنَائِمٌ", "تَنامُ", "كانَ-نائِمًا", "نائِمًا", "نائِمَةٌ", "نَائِمِينَ", "نَومِ", "نِيَامًا"]·ben["ঘুমন্ত", "ঘুমাচ্ছ", "ঘুমাচ্ছিলেন", "ঘুমাচ্ছিলেন।", "ঘুমাচ্ছে", "ঘুমানোর-সময়"]·DE["schlafen", "schläft"]·EN["are-you-sleeping", "sleeping", "sleeps", "was-sleeping"]·FR["dormir"]·heb["יְשֵׁנִים", "יְשֵׁנָה", "יָשֵׁן", "יָשֵׁן-אַתָּה", "יָשַׁן"]·HI["सो-रही-है", "सोता-था", "सोता-हुआ", "सोती-है", "सोते-हुए", "सोते-हो"]·ID["engkau-tidur", "ia-tidur", "sedang-tidur", "tidur", "tidur."]·IT["dormire"]·jav["panjenengan-saré", "sami-tilem", "sare", "sare.", "saré", "saré.", "turu."]·KO["자고-있느냐", "자고-있는", "자고-있다", "자고-있다.", "잠자고-있다", "잠자는-동안", "주무시고-있었다", "주무시는"]·PT["dorme", "dorme.", "dormes", "dormia", "dormindo", "dormindo.", "dormirem"]·RU["спал", "спать", "спит", "спишь", "спящий", "спящими"]·ES["dormir", "dormía", "duerme", "duermes", "durmiendo"]·SW["alikuwa-amelala.", "amelala", "amelala.", "analala.", "kulala", "mmelala", "umelala", "wamelala"]·TR["uyurken", "uyuyan", "uyuyan.", "uyuyor", "uyuyor-musun", "uyuyor.", "uyuyordu"]·urd["سو-رہا-تھا", "سو-رہی-ہے", "سوتا-ہوا", "سوتا-ہے", "سوتی-ہے", "سوتے-ہوئے", "سوتے-ہُوئے", "سونے-میں"]
2. to sleep figuratively — To sleep figuratively, denoting spiritual lethargy, moral complacency, inattention to God's purposes, or death as a euphemism. The parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:5) uses it for negligent waiting; 1 Thessalonians 5:6 contrasts sleeping with watchfulness; Mark 5:39 may imply death. Spanish dormís in the hortatory passages and English 'Sleep' as imperative irony (Matthew 26:45) show the metaphorical force. Ephesians 5:14 likely alludes to this figurative sleep. 10×
AR["النائِمُ", "النّائِمونَ", "تَنامونَ", "نَامُوا", "نَنامَ", "نِمْنا", "نِمْنَ", "يَنامونَ", "يَنامُ"]·ben["ঘুমন্তরা", "ঘুমাই", "ঘুমাও", "ঘুমাচ্ছ", "ঘুমায়", "ঘুমায়,", "ঘুমিয়ে-পড়ল", "যে-ঘুমাচ্ছে"]·DE["schlafen", "schläft"]·EN["Sleep", "are-you-sleeping", "he-sleeps", "let-us-sleep", "sleep", "sleeping", "we-sleep", "were-sleeping"]·FR["dormir"]·heb["הַיָּשֵׁן", "יְשֵׁנִים", "יְשֵׁנִים-אַתֶּם", "יִישַׁן", "יָשְׁנוּ", "נִישַׁן"]·HI["सो-गईं", "सोएइन", "सोता-हो", "सोते-हैन", "सोते-हो", "सोने-वअले"]·ID["Tidurlah", "ia-tidur,", "kamu-tidur", "kita-tidur", "tertidur", "tidur", "tidur,", "yang-tidur"]·IT["dormire"]·jav["Sarénana", "Turu", "kita-sare", "kita-sare,", "panjenengan-sedaya-sare?", "sare", "sare,", "sare;", "turu,"]·KO["우리가-잠자지-말자", "자고", "자고-있느냐", "자느냐", "자는-자야", "자라", "잠들었다", "잠자는-자들은", "잠자든", "잠잔다"]·PT["Dormi", "Dormis", "dormem", "dormiam", "durma,", "durmamos", "que-dormem", "que-dormes,"]·RU["Спите", "да-спим", "спали", "спим", "спит", "спите", "спят", "спящие", "спящий,"]·ES["Dormid", "dormían", "dormís", "duerma", "duermen", "durmamos", "durmiendo", "que-duermen"]·SW["Bado-mmelala", "Laleni", "akalala,", "lale", "mmelala", "tunalala", "ulalave", "walilala", "wanalala", "wanaolala"]·TR["Uyuyun", "uyudular", "uyurlar", "uyusa,", "uyuyalım", "uyuyan", "uyuyanlar", "uyuyorsunuz"]·urd["سو-گئیں", "سوئیں", "سوئیں-ہم", "سوئے", "سوتے-رہو", "سوتے-ہو", "سوتے-ہیں", "سونے-والے"]
Related Senses
H7200 1. Qal: to see, perceive (1257×)G4771 2. you (singular address) (1077×)H8085 1. Qal: hear, perceive aurally (921×)H0859a 1. you (2nd person masculine singular pronoun) (743×)H0398 1. eat (consume food) (697×)H4191 1. die (Qal: natural/general death) (645×)G3708 1. see, perceive visually (419×)G0191 1. hear, perceive sound (360×)H???? 3. (352×)G3708 2. behold, look (exclamatory) (256×)H7272 1. foot (body part) (236×)H8354 1. drink, consume liquid (209×)H3205 1. Qal active: bear/give birth (female subject) (204×)H3205 2. Qal active: beget/father (male subject) (198×)H2421 1. Qal: live, be alive (177×)H8085 2. Qal: listen, heed, pay attention (172×)H2416a 1. alive, living (state/attribute) (146×)H2416e 1. life, lifespan, lifetime (145×)G2198 1. be alive, have life (133×)H8193 1. lip, lips (body part) (123×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
καθεύδω, so also in Ionic dialect, Refs 5th c.BC+imperfect καθεῦδον Refs 8th c.BC+; ἐκάθευδον Refs 5th c.BC+: future καθευδήσω Refs 5th c.BC+aorist ἐκαθεύδησα (not in Attic dialect), Refs 2nd c.AD+; infinitive καθευδῆσαι Refs:— lie down to sleep, sleep, Refs 8th c.BC+; opposed to ἀγρυπνέω, ἐγρήγορα, Refs 6th c.BC+; νυκτὸς κ. to sleep by night, Refs 5th c.BC+; κ. τὰς νύκτας to sleep all one's…