νήφω G3525
To be sober-minded, self-controlled, and spiritually vigilant; to exercise mental alertness
Originally meaning 'to drink no wine' in classical Greek, this verb underwent a decisive metaphorical shift by the NT period. Every New Testament occurrence uses it figuratively for mental sobriety and spiritual watchfulness rather than literal abstinence. Paul pairs it with eschatological readiness—'let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith' (1 Thess 5:8)—while Peter connects it to effective prayer (1 Pet 4:7) and vigilance against the devil. The Spanish 'sed sobrios' and German 'nüchtern sein' both preserve the double register of physical and mental clarity.
Senses
1. to be sober-minded, be watchful — To maintain clear-headed self-control and spiritual alertness, especially in view of Christ's return or spiritual danger. The metaphorical extension from literal wine-abstinence to mental vigilance is complete in the NT: Paul contrasts the sober believer with those who 'sleep' or are 'drunk' in the eschatological night (1 Thess 5:6-8), Timothy is urged to 'be sober in all things' amid false teaching (2 Tim 4:5), and Peter links sobriety to watchful prayer (1 Pet 4:7) and resistance to temptation (1 Pet 1:13). 6×
AR["اصحوا", "اصْحُ", "صاحينَ", "لِنَصْحُوَ", "نَصْحُوَ"]·ben["সংযত-থাক", "সংযত-হই", "সচেতন-থেকে", "সচেতন-হও"]·DE["nuechtern-sein"]·EN["Be-sober", "be-sober", "being-sober", "let-us-be-sober"]·FR["Νήψατε", "νήφοντες", "νήφωμεν", "νήψατε", "νῆφε"]·heb["הֱיֵה-פִּקֵּחַ", "הִתְפַּכְּחוּ", "הָיוּ-עֵרִים", "נִפְכָּח", "פִכְּחִים"]·HI["सचेत-रह", "सचेत-रहकर", "सचेत-रहो", "सावधान-रहो", "होश-मेइन-रहेइन"]·ID["Sadarlah", "berjaga-jaga", "bersadar", "waspadalah"]·IT["essere-sobrio"]·jav["Sadara;", "kang-waspada,", "kita-waspada,", "kita-waspada;", "sadara", "waspada"]·KO["근신하라", "근신하여", "깨어-있으라", "정신을-차리자"]·PT["sejamos-sóbrios", "sendo-sóbrios,", "vigiai"]·RU["Трезвитесь;", "да-трезвимся", "трезвись", "трезвитесь", "трезвясь,"]·ES["Sed-sobrios", "seamos-sobrios", "sed-sobrios", "siendo-sobrios", "sé-sobrio"]·SW["Kuweni-na-kiasi", "kesha", "kuwa-na-kiasi", "mkiwa-na-kiasi", "tuwe-na-kiasi"]·TR["Ayık-olun", "ayık-ol", "ayık-olalım", "ayık-olarak", "ayık-olun"]·urd["چوکنّے-رہو", "ہوشیار-رہ", "ہوشیار-رہو؛", "ہوشیار-رہیں", "ہوشیار-ہو-کر،"]
Related Senses
H3045 1. Qal: to know, perceive, understand (829×)H5315 1. soul, inner being (647×)H3820a 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (572×)H4672 1. Qal: find, discover (289×)G1492 1. know facts or truths (285×)H3824 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (250×)H1245 1. seek, search for (200×)G1097 1. know, be acquainted with (196×)H2142 1. Qal: remember, recall (173×)G2588 1. heart (inner self, mind, will) (158×)H0977 1. choose, select (Qal active) (145×)G2147 1. find, discover (144×)G5590 1. soul, inner self (100×)H4672 2. Niphal: be found, be discovered (99×)H1875 1. seek, search for (96×)H5315 2. life, vitality (94×)H1847 1. knowledge, discernment (90×)H2450 1. wise, prudent (84×)H7911 1. Qal: to forget (83×)H3684 1. fool, dullard (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
νήφω, Doric dialect νάφω (see. infr. II), used by early writers only in present, mostly in participle: later imperfect ἔνηφον Refs 6th c.AD+aorist ἔνηψα NT+5th c.BC+:—to be sober, drink no wine, οὔτε τι γὰρ ν. οὔτε λίην μεθύω Refs 7th c.BC+participle νήφων as adjective, ={νηφάλιος}, Refs 5th c.BC+; τὸ τοὺς μεθύοντας... πλείω ζημίαν ἀποτίνειν τῶν ν. Legal Pittaciap. Refs 5th c.BC+; ν. θεός, i.e.…