σωφρον-έω G4993
To be of sound mind and self-controlled; ranges from sanity restored after derangement to the moral discipline of sober, temperate thinking.
In the New Testament, this verb captures two closely related but distinguishable ideas: having a sound, rational mind, and exercising self-controlled, sober judgment. When the Gerasene demoniac is found 'in his right mind' (Mark 5:15; Luke 8:35), the word describes the dramatic restoration of sanity — a return from chaos to clarity. But Paul and Peter use it to call believers toward disciplined thinking: not thinking too highly of oneself (Rom 12:3), living with clear-headed sobriety in light of the end (1 Pet 4:7). The multilingual evidence bears this out — translations split between cognitive soundness (German 'nüchtern sein,' French 'dans son bon sens') and moral exhortation (Spanish 'sed prudentes,' 'pensar con cordura').
Senses
1. be of sound mind, be sane — To be in one's right mind, to possess mental soundness and sanity. Used of the Gerasene demoniac after deliverance (Mark 5:15; Luke 8:35), where he is found 'clothed and in his right mind,' and by Paul who contrasts ecstatic experience with rational composure (2 Cor 5:13). The multilingual evidence converges on cognitive clarity: English 'in right mind,' Spanish 'en su sano juicio,' French 'dans son bon sens.' 3×
AR["صَحَوْنا", "عاقِلًا"]·ben["আমরা-সুস্থ-মনা", "সুস্থ-মনে", "সুস্থ-মনের"]·DE["nuechtern-sein", "σωφρονοῦντα"]·EN["being-of-sound-mind", "in-right-mind", "we-are-of-sound-mind"]·FR["dans-son-bon-sens", "être-sobre"]·heb["בְּדַעְתֵנוּ", "בְּדַעַת", "צַלוּל"]·HI["संयत-होते-हैं-हम", "सचेत", "सेना"]·ID["kami-berakal-sehat", "sehat-akal", "waras"]·IT["essere-sobrio", "sobrio"]·jav["kawula-wening,", "waras", "waras,"]·KO["정신-차리면", "정신이-든,", "제정신인"]·PT["em-perfeito-juízo", "em-sã-consciência,", "somos-sóbrios"]·RU["благоразумны", "в-здравом-уме"]·ES["en-su-juicio", "en-su-sano-juicio", "estamos-en-sano-juicio"]·SW["akiwa-na-akili,", "mwenye-akili-timamu", "tuna-akili-timamu"]·TR["akıllı,", "akıllıyız"]·urd["ہوش-میں", "ہوش-میں-ہیں"]
2. be self-controlled, think soberly — To be self-controlled, to think with sober and temperate judgment. This prescriptive, moral sense appears in Paul's exhortation not to think more highly of oneself than one ought but to think with sober judgment (Rom 12:3), in his charge to young men to be self-controlled (Titus 2:6), and in Peter's call to be clear-minded for prayer (1 Pet 4:7). Spanish 'sed prudentes' and 'pensar con cordura' highlight the deliberate, disciplined character of this thinking. 3×
AR["أَن-يَتَعَقَّلوا", "التَّعَقُّلِ", "تَعَقَّلوا"]·ben["বিবেচক-হতে", "সংযতভাবে-ভাবতে,", "সংযমী-হও"]·DE["nuechtern-sein"]·EN["be-sound-minded", "to-be-self-controlled", "to-think-soberly"]·FR["dans-son-bon-sens", "être-sobre"]·heb["הִתְפַּכְּחוּ", "לִהְיוֹת-מְתֻנִים,", "צְנִיעוּת"]·HI["संयम-से-सोचने-को", "सन्यमि-होन,", "सावधान-रहो"]·ID["berpikir-jernih,", "berpikir-waras", "bijaklah"]·IT["sobrio", "sōphronein", "sōphronēsate"]·jav["waspada", "wicaksana,"]·KO["건전히-생각하게-하라", "근신하라", "지각있도록"]·PT["Sede-sóbrios", "a-serem-prudentes,", "ser-prudente,"]·RU["будьте-благоразумны", "быть-целомудренными", "меру"]·ES["a-ser-prudentes", "pensar-con-cordura", "sed-prudentes"]·SW["kiasi,", "kuwa-wenye-busara", "kuweni-na-akili-timamu"]·TR["aklı-başında-olun", "sağduyulu-düşünmek", "sağduyulu-olmaya,"]·urd["سمجھدار-ہونے-کی", "سنجیدگی-سے-سمجھو", "ہوشیار-ہو"]
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
σωφρον-έω, poetry σᾰοφ- Refs 2nd c.AD+:— to be sound of mind, NT+5th c.BC+ __2 to be temperate, moderate, show self-control, Refs 5th c.BC+; τὸ σωφρονεῖν, ={σωφροσύνη}, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐς Ἀφροδίτην σ. Refs 5th c.BC+; of soldiers, σ. καὶ εὐτακτεῖνRefs 5th c.BC+; opposed to ὑπερφρονέω, NT: with a participle, πέμποντες σωφρονοῖμεν ἄν Refs 5th c.BC+ __3 come to one's senses, learn moderation, Refs…