ἐκνήφω
eknḗphō
G1594 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
to become sober, to recover clarity of mind (from drunkenness or metaphorical stupor); primarily, to emerge from a state of literal or metaphorical intoxication or confusion, regaining sobriety or clear perception. Frequently used figuratively, to rouse oneself from moral, spiritual, or intellectual drowsiness.
Semantic Range
to become sober (from drunkenness), to recover one's senses, to awaken from stupor (figurative), to regain moral or spiritual alertness, to come to one's senses
Root / Etymology
From ἐκ (out from) and νήφω (to be sober, to be self-controlled).
Historical & Contextual Notes
Attested sparsely in Koine Greek, ἐκνήφω is found in 1 Corinthians 15:34, where it is used metaphorically, urging readers to awaken from a state of moral or doctrinal stupor. In earlier Greek (classical and Hellenistic), the verb is rare and usually connected to the idea of regaining sobriety after drunkenness, but its figurative use (recovering mental or spiritual alertness) becomes more prominent in later texts such as the New Testament. The compound formation emphasizes a movement out of stupor (ἐκ-). Standard English translations often render ἐκνήφω as 'awake,' 'come to one's senses,' or 'sober up'; however, these may obscure the original figurative nuances relating to moral or intellectual clarity. Contrast with νήφω, which more regularly means 'to be sober' or 'to be self-controlled' in a continuous sense, whereas ἐκνήφω focuses on the transition into a sober state, either literally or figuratively.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἐκ and νήφω; (figuratively) to rouse (oneself) out of stupor:--awake.
Root Family
νηφ- (eknḗphō) — to be sober, to regain sobriety, to rouse oneself
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1594-01 |
ἐκνήψατε | eknepsate | V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL |
Sober up | Rouse yourselves to sobriety | Rouse yourselves to sobriety | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1594-01 |
1 Corinthians 15:34 | ἐκνήψατε | eknepsate | V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL |
Sober up | Rouse yourselves to sobriety | Rouse yourselves to sobriety |