αὐγή (augē)
augē
daybreak
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun augē refers to the bright light of daybreak or the general radiance of daylight. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Acts 20:11, where Paul rises after a long night of teaching to eat and depart at dawn. The word captures that specific moment when darkness yields to morning light.
Its root meaning is brightness or shine, but in later Greek usage it shifted toward the practical sense of daylight itself. It stands in contrast to darkness, marking the transition from night to day rather than describing a supernatural glow. This distinction separates it from words like phōs, which can denote divine light or spiritual illumination.
Translators typically render augē as "daylight" or "dawn" depending on context. In Acts 20:11, the focus is on the time of day rather than the quality of light. The word reminds readers that Paul’s ministry continued through the night until natural morning arrived, grounding the narrative in ordinary human experience.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word augē points to the quiet moment when night fades into morning light. In Acts 20:11, we see Paul rising after a long evening of teaching, sharing a meal, and speaking until daybreak. This simple detail grounds his ministry in real human rhythm. He did not force energy where there was none; he rested, ate, and waited for the natural light to return before continuing his journey.
For your own life, this offers a gentle reminder that rest is part of faithful work. You do not need to push through exhaustion or ignore the need for sleep. God’s timing often aligns with the turning of the day. When you feel worn out, remember that Paul too waited for the dawn. There is peace in trusting that new strength comes with the morning.
This word invites you to see rest not as a failure of zeal, but as a natural part of following Christ. Whether you are tired from work, worry, or service, there is grace in waiting for the light. Let this small detail encourage you to honor your limits and trust God’s provision for each new day.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- daybreak,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- αὐγῆς,1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 20:11
When he had gone up, had broken bread and eaten, and had talked with them a long while, even until break of day, he departed.
This verse uses augē to mark the exact time Paul stopped teaching and rested, showing that even intense ministry follows natural rhythms of night and day.