ἀφυπνόω (aphupnoō)
aphupnoō
to fall sleep
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb aphupnoō describes the simple act of falling asleep. It appears only once in the New Testament, in Luke 8:23, where Jesus and his disciples are crossing the lake during a sudden storm. The text notes that while they were sailing, Jesus had fallen asleep on a cushion in the stern.
Etymologically, the word combines a privative prefix with the root for sleep, literally meaning to "go to sleep" or enter into slumber. Unlike other Greek words that might emphasize deep rest or death-like sleep, aphupnoō focuses on the transition from wakefulness to sleep. This single usage highlights Jesus’ genuine human exhaustion and peace amidst the chaos of the storm.
Translators consistently render this term as "fell asleep," capturing the natural, physical state of the disciples' teacher. The rarity of the word in Scripture makes its occurrence in Luke particularly notable, offering a vivid glimpse into the humanity of Jesus during his ministry.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word aphupnoō simply means to fall asleep. It appears only once in the New Testament, in Luke 8:23. The scene is vivid: Jesus and his disciples are on a boat when a sudden storm strikes. While the wind howls and waves crash, Jesus is resting peacefully.
This detail shows us that Jesus was truly human. He felt tired and needed rest. Yet even in exhaustion, he had a deep sense of peace. For us, this reminds us that God understands our weariness. We can bring our struggles to him without pretending to be strong all the time.
When life feels chaotic, remember that Jesus was present in the storm. He did not panic. He rested. This gives us hope that we are not alone in our fears. His peace is available to us too.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- He fell asleep,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀφύπνωσεν,1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 8:23
But as they sailed, he fell asleep. A wind storm came down on the lake, and they were taking on dangerous amounts of water.
This verse uniquely captures Jesus' genuine human exhaustion and tranquil trust in the Father amidst a life-threatening crisis.