διαγρηγορέω (diagrēgoreō)
diagrēgoreō
to wake
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb diagrēgoreō describes a state of being fully awake or remaining alert through the night. Derived from the intensive prefix dia- and the root for waking, it conveys more than simple consciousness; it implies a sustained, thorough vigilance that persists despite fatigue.
This word appears only once in the New Testament, in Luke 9:32. The Gospel writer uses it to describe Peter, James, and John on the mountain of transfiguration. They had been sleeping but were suddenly made fully awake to witness Jesus’ glory. The term captures that precise moment when sleep is completely shaken off and attention is fixed on a divine reality.
Translators often render this as "fully awake" or "wide awake." This choice highlights the sudden shift from rest to intense awareness. It is not merely opening one’s eyes, but a complete mental and spiritual alertness triggered by the presence of Christ.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
On the mountain of transfiguration, Peter and his friends were overcome by exhaustion. When Jesus was revealed in His glory, they did not just open their eyes; they were fully awake to a spiritual reality that shifted their entire perspective. The Greek word used here suggests an intense alertness, a waking up that goes beyond physical consciousness to see what God is doing.
Life often brings moments where we feel spiritually drowsy or distracted by our fatigue. This passage reminds us that Christ can awaken our hearts to His presence and power. It invites us to seek that same clarity, where the distractions of the world fade and we focus on the majesty of Jesus. In those quiet moments of attention, we find strength and hope.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- having awoken fully1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- διαγρηγορήσαντες1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 9:32
Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men who stood with him.
This verse captures the precise moment the disciples transition from physical sleep to spiritual awareness, witnessing Jesus' glory with full attention.