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καθεύδω (katheudō)

katheudō

to sleep

G2518 · Greek · New Testament · 20 verses

Quick Reference

Language
Koine Greek
Testament
New Testament
Occurrences
20 verses
Root
—

Word Overview

The verb katheudō simply means to sleep or lie down to rest. In the Gospels, it describes physical slumber in ordinary situations, such as Jesus sleeping in a boat during a storm (Mark 4:38) or his disciples dozing in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:40). It is also used for those who are unconscious or dead, as when Jesus refers to Jairus’s daughter as merely sleeping (Mark 5:39).

Paul extends this image metaphorically. He contrasts spiritual alertness with moral insensibility, warning believers not to be "asleep" in their faith but to stay sober and watchful (1 Thessalonians 5:6). This usage draws on the Old Testament tradition where sleep serves as a euphemism for death, suggesting that physical rest points toward the final rest of the body while the spirit awaits resurrection.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The word katheudō brings us back to the quiet reality of human frailty. In the Gospels, it describes Jesus resting in a storm-tossed boat (Mark 4:38) and His disciples dozing in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:40). These scenes show that even holy people need physical rest. God does not expect us to be tireless machines. He understands our limits and offers peace when the world feels too heavy.

Paul shifts this image in 1 Thessalonians, urging believers to stay spiritually alert (1 Thessalonians 5:6). This is not a call to anxiety, but to hope. We are invited to live with open eyes, trusting that Christ’s work secures our future. Whether we rest physically or wait for His return, our lives are held in His hands.

This word reminds us that sleep is a gift, not a failure. It points to the deep rest we find in Jesus. When we lay down our burdens, we join those who have gone before us in faith. We look forward to the day when every tear is wiped away and we rest fully in His presence.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 20 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • sleeping4×
  • sleeps.3×
  • sleeping;2×
  • sleeping.2×
  • were sleeping.1×
  • we shall sleep1×
  • we may sleep1×
  • was sleeping.1×
  • to sleep1×
  • sleep1×
  • he may sleep1×
  • are you sleeping?1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

  • καθεύδει.3×
  • καθεύδωμεν2×
  • καθεύδοντας·2×
  • καθεύδοντας2×
  • καθεύδετε2×
  • ἐκάθευδον.¶1×
  • ἐκάθευδεν.1×
  • καθεύδῃ1×
  • καθεύδων.1×
  • καθεύδων1×
  • καθεύδουσιν1×
  • καθεύδοντες1×

Key Verses

  • Mark 4:38
    He himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and asked him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are dying?”

    This verse shows Jesus’ genuine humanity and trust in the Father, even amidst a life-threatening storm.

  • Matthew 26:40
    He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What, couldn’t you watch with me for one hour?

    Here the word highlights the disciples’ human weakness and exhaustion during a critical moment of spiritual crisis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does katheudō mean in the Bible?

It is a Greek verb that primarily means to sleep or lie down to rest. In the New Testament, it describes physical slumber, such as Jesus resting in the boat, and is also used metaphorically by Paul to warn against spiritual complacency.

Why does Jesus call the dead girl 'sleeping'?

In Matthew 9:24 and Mark 5:39, Jesus uses sleep as a gentle way to describe death, indicating that He intends to wake her. This reflects an Old Testament view where sleep is a temporary state before resurrection.

Is sleeping in the Bible always bad?

No. Physical rest is natural and necessary, as seen when Jesus slept during the storm (Mark 4:38). However, Paul warns against spiritual sleepiness in 1 Thessalonians 5:6, urging believers to stay alert and sober-minded.

How does this word relate to death?

The Bible often uses sleep as a metaphor for the temporary state of the body after death. In 1 Thessalonians 5:10, Paul assures believers that whether we are awake or asleep (dead), we live together with Christ.

Every Occurrence (20 verses across 5 books)

Matthew 7 verses
Matthew 8:24

Behold, a violent storm came up on the sea, so much that the boat was covered with the waves; but he was asleep.

Matthew 9:24

he said to them, “Make room, because the girl isn’t dead, but sleeping.” They were ridiculing him.

Matthew 13:25

but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away.

Matthew 25:5

Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

Matthew 26:40

He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What, couldn’t you watch with me for one hour?

Matthew 26:43

He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

Matthew 26:45

Then he came to his disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and…

Mark 7 verses
Luke 2 verses
Ephesians 1 verse
I Thessalonians 3 verses