ὕπνος (hupnos)
hupnos
sleep
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek noun hupnos simply means sleep, referring to the natural state of rest. In the Gospels and Acts, it appears in straightforward narratives where characters are resting or unaware. For instance, Matthew 1:24 records Joseph rising from sleep after a dream, while Luke 9:32 describes Peter and his companions being heavy with sleep during the Transfiguration. John 11:11 uses the term literally when Jesus tells his disciples that Lazarus has fallen asleep before clarifying that he means death.
Paul introduces a metaphorical layer in Romans 13:11, urging believers to wake from spiritual slumber as salvation draws near. This figurative use suggests a state of moral or spiritual unawareness rather than physical rest. The sources note that this usage aligns with the Old Testament Hebrew terms for sleep and dreams, indicating a consistent biblical pattern where physical rest symbolizes a deeper condition of the soul.
The word’s simplicity allows it to bridge the literal and the theological without ambiguity. Translators consistently render it as "sleep," preserving the connection between bodily rest and spiritual alertness. This dual capacity makes hupnos a precise tool for describing both human vulnerability and the need for divine awakening.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word hupnos describes the natural state of rest that refreshes our bodies. In the Gospels, it appears in simple moments where Jesus’ followers are tired or unaware, reminding us that human weakness is part of our shared experience. Even when Peter and others were heavy with sleep during the Transfiguration, their physical limits did not disqualify them from witnessing divine glory.
Yet this ordinary word also carries a deeper call. Paul urges believers to wake from spiritual slumber because salvation draws near. This invitation is not about guilt but about hope. It reminds us that God’s light is always present, waiting for us to open our eyes and respond with gratitude.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- sleep3×
- with sleep.1×
- of sleep1×
- by sleep1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὕπνου4×
- ὕπνῳ.1×
- ὕπνῳ1×
Key Verses
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Romans 13:11
Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed.
This verse uses sleep metaphorically to describe spiritual alertness and the urgency of salvation.
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John 11:13
Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he spoke of taking rest in sleep.
Here the disciples misunderstand Jesus’ use of sleep as a metaphor for death, highlighting how physical language can obscure spiritual truth.
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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.
Peter’s heavy sleep shows that even devoted followers experience human fatigue, yet they still witness Christ’s glory upon waking.