### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **éxypnos**, represented by `{{G1853}}`, is a specific term for being **awake**. It appears only **1 time** across **1 unique verse** in the Bible. Derived from ἐκ ("out of") and ὕπνος ("sleep"), its literal meaning is to be "out of sleep," describing the moment of waking.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole use of `{{G1853}}` is found in a dramatic narrative in the book of Acts. The keeper of the prison `{{G1200}}` is described as "awaking **out of his sleep**" to find the prison doors `{{G2374}}` open. This sudden awakening leads to a moment of crisis, as he immediately supposes the prisoners `{{G1198}}` had fled `{{G1628}}` and draws his sword `{{G3162}}` with the intent to kill `{{G337}}` himself `{{G1438}}`, fearing the consequences of a perceived escape [[Acts 16:27]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its only context help to clarify the scene:
* `{{G1200}}` **desmophýlax** (jailor, keeper of the prison): This identifies the person who becomes **awake**. The term is defined as "a jailer (as guarding the prisoners)" and sets the stage for his professional responsibility and subsequent panic [[Acts 16:27]].
* `{{G1096}}` **gínomai** (to become): This verb is used for the action of "awaking." It means "to cause to be... (reflexively) to become (come into being)," which in this context describes the jailer's transition from a state of sleep to one of wakefulness [[Acts 16:27]].
* `{{G1628}}` **ekpheúgō** (to flee out): This is what the jailer assumed had happened. The word means "to flee out:--escape, flee," and it is this supposition that drives him to despair [[Acts 16:27]].
* `{{G337}}` **anairéō** (kill, slay): This word describes the jailer's intended action upon waking up to the crisis. It means "to take away (violently), i.e. abolish, murder," highlighting the severity of his desperation [[Acts 16:27]].
### Theological Significance
While not a major theological term, the context of `{{G1853}}` carries significant weight in its narrative.
* **Awakening to Crisis:** The term marks the transition from a state of unawareness (sleep) to one of immediate and critical responsibility. The jailer wakes up not to peace, but to a situation he believes will cost him his life.
* **Perception and Assumption:** Being **awake** is instantly linked to seeing `{{G1492}}` and supposing `{{G3543}}`. This sequence illustrates how physical perception can lead to a flawed assumption that governs a person's desperate actions [[Acts 16:27]].
* **Human Desperation:** The use of **éxypnos** is the catalyst for a moment of profound human despair. The jailer's response to being awake and seeing the open prison doors is to attempt suicide, which reveals the immense pressure and mortal stakes of his position.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G1853}}` is a precise term used once in Scripture to denote the literal act of waking from sleep. Its importance comes from its singular, dramatic context in Acts, where it triggers a chain of events rooted in perception, assumption, and desperation. It vividly captures the pivotal moment when the Philippian jailer awakens to a perceived disaster, demonstrating how a simple physical action can initiate a life-altering crisis.
TRV