Word Study for G69 (ἀγρυπνέω)

agrypnéō /ag-roop-neh'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootultimately from Α (as negative particle) and ὕπνος

Meaningto be sleepless, i.e. keep awake

KJV usagewatch.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of agrypnéō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word agrypnéō, represented by G69, means to be sleepless or to keep awake, and is typically translated as to watch. Rooted in the concept of negating sleep, it appears 4 times across 4 unique verses, emphasizing a state of vigilant alertness rather than simple wakefulness.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its scriptural usage, G69 is consistently presented as an active and purposeful state. Believers are commanded to watch and pray in anticipation of future events, so they might be found worthy to stand before the Son of man (Luke 21:36, Mark 13:33). This watchfulness extends to spiritual care, where it is linked with "all perseverance and supplication for all saints" Ephesians 6:18. The term also describes the duty of spiritual leaders, who watch over the souls of their flock as those who must give an account for their well-being Hebrews 13:17.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the nature of this watchfulness:

G991 blépō (to look at): This word, meaning to see, behold, or beware, is used alongside agrypnéō to call for a comprehensive alertness. In the command to "Take ye heed, watch and pray," it highlights the need to be observant of one's surroundings and potential dangers Mark 13:33.
G4336 proseúchomai (to pray to God): This term for prayer is frequently paired with agrypnéō, indicating that watchfulness is an integral part of a prayerful life. This connection is seen in the instruction for praying always and watching thereunto with perseverance Ephesians 6:18.
G3982 peíthō (to obey): This word is presented as the proper response to those who watch. In the context of spiritual leadership, the congregation is told to obey and submit to those who watch for their souls, creating a direct link between pastoral oversight and the congregation's trust Hebrews 13:17.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G69 is significant, highlighting a required disposition for believers.

Eschatological Readiness: The command to watch is often tied to being prepared for Christ's return and the events to come. It is a call to a state of spiritual alertness to avoid being caught unprepared (Luke 21:36, Mark 13:33).
Pastoral Accountability: The term defines a core responsibility of spiritual leaders. Their "sleepless" care for the souls under their charge is a serious duty for which they will be held accountable, and it is intended to be a source of joy, not grief Hebrews 13:17.
Intercessory Vigilance: Watchfulness is not solely for personal protection but is also an outward-focused act of care. It involves diligent and persistent prayer on behalf of all other believers Ephesians 6:18.

Summary

In summary, G69 is not merely about forgoing sleep. It is a crucial term that conveys a state of active, intentional, and spiritual alertness. Whether as a personal command to be ready for the Lord's coming, a call to intercede for the saints, or a description of the solemn duty of a spiritual leader, agrypnéō signifies a vital, wakeful readiness that is central to the Christian walk.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists one rendering for this word. It is counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the number is how many of them use it. Select it to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 4 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it. These are this word’s own inflections, not words built from it — for those, see Related Words.

ἀγρυπνεῖτε
ἀγρυπνοῦσιν
ἀγρυπνοῦντες

Related Words

1 entry in Strong’s name this word as its origin. These are its derivatives — a different relationship from the inflected forms above, which are this same word bent by grammar.

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 4 verses across 4 of the 27 books. 4 books tie for most frequent (1 verse each); never once in the other 23.

Mark

Luke

Ephesians

Hebrews

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.