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διανυκτερεύω

dianyktereúō

G1273 verb

SILEX Entry

Root νυκτ- night, to pass, to spend time

Definition

To spend or pass the night, especially to remain at a location throughout the entire night. In the New Testament and other Koine contexts, typically describes an action of staying overnight, often with a nuance of watchfulness or wakefulness, but does not necessarily denote continuous sleeplessness. Used both literally of remaining somewhere overnight and, less commonly, figuratively of enduring through the night.

Semantic Range

to spend the night, to remain overnight, to stay through the night, to continue all night

Root / Etymology

From διά ('throughout, across') and a verb derived from νύξ ('night'); thus, 'to pass through the night.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, the simpler verb νυκτερεύω appeared, meaning 'to pass the night.' The compound form διανυκτερεύω emphasizes the duration— 'to pass the whole night.' In the LXX and New Testament, it is rare and typically occurs in narratives describing travelers or those keeping vigil, e.g., Luke 21:37, where it refers to Jesus spending the night on the Mount of Olives. The Vulgate often translates it as pernoctare. Standard English translations ('spend the night,' 'remain all night') generally capture the basic meaning but may miss nuances of alertness, especially in religious or ritual settings. The word does not necessarily imply sleeplessness or intentional wakefulness, unless the context specifically suggests this (e.g., keeping watch or vigil). There is no direct theological or idiomatic sense beyond its literal meaning of overnight presence.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from διά and a derivative of νύξ; to sit up the whole night:--continue all night.

Root Family

διανυκτερεύω (dianyktereuo) — night, pass through, spend overnight

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G1273-01 διανυκτερεύων dianuktereuon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG spending the night spending the night 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G1273-01 Luke 6:12 διανυκτερεύων dianuktereuon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG spending the night spending the night
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