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καθεύδω

katheúdō

G2518 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To sleep; refers to the act of being asleep, in a physical or literal sense, or to fall asleep. In certain contexts, especially figurative, it may signify being unaware or inattentive, or refer euphemistically to the state of death (as in 'to fall asleep' in death). Core meaning involves the condition or act of sleeping, with extended application in metaphorical language.

Semantic Range

to sleep (literal), to fall asleep, to be asleep, to be inattentive (figurative), to die (euphemism/figurative)

Root / Etymology

From the root καθευδ- (καθεύδω) possibly formed from the prepositional prefix κατά (down, wholly) and an otherwise unattested verb *εὕδω (to sleep), related to the more classical εὕδω 'to sleep'. Connection to κατά is possible, but direct composition is not fully certain. Etymology uncertain beyond clear association with general Indo-European roots for 'sleep'.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, καθεύδω primarily denotes literal sleep and appears alongside εὕδω, a more archaic form. In the Koine and New Testament periods, καθεύδω becomes the dominant verb for 'to sleep', often replacing εὕδω in regular usage. In figurative contexts, including in Jesus' teachings and Paul's letters, it may indicate spiritual inattentiveness or metaphorically describe death (especially as a softened or indirect expression). English Bibles commonly translate the term as 'to sleep', but may use 'to be dead' or 'to fall asleep' in passages about death, potentially smoothing or obscuring the figurative layer present in the Greek. Not to be confused with κοιμάω, which more specifically and frequently towards the later period denotes 'to put to sleep', 'to lie down', or is used as a euphemism for death. Καθεύδω emphasizes the passive state of sleep rather than the act of causing sleep or reclining.

Translation Consistency

primary "sleep" 21 occurrences

“Sleep” is the simplest, most natural single-word base that covers the full semantic range in the SILEX: literal sleep, falling/becoming asleep, being asleep, figurative inattentiveness, and the common euphemism for death. It matches the majority of existing renderings and is easy to inflect consistently for all forms under G2518.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"asleep" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κατά and (to sleep); to lie down to rest, i.e. (by implication) to fall asleep (literally or figuratively):--(be a-)sleep.

Root Family

καθεύδω (katheudō) — to sleep, to be asleep

Root καθευδ- to sleep, to be asleep

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2518-10 καθεύδοντας katheudontas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL sleeping sleeping ones sleeping ones 5
G2518-07 καθεύδετε katheudete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL you are sleeping you are sleeping are you sleeping 3
G2518-04 καθεύδει katheudei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG is sleeping he/she/it is sleeping he/she/it is sleeping 3
G2518-09 καθεύδων katheudon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG sleeper one sleeping one sleeping 2
G2518-08 καθεύδωμεν katheudomen V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL sleep let us sleep let us sleep 2
G2518-11 καθεύδοντες katheudontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL sleep sleeping (masculine plural) sleeping 1
G2518-12 καθεύδουσιν katheudousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL sleep they are sleeping sleep 1
G2518-01 ἐκάθευδεν ekatheuden V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG was asleep was sleeping was sleeping 1
G2518-06 καθεύδεις katheudeis V PRS ACT IND 2P SG are you sleeping you are sleeping are you sleeping 1
G2518-03 καθεύδῃ katheude V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG should sleep may sleep may sleep 1

Occurrences in Scripture

22 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2518-01 Matthew 8:24 ἐκάθευδεν ekatheuden V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG was asleep was sleeping was sleeping
G2518-04 Matthew 9:24 καθεύδει katheudei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG is sleeping he/she/it is sleeping he/she/it is sleeping
G2518-05 Matthew 13:25 καθεύδειν katheudein V PRS ACT INF sleeping to be sleeping sleeping
G2518-02 Matthew 25:5 ἐκάθευδον ekatheudon V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL began to sleep they were sleeping they were sleeping
G2518-10 Matthew 26:40 καθεύδοντας katheudontas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL sleeping sleeping ones sleeping ones
G2518-10 Matthew 26:43 καθεύδοντας katheudontas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL sleeping sleeping ones sleeping ones
G2518-07 Matthew 26:45 καθεύδετε katheudete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL you are sleeping you are sleeping sleep
G2518-03 Mark 4:27 καθεύδῃ katheude V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG should sleep may sleep may sleep
G2518-09 Mark 4:38 καθεύδων katheudon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG sleeping one sleeping sleeping
G2518-04 Mark 5:39 καθεύδει katheudei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG is sleeping he/she/it is sleeping he/she/it is sleeping
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