διαγρηγορέω

Pronunciation Guide: dee-ah-gray-go-REH-oh

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1235: διαγρηγορέω (diagrēgoreō) describes a state of becoming fully awake or remaining completely awake after having been asleep or drowsy. It carries the nuance of a sudden, complete awakening that brings heightened awareness and alertness. In Scripture, this awakening often coincides with spiritual illumination or the witnessing of something extraordinary.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of speech: Verb
• Compound of διά (dia, “through, thoroughly”) + γρηγορέω (grēgoreō, “to be awake, watchful”)
• Aorist passive participle form in its only New Testament occurrence
• Rare word in biblical Greek, appearing only once in Luke 9:32
• Primarily used in narrative contexts to describe a significant transition from sleep to wakefulness

διαγρηγορέω Morphology:

• διαγρηγορέω (present active indicative) – I am becoming fully awake
• διαγρηγορήσω (future active indicative) – I will become fully awake
• διαγρηγόρησα (aorist active indicative) – I became fully awake
• διαγρηγορηθείς (aorist passive participle) – having become fully awake

Origin & History

The verb διαγρηγορέω is a compound word combining the preposition διά (dia), which intensifies the meaning of the root verb, with γρηγορέω (grēgoreō), meaning “to be awake” or “to be watchful.” The prefix διά suggests a complete or thorough action, giving the compound the sense of “to be thoroughly awakened” or “to remain fully awake through something.”

In classical Greek literature, the word appears infrequently but can be found in medical writings of Galen and Hippocrates, where it refers to patients experiencing periods of complete wakefulness between sleep. In the Septuagint (LXX), the simple form γρηγορέω appears more frequently, especially in wisdom literature, but the compound διαγρηγορέω does not occur. Its appearance in Luke’s Gospel represents a specialized usage by the author to convey a particular state of consciousness that was significant to the Transfiguration narrative.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• A complete transition from sleep to full wakefulness
• The state of remaining awake through or during a period when one might normally sleep
• A sudden awakening with heightened awareness of surroundings
• An awakening that coincides with spiritual revelation or divine manifestation
• The process of becoming alert enough to perceive what was previously hidden

διαγρηγορέω Translation Options:

• “Became fully awake” – Emphasizes the completion of the transition from sleep to wakefulness
• “Having remained awake” – Highlights the continuity of wakefulness through a challenging period
• “When they were fully alert” – Focuses on the resulting state of heightened awareness
• “Having kept awake through” – Stresses the effort or process of maintaining wakefulness
• “After rousing completely” – Captures the sudden nature of the awakening

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, διαγρηγορέω appears only once, in Luke 9:32, during the account of the Transfiguration of Jesus. Here, Peter, John, and James were overcome with sleep while Jesus was praying, but then “they became fully awake” (διαγρηγορήσαντες) and witnessed the glory of the transfigured Messiah along with Moses and Elijah. This singular usage carries profound theological significance as it marks the transition from the disciples’ natural state of human weakness (falling asleep) to spiritual alertness that enabled them to witness divine glory.

The rarity of this term suggests that Luke chose it deliberately to emphasize the dramatic shift in the disciples’ consciousness. This was not merely awakening from physical sleep but an awakening to spiritual reality. Though the compound form does not appear elsewhere in Scripture, the root word γρηγορέω occurs frequently in contexts calling for spiritual vigilance.

• “But Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, and when they were fully awake [διαγρηγορήσαντες] they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.” Luke 9:32

Cultural Insights

In the ancient Mediterranean world, the state between sleep and wakefulness held special significance in several cultural contexts. Greek philosophers often used sleep and wakefulness as metaphors for ignorance and knowledge. Plato, in his “Allegory of the Cave,” portrays philosophical enlightenment as an awakening from a dream-like state to true reality. This conceptual framework would have resonated with Luke’s Greek audience.

Additionally, in Jewish apocalyptic literature, divine visions often came to prophets in states between sleeping and waking. Daniel received many of his visions while in bed, yet fully aware (Daniel 7:1-2). This tradition of receiving revelation in liminal states of consciousness provides important background for understanding why Luke emphasized the disciples’ awakening before witnessing the Transfiguration. The disciple’s experience parallels Moses’ encounter with יהוה (Yahweh) on Mount Sinai, where the glory of God was also revealed on a mountaintop (Exodus 24:15-18).

Theological Significance

The single usage of διαγρηγορέω in Scripture carries profound theological weight. Coming at the pivotal moment of the Transfiguration, it marks the boundary between ordinary human perception and the ability to perceive divine reality. The disciples needed to be “fully awakened” before they could witness Christ’s glory—suggesting that spiritual realities require a particular state of awareness beyond our normal consciousness.

This concept resonates throughout Scripture, where spiritual awakening precedes divine revelation. Just as Adam needed to be put into a deep sleep before God could reveal the profound mystery of Eve’s creation (Genesis 2:21-22), and just as Jacob needed to sleep before receiving his vision of the heavenly ladder (Genesis 28:10-17), the disciples needed to experience both sleep and awakening to witness the revelation of the Messiah’s glory. This pattern reveals God’s sovereignty in human perception—He determines when and how humans may perceive divine realities.

The awakening of the disciples also foreshadows the greater awakening that all believers will experience at the resurrection, when we will see the Lord in His glory with fully awakened spiritual perception (1 Corinthians 15:51-52, 1 John 3:2).

Personal Application

Our spiritual lives often mirror the experience captured in διαγρηγορέω—we move between states of spiritual drowsiness and awakening. Like the disciples, we may find ourselves heavy with sleep in moments when God’s glory is being revealed. Our natural tendency toward spiritual dullness can prevent us from perceiving the divine realities surrounding us daily.

This word invites us to pray for spiritual awakening—to ask God to fully rouse our spiritual senses so we might see His glory in our everyday lives. Just as the disciples needed divine intervention to become fully alert to Christ’s transfigured state, we too need the Holy Spirit to awaken us to spiritual realities that our natural senses cannot perceive. In your prayer life, consider asking for this διαγρηγορέω experience—a complete awakening to the presence and glory of God that surrounds you even now.

Related Words

• γρηγορέω (grēgoreō) – to stay awake, be vigilant or watchful; the root word of διαγρηγορέω that emphasizes ongoing spiritual alertness rather than a specific awakening event. See G1127
• ἐγείρω (egeirō) – to awaken, rise up; often used for physical awakening from sleep but also for resurrection from death, emphasizing the action of rising rather than the state of wakefulness. See G1453
• ἐξυπνίζω (exypnizō) – to awaken from sleep; a more general term for rousing someone from physical sleep without the spiritual connotations of διαγρηγορέω. See G1852
• νήφω (nēphō) – to be sober, vigilant; metaphorically describes mental clarity and self-control, complementing the concept of spiritual alertness. See G3525
• ἀγρυπνέω (agrypneō) – to be sleepless, keep watch; emphasizes prolonged wakefulness or watchfulness, especially in prayer. See G69

Did you Know?

• Did you know that the Transfiguration, where διαγρηγορέω appears, is one of the few events recorded in all three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), yet only Luke uses this specific term to describe the disciples’ awakening? This suggests Luke, as a physician, may have been particularly interested in states of consciousness and chose this precise medical term intentionally to convey the disciples’ transition from sleep to heightened awareness.
• Did you know that ancient Jewish mystical traditions placed great emphasis on states of consciousness between sleep and wakefulness as ideal conditions for receiving divine revelation? The Merkabah mystics practiced techniques to achieve states similar to what Luke describes with διαγρηγορέω—a fully alert, yet receptive state of consciousness where heavenly realities could be perceived. This cultural background illuminates why Luke emphasized this particular detail in his account.
• Did you know that modern neuroscience has identified specific brain states between deep sleep and full wakefulness that enhance certain types of perception and creative insight? These transitional states, similar to what διαγρηγορέω might describe, are characterized by theta brain waves and are associated with heightened intuition and receptivity to new insights—perhaps paralleling on a physical level what the disciples experienced spiritually at the Transfiguration.

Remember This

διαγρηγορέω captures that pivotal moment when our spiritual senses awaken to divine glory—when the veil between heaven and earth thins, and we glimpse, if only briefly, the radiant reality of who the Messiah truly is.