Wake up, O sleeper
This phrase serves as a call to spiritual awakening and revival. The Greek word for "wake up" is "ἐγείρω" (egeirō), which means to arise or to awaken from sleep. In the context of Ephesians, Paul is urging believers to rise from spiritual lethargy and become alert to the realities of their faith. Historically, this call echoes the prophetic voices of the Old Testament, where God often called His people to awaken from their spiritual slumber and return to Him. The imagery of a "sleeper" suggests a state of inactivity or unawareness, which is contrasted with the vibrant life that comes from being awake in Christ.

rise up from the dead
The phrase "rise up from the dead" uses the Greek word "ἀνίστημι" (anistēmi), which means to stand up or to rise. This is a metaphorical call to leave behind the old life of sin, which is often equated with death in the New Testament. The imagery of resurrection is powerful here, as it points to the transformative power of Christ's resurrection, which believers are called to emulate in their own lives. Historically, this reflects the early Christian understanding of baptism as a symbolic death and resurrection, where one rises to new life in Christ.

and Christ will shine on you
The promise that "Christ will shine on you" uses the Greek word "ἐπιφαύσκω" (epiphauskō), meaning to shine upon or to illuminate. This is a beautiful depiction of the light of Christ dispelling the darkness of sin and ignorance. In the scriptural context, light is often associated with truth, purity, and divine presence. The historical backdrop of this imagery can be traced to the Old Testament, where God's presence is frequently described as light. For instance, in Isaiah 60:1, the prophet declares, "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you." This promise assures believers that as they awaken and rise from spiritual death, they will be enveloped in the illuminating presence of Christ, guiding and transforming their lives.

1. Paul the Apostle
The author of the letter to the Ephesians, Paul was a key figure in the early Christian church, known for his missionary journeys and theological teachings.

2. Ephesus
A major city in Asia Minor, Ephesus was a center of commerce and culture. The Ephesian church was one of the early Christian communities to which Paul wrote.

3. Christ
Central to this verse, Christ is the one who brings light and life to those who are spiritually asleep or dead.Spiritual Awakening
The call to "wake up" is a metaphor for spiritual awakening. Believers are urged to be alert and aware of their spiritual condition.

Resurrection Power
"Rise up from the dead" signifies the transformative power of Christ's resurrection, which believers are invited to experience in their own lives.

Christ's Illumination
"Christ will shine on you" emphasizes the role of Jesus as the source of spiritual light and guidance. Believers are encouraged to live in His light.

Urgency of the Gospel
The verse underscores the urgency of responding to the Gospel message, as spiritual lethargy can lead to missed opportunities for growth and service.

Living in the Light
Believers are called to live as children of light, reflecting Christ's character in their daily lives and interactions.(14) Wherefore he (or, it) saith.--This phrase is used (as also in James 4:6) in Ephesians 4:8 to introduce a scriptural quotation; and the most natural completion of the elliptical expression is by the supply of the nominative, "God," or "the scripture," from the ordinary phrase of quotation or citation. But no scriptural passage can be adduced which, with the fullest allowance for the apostolic freedom of quotation, comes near enough to be a satisfactory original of this passage. The nearest is Isaiah 60:1, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee;" and this is certainly very far off indeed. Nor is the case much helped by blending other passages (as, for example, Isaiah 26:19) with this. Some additional verbal coincidences may be gained, but at the expense of still greater diversity from the spirit of the passage as a whole. Hence we are driven to conclude that the quotation is not from Holy Scripture. Yet the very form shows that it is from something well known. An apocryphal quotation is imagined by some, but with no knowledge of any quotation at all resembling it. Others have supposed it a traditional saying of our Lord (like Acts 20:35); but the form seems decisive against this. On the whole, it seems most likely that it is from some well-known Christian hymn. In the original a rhythmical character, rough, but by no means indistinct, strikes us at once. The growth of defined and formal expressions--mostly, it is true, of embryo creeds of Christian faith, as in 1Corinthians 15:3-4; Hebrews 6:1-2; 1Timothy 3:16, in the last of which the acknowledged difficulty of etymological construction in the true reading may perhaps be best explained by the supposition of quotation--is notable in the later Epistles, and especially in the "faithful sayings" of the Pastoral Epistles. The use of some liturgical forms is traced with high probability to a very early date. The embodiment of popular faith in hymns, always natural, was peculiarly natural as adapted to the imperfect education of many early converts, and to the practice of trusting so much to memory, and so comparatively little to writing. Some such usage certainly appears to be referred to in the celebrated letter of Pliny to Trajan, the first heathen description of Christian worship. . . . Verse 14. - Therefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. This is evidently intended to give an additional impulse to the Ephesians to walk as children of the light; but a difficulty arises as to the source of the quotation. There is no difficulty with the formula, "he saith," which, like the same expression in Ephesians 4:8, is clearly to be referred to God. But no such words occur in the Old Testament. The passage that comes nearest to them is Isaiah 60:1," Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord hath risen upon thee." The simplest and best explanation is, not that the apostle quoted from any lost book, but flint he did not mean to give the words, but only the spirit of the passage. This is evident from his introducing the word "Christ." It must be owned that the apostle makes a very free use of the prophet's words. But the fundamental idea in the prophecy is, that when the Church gets the light of heaven, she is not to lie still, as it' she were asleep or dead, but is to be active, is to make use of the light, is to use it for illuminating the world. The apostle maintains that the Ephesian Church had got the light of heaven; she, therefore, was not to sleep or loiter, but spring forth as if from the grave, and pour light on the world. The changes which the apostle makes on the form of the prophecy are remarkable, and show that it was to its spirit and substance rather than to its precise form and letter that he attached the authority of inspiration.

Parallel Commentaries ...


So
διὸ (dio)
Conjunction
Strong's 1352: Wherefore, on which account, therefore. From dia and hos; through which thing, i.e. Consequently.

it is said:
λέγει (legei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

“Wake up,
Ἔγειρε (Egeire)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1453: (a) I wake, arouse, (b) I raise up. Probably akin to the base of agora; to waken, i.e. Rouse.

O
ὁ (ho)
Article - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

sleeper,
καθεύδων (katheudōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2518: To sleep, be sleeping. From kata and heudo; to lie down to rest, i.e. to fall asleep.

rise up
ἀνάστα (anasta)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 450: To raise up, set up; I rise from among (the) dead; I arise, appear. From ana and histemi; to stand up.

from
ἐκ (ek)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

dead,
νεκρῶν (nekrōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3498: (a) adj: dead, lifeless, subject to death, mortal, (b) noun: a dead body, a corpse. From an apparently primary nekus; dead.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

Christ
Χριστός (Christos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.

will shine on
ἐπιφαύσει (epiphausei)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2017: To shine upon, give light to. A form of epiphaino; to illuminate.

you.”
σοι (soi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.


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NT Letters: Ephesians 5:14 Therefore he says Awake you who sleep (Ephes. Eph. Ep)