1235. diagrégoreó

Lexical Summary

diagrégoreó: To be fully awake, to be thoroughly alert

Original Word: διαγρηγορέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: diagrégoreó
Pronunciation: dee-ag-ray-gor-eh'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (dee-ag-ray-gor-eh'-o)
KJV: be awake
NASB: fully awake
Word Origin: [from G1223 (διά - through) and G1127 (γρηγορεύω - alert)]

1. to waken thoroughly

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

be awake.

From dia and gregoreuo; to waken thoroughly -- be awake.

see GREEK dia

see GREEK gregoreuo

HELPS Word-studies

1235 diagrēgoréō (from 1223 /diá, "thoroughly" which intensifies 1127 /grēgoreúō, "awaken") – properly, thoroughly, fully (totally) awakened (note the force of the prefix, dia) and used only in Lk 9:32. It emphatically expresses how the sleeping apostles were utterly shocked into full-alertness by the manifestation of Christ's glory.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from dia and grégoreó
Definition
to keep awake, to be fully awake
NASB Translation
fully awake (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1235: διαγρηγορέω

διαγρηγορέω, διαγρηγόρω: 1 aorist διεγρηγόρησα; to watch through, (Herodian, 3, 4, 8 (4, Bekker edition) πάσης τῆς νυκτός ... διαγρηγορήσαντες, Niceph. Greg. Hist. Byz., p. 205 f. and 571 a.); to remain awake: Luke 9:32 (for they had overcome the force of sleep, with which they were weighed down, βεβαρημένοι ὕπνῳ); (others (e. g., R. V. text) to be fully awake, cf. Niceph. as above, p. 205 f. δόξαν ἀπεβαλομην ὥσπερ οἱ διαγρηγορήσαντες τά ἐν τοῖς ὑπνοῖς ὀνειρατα; Winer's De verb. comp. etc. Part v., p. 11f).

Topical Lexicon

Root and Semantic Field

The verb behind Strong’s Greek Number 1235 expresses a state of heightened wakefulness that breaks through physical or spiritual drowsiness. It belongs to the same family as the New Testament calls to “watch” and “be alert,” but with an intensive force that highlights a decisive, complete arousal.

New Testament Occurrence

Luke 9:32 is the sole instance: “Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep, but when they became fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him” (Berean Standard Bible). The verb paints the moment the three disciples passed from dull stupefaction to vivid awareness of the glory of Jesus unveiled on the mountain.

Context within the Transfiguration

1. From Drowsiness to Revelation
• The Transfiguration took place “as He was praying” (Luke 9:29). The disciples’ heavy sleep contrasts with Christ’s vigilant communion. Their sudden wakefulness parallels earlier biblical patterns where God’s disclosure follows an awakening (for example, Jacob in Genesis 28:16).
2. Witness Qualification
• Luke stresses that the apostles did not merely dream the scene; they became unmistakably awake and thus reliable witnesses (2 Peter 1:16–18).
3. A Foreshadowing of Resurrection Awareness
• The disciples’ sharp arousal anticipates the resurrection morning when spiritual dullness will give way to clarity (Luke 24:31).

Theological Themes of Wakefulness

• Revelation depends on God-granted alertness. Fleshly fatigue often veils divine realities (Matthew 26:40–41).
• Wakefulness is linked to glory. Throughout Scripture, eyes opened by God behold manifestations of His presence (2 Kings 6:17; Acts 7:55–56).
• Spiritual lethargy imperils discipleship. Luke juxtaposes the disciples’ early sleep with the commission to “listen to Him” (Luke 9:35), underscoring that attentiveness is prerequisite to obedience.

Relation to Other Biblical Calls to Watchfulness

The transfiguration episode stands as a lived example of the wider New Testament mandate:
• Romans 13:11 – “It is already the hour for you to wake up from your slumber.”
• 1 Thessalonians 5:6 – “So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober.”
• Mark 13:35–37 – Christ’s eschatological exhortation to “keep watch.”

The intensive awakening of Luke 9:32 echoes and validates these imperatives, showing that true wakefulness is both possible and necessary through divine enablement.

Historical Interpretation

Early church writers drew pastoral lessons:
• Origen viewed the sudden awakening as symbolic of the soul’s illumination through Scripture and prayer.
• Gregory the Great pointed to the disciples’ initial sleep as evidence of human weakness, magnifying the grace that rouses believers to behold Christ.

Pastoral and Ministry Application

1. Cultivating Vigilant Prayer
• Leaders are reminded that spiritual insight accompanies perseverance in prayer, mirroring Christ’s own posture before the Transfiguration.
2. Encouraging Congregational Alertness
• Teaching on Luke 9:32 can challenge complacency, calling the church to readiness for present-tense encounters with God’s glory and the future appearing of Christ.
3. Assurance for Weary Disciples
• The text offers hope: even groggy followers can, by God’s intervention, be brought to full awareness and renewed mission focus.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 1235 encapsulates a decisive awakening that ushers believers from dullness into clarity. Luke employs it at the pivotal moment the apostles behold the glorified Christ, thereby illustrating the necessity and blessing of spiritual vigilance throughout redemptive history and ongoing ministry.

Forms and Transliterations

διαγρηγορησαντες διαγρηγορήσαντες diagregoresantes diagregorḗsantes diagrēgorēsantes diagrēgorḗsantes

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 9:32 V-APA-NMP
GRK: βεβαρημένοι ὕπνῳ διαγρηγορήσαντες δὲ εἶδον
NAS: with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw
KJV: and when they were awake, they saw
INT: heavy with sleep having awoke fully moreover they saw

Strong's Greek 1235
1 Occurrence

διαγρηγορήσαντες — 1 Occ.