Greek · G4993, G3525 · unreviewed

σωφρονέω / νήφω

Be of sound mind · be sober

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

σωφρονέω G4993 be of sound mind
Pronunciation sōphronéō
Rational self-control exercised in mind and behavior, rejecting both ecstatic excess and arrogant overestimation.
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νήφω G3525 be sober
Pronunciation nḗphō
Moral and spiritual alertness; mental clarity for discernment, not mere physical sobriety from wine.
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What does σωφρονέω / νήφω (sōphroneō / nēphō) mean in the Bible?

σωφρονέω · νήφω is a Greek word meaning "sound-minded, sober, clear-headed".

Full entry for σωφρονέω / νήφω (G4993, G3525) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

sound-minded, sober, clear-headed
Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses
Present Aorist
Voices
Active
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality
Present Active Mark 5:15 · Luke 8:35
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract
Present Active Rom 12:3 · Titus 2:6
Indicative states a fact or reality
Present Active 2 Cor 5:13
Imperative command or strong request
Aorist Active 1 Pet 4:7
Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 5 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect
ongoing 1 infinitive 2 participle 2
Tense
present 5
Voice
active 5
Mood
participle 2 infinitive 2 indicative 1

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources