verb

nēfamō

Greekνήφω (nēfō)

Strong’sG3525

I am calm, vigilant, sober

stem nēf-6 times in the New Testamentin 3 of 27 books4 forms occur

Translated as

be sober2×self-controlled2×sober1×sober-minded1×

What it means

* νήφω,

to be sober, abstain from wine; metaph., of moral alertness, to be sober, calm, circumspect: I Th 5:6 8, II Ti 4:5 (v. Ellic., in l.), I Pe 1:13 4:7 5:8 (cf. ἀνα-, ἐκ-νήφω, and v. MM, xvii).†

SYN.: ἀγρυπνέω, γρηγορέω.

G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.

Strong’s G3525 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from

Saidnay'-fo

to abstain from wine (keep sober), i.e. (figuratively) be discreet

Fromof uncertain affinity;

King Jamesbe sober, watch.

James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.

Forms in the New Testament

Form and the Greek behind it	What it is	Usually	Times
nēfaneiōνήφωμεν	happening now · wepresent active subjunctive 1st person plural	be sober	2×
nēfasōrνῆφε	happening now · youpresent active imperative 2nd person singular	be sober	1×
nēfavarνήψατε	happened · yeaorist active imperative 2nd person plural	sober	2×
nēfarōtoisνήφοντες	happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine	self-controlled	1×

Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.

Every form the system can build — all 86, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses

Statements — indicative mood, no occurrences

Who person	happening now present	was happening imperfect	will happen future	happened aorist	has happened perfect	had happened pluperfect
I 1st person singular	nēfamō	nēfame	nēfami	nēfama	nēfamē	nēfamelē
you 2nd person singular	nēfasō	nēfase	nēfasi	nēfasa	nēfasē	nēfaselē
he/she/it 3rd person singular	nēfatō	nēfate	nēfati	nēfata	nēfatē	nēfatelē
we 1st person plural	nēfanō	nēfane	nēfani	nēfana	nēfanē	nēfanelē
ye 2nd person plural	nēfavō	nēfave	nēfavi	nēfava	nēfavē	nēfavelē
they 3rd person plural	nēfalō	nēfale	nēfali	nēfala	nēfalē	nēfalelē

May, might — subjunctive mood, 2 occurrences

Who person	happening now present	happened aorist	has happened perfect
I 1st person singular	nēfameiō	nēfameia	nēfameiē
you 2nd person singular	nēfaseiō	nēfaseia	nēfaseiē
he/she/it 3rd person singular	nēfateiō	nēfateia	nēfateiē
we 1st person plural	nēfaneiō2×νήφωμεν	nēfaneia	nēfaneiē
ye 2nd person plural	nēfaveiō	nēfaveia	nēfaveiē
they 3rd person plural	nēfaleiō	nēfaleia	nēfaleiē

Commands — imperative mood, 3 occurrences

Who person	happening now present	happened aorist	has happened perfect
you 2nd person singular	nēfasōr1×νῆφε	nēfasar	nēfasēr
he/she/it 3rd person singular	nēfatōr	nēfatar	nēfatēr
ye 2nd person plural	nēfavōr	nēfavar2×νήψατε	nēfavēr
they 3rd person plural	nēfalōr	nēfalar	nēfalēr

Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences

Who person	happening now present	happened aorist
I 1st person singular	nēfamoiō	nēfamoia
you 2nd person singular	nēfasoiō	nēfasoia
he/she/it 3rd person singular	nēfatoiō	nēfatoia
we 1st person plural	nēfanoiō	nēfanoia
ye 2nd person plural	nēfavoiō	nēfavoia
they 3rd person plural	nēfaloiō	nēfaloia

The “to …” form — infinitive, no occurrences

Who is acting voice	happening now present	will happen future	happened aorist	has happened perfect
the subject acts active voice	nēfarō	nēfari	nēfara	nēfarē

Used as an adjective — participle, 1 occurrence

Who is acting voice	happening now present	will happen future	happened aorist	has happened perfect
the subject acts active voice	nēfarōtos1×	nēfaritos	nēfaratos	nēfarētos

Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.

How every form is built — the slots that make them

nēfstem+aeiwho is acting voice+mstnvl—who person+—eiroistatement, command, wish mood+ōeiaēelēwhen tense+—tthen it declines+—ogender+—sits job in the sentence case

nēf is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.

same in every form varies — every value shown

Where it appears

6 occurrences, every one of them listed

nēfaneiō“be sober”happening now · wepresent active subjunctive 1st person plural2×

1 Thessalonians 5:6“self-controlled”ara oun mē katheudaneiō hōs tois loipois, alla grēgoraneiō kai nēfaneiō.So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober.

1 Thessalonians 5:8“be sober”nis de hēmerau arōtois nēfaneiō, endueratois thōraxon pistiau kai agapau kai perikefalaian elpian sōtērēau;But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation.

nēfasōr“be sober”happening now · youpresent active imperative 2nd person singular1×

2 Timothy 4:5“be sober”sis de nēfasōr en pantei, kakopathasar, ergem poiasar euangelistou, tan diakonian su plēroforasar.But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

nēfavar“sober”happened · yeaorist active imperative 2nd person plural2×

1 Peter 4:7“sober-minded”Panteiu de tem telem engizatē. sōfronavar oun kai nēfavar eis proseuchain;The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.

1 Peter 5:8“sober”nēfavar, grēgoravar. tos antidikos vu diabolos hōs leōnos ōruerōtos peripatatō zētarōtos tinon katapinara;Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

nēfarōtois“self-controlled”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine1×

1 Peter 1:13“self-controlled”Dio anazōneratois tain osfuain tau dianoiau vu, nēfarōtois teleiōs, elpizavar epi tan ferirōtan vi charian en apokalupsia Iēsu Christou.Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.