Lexical Summary koimésis: Sleep, Rest, Death Original Word: κοίμησις Strong's Exhaustive Concordance taking of rest. From koimao; sleeping, i.e. (by implication) repose -- taking of rest. see GREEK koimao NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom koimaó Definition a resting NASB Translation literal (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2838: κοίμησιςκοίμησις, κοιμησως, ἡ, a reposing, taking rest: John 11:13 (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 59, 8a.); of death, Sir. 46:19 Sir. 48:13; a lying, reclining, Plato, conv., p. 183 a. Topical Lexicon Range of MeaningThe term conveys the idea of lying down to rest, yet in Scripture it is almost always employed figuratively for the temporary state of death experienced by the body while the spirit lives on with the Lord (Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8). The nuance is tender, hopeful, and distinctly covenantal: God’s people “sleep,” they do not perish. Biblical Usage John 11:13 is the only New Testament verse that employs this exact noun. In the account of Lazarus, Jesus says, “‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up.’” The disciples misunderstand, and verse 13 records: “Jesus had been speaking about his death, but they thought He was talking about actual sleep.” Here the Spirit directs attention to two truths: death for the believer is neither annihilation nor final; and Jesus holds sovereign authority to awaken the sleeper. Though the noun appears only once, the cognate verb occurs frequently (for example, Matthew 27:52; 1 Corinthians 15:6, 18; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–15). Each occurrence reinforces the same perspective—death is real, but it is also reversible by divine power. Sleep as a Metaphor for Death 1 Thessalonians 4:14 sets the pattern for apostolic teaching: “We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.” The metaphor draws its force from three observations: 1. Rest: Just as nightly sleep restores the body, so bodily death ushers the believer into rest from earthly toil (Revelation 14:13). Christological Focus in John 11 John 11 unites the metaphor with the person of Christ. Jesus does not merely teach resurrection; He embodies it (John 11:25). His deliberate use of “sleep” for Lazarus’s death presses the disciples to exchange fear for faith and to see that the grave’s power bows before the “resurrection and the life.” The raising of Lazarus, therefore, functions as a sign previewing Jesus’ own resurrection and the future resurrection of all believers. Historical Reception From the first century forward, “falling asleep” became the church’s customary way to describe a believer’s death. Early Christian epitaphs regularly read “slept in peace,” reflecting confidence in bodily resurrection. The Eastern Church commemorated the “Koimesis” (Dormition) of Mary, not to elevate her above Scripture, but to affirm the universal Christian hope that death cannot sever union with Christ. Theological Significance 1. Anthropology: Humanity is body and soul; sleep applies to the body, never to consciousness. Hence Scripture speaks of the dead as “with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8) while their bodies await transformation (1 Corinthians 15:51–53). Pastoral and Devotional Insights • Comfort in Bereavement. Believers can echo Paul: “We do not grieve like the rest, who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Connections with Related Terms The noun stands alongside: Together these words furnish a vocabulary that blends common human experience with redemptive promise. Practical Application 1. Funeral Ministry: Leaders can employ the language of “sleep” to root comfort in resurrection rather than sentimentality. The single appearance of Strong’s 2838 thus opens a vista spanning Christ’s triumph, apostolic hope, historic confession, and present encouragement, all converging on the certainty that “those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake” (Daniel 12:2). Forms and Transliterations εκοιμάτο εκοίμισαν εκοίμισε εκοίμισεν κεκοιμισμένον κοιμησεως κοιμήσεως κοιμίσας koimeseos koimēseōs koimḗseos koimḗseōsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
    |