Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5200 Human civilisation » 5537 sleeplessness
The absence of or inability to sleep. Scripture suggests that sleeplessness will sometimes result from divine intervention. Scripture also provides examples of deliberate sleeplessness in order to seek God.
Anxiety and sorrow as causes of sleeplessness
Ecclesiastes 2:22-23 See also Proverbs 6:1-4; Ecclesiastes 5:12; Jeremiah 45:3
Other causes of sleeplessness
Work
Psalm 127:2
Pain and sickness
Job 30:17 See also Job 7:4-5; Job 33:19; Revelation 14:11
Evil deeds
Proverbs 4:14-16 See also Isaiah 5:27
Concern for God's cause
Psalm 132:4-5 See also Isaiah 62:6; Luke 2:37; Luke 6:12; Acts 12:12
People who experienced sleeplessness
Jacob
Genesis 31:40
Saul
1 Samuel 16:14 Loss of sleep probably among the troubles of Saul alleviated by David's playing. See also 1 Samuel 16:15-23
Xerxes
Esther 6:1
Job
Job 7:4 See also Job 7:11-15
Darius
Daniel 6:18
Paul
2 Corinthians 11:27 See also 2 Corinthians 6:5
God deprives sinners of rest
Isaiah 48:22 pp Hebrews 3:11 pp Hebrews 4:1-5
Restlessness because of judgment on sin
Revelation 14:11 See also Deuteronomy 28:67; 1 Samuel 16:14; Isaiah 21:4; Isaiah 23:12; Isaiah 57:20-21; Lamentations 5:5
Sleeplessness allows people to receive messages from God
Daniel 2:1; Zechariah 4:1 See also 1 Samuel 3:1-10; Daniel 2:29; Matthew 27:19
A challenge to abandon sleep
Abandoning actual sleep
Luke 6:12 See also Matthew 26:36-46 pp Mark 14:32-42 pp Luke 22:47-53; Luke 2:37; Revelation 16:15
Abandoning spiritual lethargy
Psalm 57:8 See also Proverbs 6:10; Ecclesiastes 5:2; Isaiah 51:9
God's watchfulness
Psalm 121:3-4; Isaiah 40:28-31
The blessing of sleep
Psalm 4:8 See also Leviticus 26:6; Psalm 3:5; Psalm 127:2; Proverbs 3:24
See also
1409 dream 1469 visions 5482 punishment 5532 sleep 5831 depression 5933 restlessness 8490 watchfulness 8734 evil 8849 worry
