Sleep 2

2837 KOIMAOMAI (18): to literally sleep, sleep in death or to be spiritually asleep.

Koimaomai represents ordinary sleep in passages such as Act.12.6: "And when Herod was about to bring him forward, in that night Peter was sleeping (koimaomai) between two soldiers bound with two chains; and guards in front of the door were keeping the jail."

In 1Co.7.39 death is called "sleep" and is also the alternative to "live" "A wife has been bound for as long a time as her husband lives (zao); but if her husband sleeps (2837 koimaomai) she is free to be married to whom she desires, only in the Master." Also Mt.27.52: "...and the tombs were opened and many bodies of the purified ones who had fallen asleep (koimaomai) were raised."

In Jn.11.11-13 koimaomai is used to represent both ordinary sleep and the sleep of death: "...and after this he said to them, 'Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep (koimaomai), but I depart so that I may awaken him.' So then the learners said to him, 'Master, if he has fallen asleep (koimaomai) he will be healed.' Now Jesus was explaining about his death (thanatos), but they thought that he spoke about the unconsciousness (hupnos) of sleep (koimaomai)." Contrast this event to the raising of a synagogue leader's daughter in "sleep" (2518 katheudo).

In the FCM (NT), when koimaomai refers to dead folks as being asleep, only God's people are mentioned as being asleep, never unbelievers.

1Co.11.28-30 depicts a person who is spiritually asleep: "But let a person evaluate himself, and let him thus eat of the bread and let him drink of the cup. For the [one] who eats and drinks, not distinguishing the body, is eating and drinking condemnation to himself. Because of this many among you [are] weak and sick, and some sleep (koimaomai)."

Translation:

LITERAL SLEEP:

SLEEP (4) Mt.28.13. Lk.22.45. Jn.11.12. Act.12.6.

DEATH CALLED "SLEEP":

SLEEP (13) Mt.27.52. Jn.11.11. Act.7.60; 13.36. 1Co.7.39; 15.6,18, 20,51. 1Th.4.13,14,15. 2Pe.3.4.

TO BE ASLEEP TO SPIRITUAL MATTERS:

SLEEP (1) 1Co.11.30.

2838 KOIMESIS (1): noun. The state of sleep.

SLEEP Jn.11.13.