"to lull to sleep; pass. to fall asleep, be asleep, Mt. 28:13; Lk. 22:45; met. to sleep in death, Acts 7:60; 13:36; 2 Pet. 3:4"
Definition and meaning
to lull to sleep; pass. to fall asleep, be asleep, Mt. 28:13; Lk. 22:45; met. to sleep in death, Acts 7:60; 13:36; 2 Pet. 3:4
In the original Greek the word is written: κοιμάω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of koimao (G2837) across the King James Bible.
And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
Refiner gives you the full lexicon entry, AI-powered verse insight, historical commentary, cross-references, and voice study — all in one place.
Free to start · Disciple $4.99/mo · Shepherd $9.99/mo
Common questions
Strong's G2837 (koimao) is a Greek word that means: to lull to sleep; pass. to fall asleep, be asleep, Mt. 28:13; Lk. 22:45; met. to sleep in death, Acts 7:60; 13:36; 2 Pet. 3:4 It appears 18 times in the King James Bible.
The word koimao (G2837) appears 18 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2837 is koimao, a Greek word defined as: to lull to sleep; pass. to fall asleep, be asleep, Mt. 28:13; Lk. 22:45; met. to sleep in death, Acts 7:60; 13:36; 2 Pet. 3:4. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
koimao is a Greek word found in the New Testament.