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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ephesians 5:14 So it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ephesians/5-14.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/17/49_Eph_05_14.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ephesians 5:14 - Children of Light" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="So it is said: Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/ephesians/5-14.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/ephesians/5-14.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/ephesians/">Ephesians</a> > <a href="/ephesians/5.htm">Chapter 5</a> > Verse 14</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/ephesians/5-13.htm" title="Ephesians 5:13">◄</a> Ephesians 5:14 <a href="/ephesians/5-15.htm" title="Ephesians 5:15">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comment </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/ephesians/5.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/ephesians/5.htm">New International Version</a> This is why it is said: &#8220Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.&#8221 <a href="/nlt/ephesians/5.htm">New Living Translation</a> for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” <a href="/esv/ephesians/5.htm">English Standard Version</a> for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” <a href="/bsb/ephesians/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” <a href="/blb/ephesians/5.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Therefore it says: "Awake you, the one sleeping, and rise up out from the dead, and Christ will shine upon you." <a href="/kjv/ephesians/5.htm">King James Bible</a> Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. <a href="/nkjv/ephesians/5.htm">New King James Version</a> Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” <a href="/nasb_/ephesians/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” <a href="/nasb/ephesians/5.htm">NASB 1995</a> For this reason it says, &#8220Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/ephesians/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a> For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” <a href="/lsb/ephesians/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” <a href="/amp/ephesians/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a> For this reason He says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine [as dawn] upon you and give you light.” <a href="/csb/ephesians/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> for what makes everything visible is light. Therefore it is said: Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. <a href="/hcsb/ephesians/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said: Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead, and the Messiah will shine on you. <a href="/asv/ephesians/5.htm">American Standard Version</a> Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee. <a href="/cev/ephesians/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Light shows up everything, just as the Scriptures say, "Wake up from your sleep and rise from death. Then Christ will shine on you." <a href="/erv/ephesians/5.htm">English Revised Version</a> Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee. <a href="/gwt/ephesians/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> because light makes everything easy to see. That's why it says: "Wake up, sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." <a href="/gnt/ephesians/5.htm">Good News Translation</a> for anything that is clearly revealed becomes light. That is why it is said, "Wake up, sleeper, and rise from death, and Christ will shine on you." <a href="/isv/ephesians/5.htm">International Standard Version</a> for the light is making everything visible. That is why it says, "Wake up, sleeper! Arise from the dead, and the Messiah will shine on you.'' <a href="/msb/ephesians/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” <a href="/net/ephesians/5.htm">NET Bible</a> For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says: "Awake, O sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!" <a href="/nheb/ephesians/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Therefore he says, "Awake, you who sleep, and rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." <a href="/wbt/ephesians/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give thee light. <a href="/wey/ephesians/5.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> For this reason it is said, "Rise, sleeper; rise from among the dead, and Christ will shed light upon you." <a href="/web/ephesians/5.htm">World English Bible</a> Therefore he says, “Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/ephesians/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> for this reason it says, “Arouse yourself, you who are sleeping, and arise out of the dead, and the Christ will shine on you.” <a href="/blb/ephesians/5.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Therefore it says: "Awake you, the one sleeping, and rise up out from the dead, and Christ will shine upon you." <a href="/ylt/ephesians/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> wherefore he saith, 'Arouse thyself, thou who art sleeping, and arise out of the dead, and the Christ shall shine upon thee.' <a href="/slt/ephesians/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Wherefore he says, Awake, who sleeping, and arise from the dead, and Christ will enlighten thee.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/ephesians/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Wherefore he saith: Rise thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead: and Christ shall enlighten thee. <a href="/cpdv/ephesians/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Because of this, it is said: “You who are sleeping: awaken, and rise up from the dead, and so shall the Christ enlighten you.” <a href="/nabre/ephesians/5.htm">New American Bible</a> for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” <a href="/nrsvce/ephesians/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/ephesians/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Therefore it is said: Awake thou that sleepest, and rise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/ephesians/5.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> Therefore it is said, “Awake, you who sleep, and arise from among the dead and The Messiah will illuminate you.”<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/ephesians/5.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> Wherefore, the scripture says: Awake you that sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.<CM> <a href="/godbey/ephesians/5.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> Therefore he says, Awake, thou sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine upon thee. <a href="/haweis/ephesians/5.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> Wherefore he saith, “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”<RX 23.60.1><CM> <a href="/mace/ephesians/5.htm">Mace New Testament</a> wherefore 'tis said, " awake thou that sleepest, arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." <a href="/wey/ephesians/5.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> For this reason it is said, "Rise, sleeper; rise from among the dead, and Christ will shed light upon you." <a href="/worrell/ephesians/5.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> Wherefore, He saith: "Awake, you who are sleeping; and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine upon you!" <a href="/worsley/ephesians/5.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. <a href="/parallel/ephesians/5-14.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AfeSHen3sAQ?start=924" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/ephesians/5.htm">Children of Light</a> …13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that is illuminated becomes a light itself. 14<a href="/greek/1352.htm" title="1352: dio (Conj) -- Wherefore, on which account, therefore. From dia and hos; through which thing, i.e. Consequently.">So</a> <a href="/greek/3004.htm" title="3004: legei (V-PIA-3S) -- (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. ">it is said:</a> <a href="/greek/1453.htm" title="1453: Egeire (V-PMA-2S) -- (a) I wake, arouse, (b) I raise up. Probably akin to the base of agora; to waken, i.e. Rouse.">“Wake up,</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-VMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">O</a> <a href="/greek/2518.htm" title="2518: katheudōn (V-PPA-VMS) -- To sleep, be sleeping. From kata and heudo; to lie down to rest, i.e. to fall asleep.">sleeper,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. "></a> <a href="/greek/450.htm" title="450: anasta (V-AMA-2S) -- To raise up, set up; I rise from among (the) dead; I arise, appear. From ana and histemi; to stand up.">rise up</a> <a href="/greek/1537.htm" title="1537: ek (Prep) -- From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.">from</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tōn (Art-GMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/3498.htm" title="3498: nekrōn (Adj-GMP) -- (a) adj: dead, lifeless, subject to death, mortal, (b) noun: a dead body, a corpse. From an apparently primary nekus; dead.">dead,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/5547.htm" title="5547: Christos (N-NMS) -- Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.">Christ</a> <a href="/greek/2017.htm" title="2017: epiphausei (V-FIA-3S) -- To shine upon, give light to. A form of epiphaino; to illuminate.">will shine on</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: soi (PPro-D2S) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">you.”</a> 15Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/isaiah/60-1.htm">Isaiah 60:1</a> Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. <a href="/romans/13-11.htm">Romans 13:11</a> And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. <a href="/john/8-12.htm">John 8:12</a> Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.” <a href="/1_thessalonians/5-6.htm">1 Thessalonians 5:6</a> So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober. <a href="/isaiah/26-19.htm">Isaiah 26:19</a> Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust! For your dew is like the dew of the morning, and the earth will bring forth her dead. <a href="/2_corinthians/4-6.htm">2 Corinthians 4:6</a> For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. <a href="/malachi/4-2.htm">Malachi 4:2</a> “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall. <a href="/john/1-4.htm">John 1:4-5</a> In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. / The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. <a href="/colossians/1-13.htm">Colossians 1:13</a> He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, <a href="/isaiah/9-2.htm">Isaiah 9:2</a> The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned. <a href="/1_john/1-7.htm">1 John 1:7</a> But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. <a href="/matthew/5-14.htm">Matthew 5:14</a> You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. <a href="/luke/1-78.htm">Luke 1:78-79</a> because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, / to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” <a href="/acts/26-18.htm">Acts 26:18</a> to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’ <a href="/isaiah/52-1.htm">Isaiah 52:1</a> Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Why he said, Awake you that sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.he.<a href="/isaiah/51-17.htm">Isaiah 51:17</a> Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out.<a href="/isaiah/52-1.htm">Isaiah 52:1</a> Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.<a href="/isaiah/60-1.htm">Isaiah 60:1</a> Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.arise.<a href="/ephesians/2-5.htm">Ephesians 2:5</a> Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)<a href="/isaiah/26-19.htm">Isaiah 26:19</a> Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.<a href="/ezekiel/37-4.htm">Ezekiel 37:4-10</a> Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD… Christ.<a href="/john/8-12.htm">John 8:12</a> Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.<a href="/john/9-5.htm">John 9:5</a> As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.<a href="/acts/13-47.htm">Acts 13:47</a> For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/romans/15-12.htm">Arise</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/10-22.htm">Arouse</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/15-34.htm">Awake</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-5.htm">Christ</a> <a href="/ephesians/2-6.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-13.htm">Light</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-13.htm">Makes</a> <a href="/ephesians/4-25.htm">Reason</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/1-11.htm">Rise</a> <a href="/romans/5-5.htm">Shed</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/4-6.htm">Shine</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/11-27.htm">Sleep</a> <a href="/jonah/1-6.htm">Sleeper</a> <a href="/mark/14-37.htm">Sleepest</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/15-20.htm">Sleeping</a> <a href="/galatians/6-1.htm">Thyself</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-13.htm">Visible</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/15-34.htm">Wake</a> <a href="/ephesians/4-25.htm">Wherefore</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_timothy/6-4.htm">Arise</a> <a href="/2_peter/1-13.htm">Arouse</a> <a href="/1_thessalonians/5-6.htm">Awake</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-20.htm">Christ</a> <a href="/philippians/3-10.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/colossians/1-12.htm">Light</a> <a href="/colossians/2-8.htm">Makes</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-17.htm">Reason</a> <a href="/1_thessalonians/4-16.htm">Rise</a> <a href="/colossians/1-20.htm">Shed</a> <a href="/philippians/2-15.htm">Shine</a> <a href="/1_thessalonians/4-14.htm">Sleep</a> <a href="/psalms/78-65.htm">Sleeper</a> <a href="/psalms/44-23.htm">Sleepest</a> <a href="/1_thessalonians/4-13.htm">Sleeping</a> <a href="/1_timothy/3-15.htm">Thyself</a> <a href="/colossians/1-15.htm">Visible</a> <a href="/1_thessalonians/5-10.htm">Wake</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-17.htm">Wherefore</a><div class="vheading2">Ephesians 5</div>1. <a href="/ephesians/5-1.htm">After general exhortations to love;</a> 3. <a href="/ephesians/5-3.htm">to flee sexual immorality;</a> 4. <a href="/ephesians/5-4.htm">and all uncleanness;</a> 7. <a href="/ephesians/5-7.htm">not to converse with the wicked;</a> 15. <a href="/ephesians/5-15.htm">to walk carefully;</a> 18. <a href="/ephesians/5-18.htm">and to be filled with the Spirit;</a> 22. <a href="/ephesians/5-22.htm">he descends to the particular duties, how wives ought to obey their husbands;</a> 25. <a href="/ephesians/5-25.htm">and husbands ought to love their wives,</a> 32. <a href="/ephesians/5-32.htm">even as Christ does his church.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/ephesians/5.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div>Wake up, O sleeper This phrase serves as a call to spiritual awakening and revival. The Greek word for "wake up" is "ἐγείρω" (egeirō), which means to arise or to awaken from sleep. In the context of Ephesians, Paul is urging believers to rise from spiritual lethargy and become alert to the realities of their faith. Historically, this call echoes the prophetic voices of the Old Testament, where God often called His people to awaken from their spiritual slumber and return to Him. The imagery of a "sleeper" suggests a state of inactivity or unawareness, which is contrasted with the vibrant life that comes from being awake in Christ.rise up from the dead The phrase "rise up from the dead" uses the Greek word "ἀνίστημι" (anistēmi), which means to stand up or to rise. This is a metaphorical call to leave behind the old life of sin, which is often equated with death in the New Testament. The imagery of resurrection is powerful here, as it points to the transformative power of Christ's resurrection, which believers are called to emulate in their own lives. Historically, this reflects the early Christian understanding of baptism as a symbolic death and resurrection, where one rises to new life in Christ.and Christ will shine on you The promise that "Christ will shine on you" uses the Greek word "ἐπιφαύσκω" (epiphauskō), meaning to shine upon or to illuminate. This is a beautiful depiction of the light of Christ dispelling the darkness of sin and ignorance. In the scriptural context, light is often associated with truth, purity, and divine presence. The historical backdrop of this imagery can be traced to the Old Testament, where God's presence is frequently described as light. For instance, in <a href="/isaiah/60.htm">Isaiah 60:1</a>, the prophet declares, "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you." This promise assures believers that as they awaken and rise from spiritual death, they will be enveloped in the illuminating presence of Christ, guiding and transforming their lives.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/ephesians/5.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(14) Wherefore he (or, it) saith.--This phrase is used (as also in <a href="/james/4-6.htm" title="But he gives more grace. Why he said, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.">James 4:6</a>) in <a href="/ephesians/4-8.htm" title="Why he said, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.">Ephesians 4:8</a> to introduce a scriptural quotation; and the most natural completion of the elliptical expression is by the supply of the nominative, "God," or "the scripture," from the ordinary phrase of quotation or citation. But no scriptural passage can be adduced which, with the fullest allowance for the apostolic freedom of quotation, comes near enough to be a satisfactory original of this passage. The nearest is <a href="/isaiah/60-1.htm" title="Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen on you.">Isaiah 60:1</a>, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee;" and this is certainly very far off indeed. Nor is the case much helped by blending other passages (as, for example, <a href="/isaiah/26-19.htm" title="Your dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, you that dwell in dust: for your dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.">Isaiah 26:19</a>) with this. Some additional verbal coincidences may be gained, but at the expense of still greater diversity from the spirit of the passage as a whole. Hence we are driven to conclude that the quotation is not from Holy Scripture. Yet the very form shows that it is from something well known. An apocryphal quotation is imagined by some, but with no knowledge of any quotation at all resembling it. Others have supposed it a traditional saying of our Lord (like <a href="/acts/20-35.htm" title="I have showed you all things, how that so laboring you ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.">Acts 20:35</a>); but the form seems decisive against this. On the whole, it seems most likely that it is from some well-known Christian hymn. In the original a rhythmical character, rough, but by no means indistinct, strikes us at once. The growth of defined and formal expressions--mostly, it is true, of embryo creeds of Christian faith, as in <a href="/context/1_corinthians/15-3.htm" title="For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;">1Corinthians 15:3-4</a>; <a href="/context/hebrews/6-1.htm" title="Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,">Hebrews 6:1-2</a>; <a href="/1_timothy/3-16.htm" title="And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached to the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.">1Timothy 3:16</a>, in the last of which the acknowledged difficulty of etymological construction in the true reading may perhaps be best explained by the supposition of quotation--is notable in the later Epistles, and especially in the "faithful sayings" of the Pastoral Epistles. The use of some liturgical forms is traced with high probability to a very early date. The embodiment of popular faith in hymns, always natural, was peculiarly natural as adapted to the imperfect education of many early converts, and to the practice of trusting so much to memory, and so comparatively little to writing. Some such usage certainly appears to be referred to in the celebrated letter of Pliny to Trajan, the first heathen description of Christian worship. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ephesians/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 14. - Therefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. This is evidently intended to give an additional impulse to the Ephesians to walk as children of the light; but a difficulty arises as to the source of the quotation. There is no difficulty with the formula, "he saith," which, like the same expression in <a href="/ephesians/4-8.htm">Ephesians 4:8</a>, is clearly to be referred to God. But no such words occur in the Old Testament. The passage that comes nearest to them is <a href="/isaiah/60-1.htm">Isaiah 60:1</a>," Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord hath risen upon thee." The simplest and best explanation is, not that the apostle quoted from any lost book, but flint he did not mean to give the words, but only the spirit of the passage. This is evident from his introducing the word "Christ." It must be owned that the apostle makes a very free use of the prophet's words. But the fundamental idea in the prophecy is, that when the Church gets the light of heaven, she is not to lie still, as it' she were asleep or dead, but is to be active, is to make use of the light, is to use it for illuminating the world. The apostle maintains that the Ephesian Church had got the light of heaven; she, therefore, was not to sleep or loiter, but spring forth as if from the grave, and pour light on the world. The changes which the apostle makes on the form of the prophecy are remarkable, and show that it was to its spirit and substance rather than to its precise form and letter that he attached the authority of inspiration. <a href="/commentaries/ephesians/5-14.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>So διὸ (dio) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_1352.htm">Strong's 1352: </a> Wherefore, on which account, therefore. From dia and hos; through which thing, i.e. Consequently. it is said: λέγει (legei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3004.htm">Strong's 3004: </a> (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. “Wake up, Ἔγειρε (Egeire) Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1453.htm">Strong's 1453: </a> (a) I wake, arouse, (b) I raise up. Probably akin to the base of agora; to waken, i.e. Rouse. O ὁ (ho) Article - Vocative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. sleeper, καθεύδων (katheudōn) Verb - Present Participle Active - Vocative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2518.htm">Strong's 2518: </a> To sleep, be sleeping. From kata and heudo; to lie down to rest, i.e. to fall asleep. rise up ἀνάστα (anasta) Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_450.htm">Strong's 450: </a> To raise up, set up; I rise from among (the) dead; I arise, appear. From ana and histemi; to stand up. from ἐκ (ek) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1537.htm">Strong's 1537: </a> From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out. the τῶν (tōn) Article - Genitive Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. dead, νεκρῶν (nekrōn) Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3498.htm">Strong's 3498: </a> (a) adj: dead, lifeless, subject to death, mortal, (b) noun: a dead body, a corpse. From an apparently primary nekus; dead. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. Christ Χριστός (Christos) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5547.htm">Strong's 5547: </a> Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus. will shine on ἐπιφαύσει (epiphausei) Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2017.htm">Strong's 2017: </a> To shine upon, give light to. A form of epiphaino; to illuminate. you.” σοι (soi) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ephesians/5-14.htm">Ephesians 5:14 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/ephesians/5-14.htm">Ephesians 5:14 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/ephesians/5-14.htm">Ephesians 5:14 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/ephesians/5-14.htm">Ephesians 5:14 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/ephesians/5-14.htm">Ephesians 5:14 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/ephesians/5-14.htm">Ephesians 5:14 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ephesians/5-14.htm">Ephesians 5:14 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/ephesians/5-14.htm">Ephesians 5:14 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/ephesians/5-14.htm">Ephesians 5:14 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/ephesians/5-14.htm">Ephesians 5:14 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-14.htm">NT Letters: Ephesians 5:14 Therefore he says Awake you who sleep (Ephes. Eph. 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