Abarim Publications' online Biblical Greek Dictionary
εγειρω
The verb εγειρω (egeiro) means to awaken, incite, rouse or rise. There's no proper English equivalent of this verb but it indicates the opposite of being inactive and inattentive (or asleep) and is as such used figuratively to describe a becoming alert or focused, or getting underway on a journey or perhaps en route to an understanding.
Our verb is often translated with terms like "rise" or "awaken" but the emphasis lies on the gathering up of one's scattered thoughts or unconscious attentions and bundling these into a unified purpose.
It's used 139 times in the New Testament, see full concordance, and from it derives:
- The verb γρηγορεω (gregoreo), meaning to be watchful, to have attention for something. This verb is used 23 times, see full concordance, and from it in turn comes:
- Again together with the preposition δια (dia), meaning through or throughout: the verb διεγειρω (diegeiro), meaning to thoroughly awake, to be wide awake. This verb is used 7 times; see full concordance.
- The noun εγερσις (egersis), meaning awakening (Matthew 27:53 only). This rare word is used only once in the New Testament, as alternative for the more usual noun αναστασις (anastasis), or resurrection. But its usage indicates that Jesus was indeed 'asleep' and was not in the netherworld causing havoc, as the Nicene Creed appears to insinuate.
- Together with the preposition εκ (ek), meaning out: the verb εξεγειρω (exegeiro), meaning to raise from or out of (Romans 9:17 and 1 Corinthians 6:14 only).
- Together with the preposition επι (epi), meaning on or upon: the verb επεγειρω (epegeiro), meaning to arouse toward something or upon someone (Acts 13:50 and 14:2 only).
- Together with the preposition συν (sun), meaning together or with: the verb συνεγειρω (sunegeiro), meaning to jointly rouse, to rouse together (Ephesians 2:6, Colossians 2:12 and 3:1 only).