Bible Dictionary: Sober

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (superl.) Temperate in the use of spirituous liquors; habitually temperate; as, a sober man.

2. (superl.) Not intoxicated or excited by spirituous liquors; as, the sot may at times be sober.

3. (superl.) Not mad or insane; not wild, visionary, or heated with passion; exercising cool, dispassionate reason; self-controlled; self-possessed.

4. (superl.) Not proceeding from, or attended with, passion; calm; as, sober judgment; a man in his sober senses.

5. (superl.) Serious or subdued in demeanor, habit, appearance, or color; solemn; grave; sedate.

6. (v. t.) To make sober.

7. (v. i.) To become sober; -- often with down.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

SOBER; SOBRIETY; SOBERNESS

In a few passages, the Greek verb nepho and its derivative adjective nephalios are used in the same sense. The word originally had a physical meaning, as opposed to drunkenness, and is thus used in 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 8, as the foundation of the deeper meaning. Used metaphorically also in the Pastoral Epistles and 1 Peter, as sometimes in the classics, for "cool," "unimpassioned." Ellicott, on 1 Timothy 3:2, 11, distinguishes between the two words by regarding sophron "as pointing to the outward exhibition of the inward virtue" implied in nephalios.

H. E. Jacobs

Greek

3525. nepho -- to be sober, to abstain from wine
... to be sober, to abstain from wine. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: nepho Phonetic
Spelling: (nay'-fo) Short Definition: I am calm, vigilant, sober ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3525.htm - 7k

3524. nephalios -- sober
... sober. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: nephalios Phonetic Spelling:
(nay-fal'-eh-os) Short Definition: sober, temperate Definition: sober, not ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3524.htm - 7k

1594. eknepho -- to become sober (after drunkenness)
... to become sober (after drunkenness). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: eknepho
Phonetic Spelling: (ek-nay'-fo) Short Definition: I return to soberness of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1594.htm - 7k

4993. sophroneo -- to be of sound mind, ie to be temperate
... sound mind, ie to be temperate. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sophroneo
Phonetic Spelling: (so-fron-eh'-o) Short Definition: I am sober-minded, exercise ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4993.htm - 7k

4994. sophronizo -- to recall one to his senses, admonish
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sophronizo Phonetic Spelling: (so-fron-id'-
zo) Short Definition: I admonish Definition: I make sober-minded, admonish ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4994.htm - 8k

4998. sophron -- of sound mind, self-controlled
... sophron Phonetic Spelling: (so'-frone) Short Definition: self-controlled, temperate
Definition: of sound mind, self-controlled, temperate, sober-minded, modest ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4998.htm - 8k

366. ananepho -- to return to soberness, ie regain one's senses
... ie regain one's senses. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ananepho Phonetic
Spelling: (an-an-ay'-fo) Short Definition: I become sober again, recover sound ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/366.htm - 6k

4997. sophrosune -- soundness of mind, self-control
... See 4998 (). Word Origin from sophron Definition soundness of mind, self-control
NASB Word Usage discreetly (1), self-restraint (1), sober (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4997.htm - 7k

4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... Nothing quite like this two-fold witness appears elsewhere in the Bible.
These statements sober the heart and inspire the soul! ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4102.htm - 18k

Library

Sober Thinking
... ROMANS SOBER THINKING. 'For ... themselves. This sober estimate is here regarded
as being important chiefly as an aid to right service. ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/sober thinking.htm

'Sober Certainty'
... 'SOBER CERTAINTY'. 'And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know
of a surety, that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/sober certainty.htm

For what is There that Sober Ears could Wish Changed in this ...
... Book 4 Chapter 17. For what is there that sober ears could wish changed in this
speech? ... For what is there that sober ears could wish changed in this speech? ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books/chapter 17 for what is.htm

The Sober Divine, who Abhors the Pride of Enthusiasts...
... Address 228: The sober divine, who abhors the pride of enthusiasts� The
sober divine, who abhors the pride of enthusiasts, for ...
/.../address 228 0 0 the sober divine.htm

"Be Ye Therefore Sober, and Watch unto Prayer. "
... RELIGION. Sermon XXII. "Be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.". 1 Pet.
iv.7.""Be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.". We ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxii be ye therefore.htm

"But the End of all Things is at Hand, be Ye Therefore Sober and ...
... Sermon XX. "But the end of all things is at hand, be ye therefore sober and watch
unto prayer.". 1 Pet. ... Here it is. Be sober in the use of all things. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xx but the end.htm

Fifthly, as this Revelation, to the Judgment of Right and Sober ...
... CHRISTIAN REVELATION. XIV. Proposition XIV. Fifthly, As this revelation, to
the judgment of right and sober reason,. appears of itself ...
/.../xiv proposition xiv fifthly as.htm

Exhortations to Christians as they are Children of God
... sobriety. But let us who are of the day be sober' (1 Thessalonians 5:8).
God's children must not do as others. They must be sober. ...
/.../20 exhortations to christians as.htm

Homilies on S. Ignatius and S. Babylas.
... steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, no brawler, no striker, not greedy of
filthy lucre; but given to hospitality, a lover of good, sober-minded, just ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homilies on s ignatius and.htm

The Last Two Verses of Chapterviii. ...
... Strange counsel this, for sober and wise Ecclesiastes to give, is it not? ... Therefore,
let us not sleep, as do others, but let us watch and be sober. ...
/.../jennings/old groans and new songs/chapter ix the last two.htm

Thesaurus

Sober (18 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (superl.) Temperate in the use of spirituous
liquors; habitually temperate; as, a sober man. 2. (superl ...
/s/sober.htm - 12k

Sober-minded (9 Occurrences)
Sober-minded. Soberly, Sober-minded. Sober-mindedness . Noah Webster's
Dictionary (a.) Having a disposition or temper habitually sober. ...
/s/sober-minded.htm - 9k

Sober-mindedness (1 Occurrence)
Sober-mindedness. Sober-minded, Sober-mindedness. Soberness .
Multi-Version Concordance Sober-mindedness (1 Occurrence). ...
/s/sober-mindedness.htm - 6k

Self-controlled (9 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Titus 1:8 but given to hospitality, as a lover of good, sober minded,
fair, holy, self-controlled; (WEB WEY ASV BBE YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/s/self-controlled.htm - 8k

Minded (36 Occurrences)
... (ASV). Titus 1:8 but given to hospitality, as a lover of good, sober minded,
fair, holy, self-controlled; (WEB WEY ASV BBE YLT). Titus ...
/m/minded.htm - 16k

Sensible (15 Occurrences)
... WEB RSV). Titus 1:8 but given to hospitality, as a lover of good, sober
minded, fair, holy, self-controlled; (See NAS). Titus 2:2 ...
/s/sensible.htm - 11k

Soberness (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The quality or state of being sober. Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SOBER; SOBRIETY; SOBERNESS. ...
/s/soberness.htm - 7k

Temperate (6 Occurrences)
... (WEB WEY ASV NAS RSV NIV). Titus 1:8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover
of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; (KJV DBY WBS). ...
/t/temperate.htm - 12k

Grave (128 Occurrences)
... serious; -- said of character. 4. (superl.) Not light or gay; solemn; sober;
plain; as, a grave color; a grave face. 5. (superl.) Not acute ...
/g/grave.htm - 37k

Vigilant (4 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant,
sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; (KJV WBS YLT). ...
/v/vigilant.htm - 7k

Bible Concordance

Sober (18 Occurrences)

Acts 26:25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
(Root in KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
(Root in KJV ASV WBS RSV NIV)

2 Corinthians 5:13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God. Or if we are of sober mind, it is for you.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS)

1 Thessalonians 5:6 so then let's not sleep, as the rest do, but let's watch and be sober.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us, since we belong to the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and, for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
(KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT)

1 Timothy 3:11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
(KJV WEY DBY WBS)

2 Timothy 4:5 But you be sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry.
(WEB ASV DBY NAS)

Titus 1:8 but given to hospitality, as a lover of good, sober minded, fair, holy, self-controlled;
(WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS YLT)

Titus 2:2 that older men should be temperate, sensible, sober minded, sound in faith, in love, and in patience:
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Titus 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
(KJV WEY WBS YLT)

Titus 2:5 to be sober minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that God's word may not be blasphemed.
(WEB ASV YLT)

Titus 2:6 Likewise, exhort the younger men to be sober minded;
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT)

Titus 2:12 instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world;
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, be sober and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ-
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV)

1 Samuel 25:37 It happened in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, that his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.
(See NIV)

Subtopics

Sober

Related Terms

Sober-minded (9 Occurrences)

Sober-mindedness (1 Occurrence)

Self-controlled (9 Occurrences)

Minded (36 Occurrences)

Sensible (15 Occurrences)

Soberness (2 Occurrences)

Temperate (6 Occurrences)

Grave (128 Occurrences)

Vigilant (4 Occurrences)