Lexical Definition

‎νήφω‎ nḗphō (nay'-fo) be sober ^G:V
of uncertain affinity

be sober, watch.

• to abstain from wine (keep sober), i.e. (figuratively) be discreet

Abbott-Smith

* νήφω,
to be sober, abstain from wine; metaph., of moral alertness, to be sober, calm, circumspect: I Th 5:6 8, II Ti 4:5 (v. Ellic., in l.), I Pe 1:13 4:7 5:8 (cf. ἀνα-, ἐκ-νήφω, and v. MM, xvii).†
SYN.: ἀγρυπνέω, γρηγορέω.

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

νήφω,

Doric dialect νάφω (see. infr. II), used by early writers only in present, mostly in participle: later imperfect ἔνηφον [Refs 6th c.AD+]aorist ἔνηψα [NT+5th c.BC+]:—to be sober, drink no wine, οὔτε τι γὰρ ν. οὔτε λίην μεθύω [Refs 7th c.BC+]participle νήφων as adjective, ={νηφάλιος}, [νήφων ἀοίνοις 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Coloneus” 100; ὑπ᾽ ἐχθροῦ νήφοντος ὑβριζόμην 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 21.74 ">Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸ τοὺς μεθύοντας... πλείω ζημίαν ἀποτίνειν τῶν ν. Legal Pittaciap. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ν. θεός, i.e. water, [νήφων μεθύοντα ὑπὸ τῆς Ἀφροδίτης θεᾶται 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Symposium” 8.21; τὸ νῆφον ὑπὸ τοῦ πάθους βυθίζεται 4th c.AD: Alciphro Epistolographus 1.13. ">Refs 5th c.BC+]

__II metaphorically, to be self-controlled, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; to be sober and wary, νᾶφε καὶ μέμνασ᾽ ἀπιστεῖν [νήφωμεν NT.1Thess.5.6 ">NT+5th c.BC+]; νήψατε εἰς προσευχάς [νήφων καὶ πεφροντικώς 1st-2nd c.AD: Plutarchus Biographus et Philosophus 2.800b; ν. καὶ φροντιστής 2nd c.AD: Galenus Medicus 17(1).991; προμηθής τε καὶ ν. 2nd c.AD: Herodianus Grammaticus 2.15.1 ">NT+1st c.AD+]; καρδίῃ νήφοντος poetical cited in [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__II.2 ν. ἐκ κακοῦ recover oneself from.., [Refs 3rd c.AD+]; ἐγερθέντων καὶ νηψάντων ἀπὸ τῆς πτώσεως Procl.[same place]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: 1Pet.4.7 ☩ 1Thess.5.6}