Greek word · G5255

ὑπήκοος

hypēkoos

obedient

Obedient, submissive, compliant. It comes from hypakouō, 'to listen under,' that is, to heed and do what one is told. It is used of subjects toward rulers, slaves toward masters, children toward parents, and Israel toward God.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ὑπήκοος, -ον

(ὑπακσύω), [in LXX: John 17:13 (לָמַם) Proverbs 21:28 (שָׁמַע), etc. ;]

giving ear, obedient, subject: Philippians 2:8; with dative of person(s), Acts 7:39; εἰς πάντα, 2 Corinthians 2:9.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Philippians 2:8

Range of meaning

Obedient, submissive, compliant. It comes from hypakouō, 'to listen under,' that is, to heed and do what one is told. It is used of subjects toward rulers, slaves toward masters, children toward parents, and Israel toward God.

Against the English

'Obedient' is accurate. The thing to notice is the slave framework of vv. 7–8, which English readers may not connect with the word.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Greek inscriptions and historians it is used of subject peoples who are hypēkooi to a ruling power. Paul elsewhere sets Christ's 'obedience' against Adam's 'disobedience' (Rom 5:19), and Hebrews 5:8 says he 'learned obedience through what he suffered.'

From the study of Acts 7:39

Range of meaning

The word combines hupo (under) and akouō (hear). Its range runs from "listening, giving ear" to "obedient" and "subject (to a ruler)". In classical and Hellenistic Greek it often names subject peoples, those under another's rule, for example the states subject to Athens. In the New Testament it occurs only three times: here, 2 Cor 2:9 and Phil 2:8, where Christ is "obedient to the point of death".

Against the English

English "obey" can sound like mechanically following orders. The Greek ties obedience to hearing: you heed the voice you have placed yourself under. It also carries the idea of accepting someone's authority over you.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) it is used for peoples made subject or tributary (Deut 20:11; Josh 17:13) and for a son attentive to his father (Prov 4:3). Classical historians use it for subject states.

Where it appears

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 7:39 ὑπήκοοι obedient

    But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.

    Here: "Obedient". It is built from "under" plus "hear", so it pictures someone who listens and submits. In wider Greek it also meant being the subject of a ruler. They refused to accept Moses as the one whose word they would heed.

2 Corinthians · 1

  1. 2 Corinthians 2:9 ὑπήκοοί obedient

    My purpose in writing you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.

Philippians · 1

  1. Philippians 2:8 ὑπήκοος obedient

    And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.

    Here: Literally 'listening under,' meaning compliant to a higher authority. In v. 7 he took 'the form of a slave,' and obedience is what a slave owes. The verse does not name the one he obeyed, but the context (God exalts him in v. 9) points to God.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.