ἀπειθής (apeithēs)
apeithēs
disobedient
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective apeithēs describes a stubborn refusal to be persuaded, carrying the sense of being "unbelieving" or obstinately disobedient. Its core meaning stems from a negative prefix combined with the verb for "obey," pointing to a heart that resists truth rather than simply breaking a rule. In the New Testament, it characterizes a persistent attitude of unbelief and rebellion against divine instruction.
Scripture applies this term to both individuals and groups who reject the gospel. Luke records John the Baptist’s mission to turn the disobedient (apeithēs) to the wisdom of the righteous (Luke 1:17). Paul uses it more sharply to describe moral decay, listing those who are "disobedient" among the wicked in Romans 1:30 and Titus 3:3. It also appears in Acts 26:19, where Paul defends his ministry by stating he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
This word highlights the intellectual and volitional aspect of unbelief. It is not merely ignorance but a deliberate resistance to persuasion. The sources note its use in the Septuagint for Hebrew terms meaning "rebellious" or "stiff-necked," linking it to Israel’s historical struggles with faithfulness. Translators often render it as "disobedient" or "unbelieving," capturing the link between rejecting truth and failing to obey.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word apeithēs describes a stubborn refusal to be persuaded, pointing to a heart that resists truth rather than simply breaking a rule. It is not merely ignorance but a deliberate resistance to divine instruction. In Luke’s account of John the Baptist, this attitude is something God seeks to turn toward wisdom through gentle persuasion.
Paul also uses this term to describe the moral decay of those who reject the gospel, listing it alongside arrogance and selfishness. Yet he reminds us that we too were once apeithēs, deceived and serving our own desires. This honest admission highlights that grace is not earned by obedience but received despite our past resistance.
Understanding this word helps us see unbelief as a posture of the heart. It invites us to examine where we might be resisting God’s voice, while also offering hope that His wisdom can turn even the most stubborn hearts toward Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- disobedient,3×
- disobedient2×
- [the] disobedient1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀπειθεῖς,3×
- ἀπειθεῖς2×
- ἀπειθὴς1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 1:17
He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.”
This verse shows John the Baptist’s mission to actively turn the disobedient toward wisdom, highlighting God’s patient initiative in changing resistant hearts.
-
Acts 26:19
“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
Paul uses this term defensively to affirm his complete submission to the heavenly vision, contrasting his obedience with the resistance of his listeners.
-
Titus 3:3
For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
Here Paul includes 'disobedient' in a list of past behaviors, reminding believers that they too were once defined by this stubborn resistance before receiving grace.