ὑπακούω (hupakouō)
hupakouō
to obey
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 21 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek verb hupakouō means to obey or submit to authority, but its literal sense is more specific: to hear under. Composed of a prefix meaning "under" and a root meaning "to hear," it describes the posture of a subordinate who listens attentively to a superior. This is not passive silence, but active compliance that results in action. In the New Testament, it appears twenty-one times, often describing how people respond to Jesus’ word or how believers respond to God’s commands.
A distinctive feature of this word is its occasional use for answering a knock at a door, as seen in Acts 12:13 when Rhoda hears Peter at the gate. This concrete image clarifies the spiritual meaning: obedience begins with recognizing the voice calling from outside oneself and responding to it. The sources note that while the Septuagint often translates the Hebrew shama (to hear/obey) with hupakouō, the Greek term adds a structural layer of hierarchy. It is used for children obeying parents (Ephesians 6:1), slaves serving masters (Colossians 3:22), and even nature responding to Jesus’ command (Mark 4:41).
Translators typically render hupakouō as "obey," though this English word can sometimes sound legalistic. The Greek emphasizes the relational dynamic of listening to one who has rightful authority. In Romans 6, Paul contrasts slavery to sin with obedience to God, using the term to show a complete transfer of allegiance. The word implies that true hearing inevitably leads to doing, making it a key term for understanding Christian discipleship as responsive action rather than mere intellectual agreement.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word behind 'obey' here carries a vivid picture: to hear from underneath. It suggests that true listening involves a posture of attention, where the listener recognizes the voice of authority and responds with action. This is not passive silence, but an active engagement with what has been heard. In our daily lives, this reminds us that faith is often tested in how we respond to God's call, much like Rhoda who heard Peter at the gate and immediately acted.
When we consider how creation itself responds to Jesus’ command over the wind and sea, it highlights a profound truth: obedience is the natural response of those who recognize who holds ultimate authority. For believers, this means our relationship with God is defined by a willingness to listen closely and follow through. It transforms duty into a relational dynamic, where we trust that the One speaking knows the way forward.
This kind of obedience brings peace because it aligns us with the reality of God’s care. Whether in small daily choices or major life directions, listening attentively allows us to walk in step with His will. It invites us to rest in the assurance that when we heed the call, we are moving toward the good He has prepared.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 21 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- do obey4×
- they obey2×
- obeying2×
- obeyed2×
- obey2×
- you obey,1×
- you have obeyed,1×
- you have become obedient1×
- were becoming obedient1×
- to obey1×
- to answer1×
- it obeys1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὑπακούουσιν4×
- ὑπακούετε4×
- ὑπήκουσεν3×
- ὑπακούει2×
- ὑπήκουσαν1×
- ὑπήκουον1×
- ὑπηκούσατε,1×
- ὑπηκούσατε1×
- ὑπακοῦσαι1×
- ὑπακούουσιν;¶1×
- ὑπακούετε,1×
- ὑπακούειν1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 12:13
When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.
This verse uses the word for a physical response to a knock, illustrating that obedience begins with recognizing and answering a call.
-
Romans 6:17
But thanks be to God that, whereas you were bondservants of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were delivered.
Here the term describes a heartfelt shift in allegiance from sin to God’s teaching, showing obedience as a matter of the inner person.
-
Hebrews 11:8
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went.
Abraham’s journey is cited as an example where obedience meant acting on faith without knowing the final destination.
-
Mark 4:41
They were greatly afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
The disciples’ fear arises from realizing that even nature submits to Jesus, confirming His divine authority over all creation.