Greek Words for "Obey" — NT and LXX Word Study¶
Overview¶
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The KJV translates several distinct Greek words as "obey," "obeyed," or "obedience." This report documents every NT occurrence, the underlying Greek lemma and morphology, and then traces those same lemmas through the LXX to identify their Hebrew roots.
Greek lemmas covered:
| Lemma | Strongs | Gloss | NT count | LXX count (canonical OT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὑπακούω | G5219 | to obey / hearken | 15 | 52 |
| ὑπακοή | G5218 | obedience (noun) | 1 | — |
| πείθω | G3982 | to persuade / comply | 7 | 131 |
| πειθαρχέω | G3980 | to obey authority | 3 | — |
| ὑποτάσσω | G5293 | to subject / subordinate | 1 | — |
| ὑπήκοος | G5255 | obedient (adjective) | 1 | — |
Key finding: The NT uses at least 5 distinct Greek words where the KJV says "obey." The most important distinction is between ὑπακούω (responsive hearing/compliance) and πείθω (being persuaded/confident). In the LXX, πείθω almost exclusively translates בָּטַח (to trust, be confident) — not an obedience word at all.
Part 1 — New Testament¶
ὑπακούω (G5219) — to obey / hearken — 15 NT instances¶
The dominant NT obedience word. Literally "to hear under/toward" (ὑπό + ἀκούω). Always active voice. The Synoptic uses (wind and sea obeying) are all Present Indicative; the Pauline household codes use Present Imperative; completed past obedience uses Aorist Indicative.
| Reference | Tense | Voice | Mood | Case | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mat 8:27 | Present | Active | Indicative | ...that even the winds and the sea obey him! | |
| Mrk 1:27 | Present | Active | Indicative | ...the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. | |
| Mrk 4:41 | Present | Active | Indicative | ...that even the wind and the sea obey him? | |
| Luk 8:25 | Present | Active | Indicative | ...even the winds and water, and they obey him. | |
| Luk 17:6 | Aorist | Active | Indicative | ...planted in the sea; and it should obey you. | |
| Rom 6:12 | Present | Active | Infinitive | ...in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. | |
| Rom 6:16 | Present | Active | Indicative | ...ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of... | |
| Rom 6:17 | Aorist | Active | Indicative | ...the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine... | |
| Rom 10:16 | Aorist | Active | Indicative | But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath beli... | |
| Eph 6:1 | Present | Active | Imperative | Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. | |
| Php 2:12 | Aorist | Active | Indicative | ...my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in... | |
| Col 3:20 | Present | Active | Imperative | Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. | |
| Col 3:22 | Present | Active | Imperative | Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh... | |
| Heb 5:9 | Present | Active | Participle | Dative | ...eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; |
| Heb 11:8 | Aorist | Active | Indicative | ...called to go out...which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out... |
ὑπακοή (G5218) — obedience (noun) — 1 NT instance¶
The noun form of ὑπακούω. Appears at Rom 6:16 in tandem with the verb.
| Reference | Tense | Voice | Mood | Case | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rom 6:16 | Accusative | ...yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of... |
πείθω (G3982) — to persuade (passive: to comply / be persuaded) — 7 NT instances¶
Root meaning is to persuade. In the passive/middle it shades into being persuaded, which the KJV renders as "obey." This is a weaker, more relational nuance than ὑπακούω — compliance arising from persuasion rather than responsive hearing. Note that Heb 13:17 is the only NT Imperative use: the command to be persuaded by leaders.
| Reference | Tense | Voice | Mood | Case | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Act 5:36 | Imperfect | Passive | Indicative | ...who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. | |
| Act 5:37 | Imperfect | Passive | Indicative | ...perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. | |
| Rom 2:8 | Present | Passive | Participle | Dative | ...contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation... |
| Gal 3:1 | Present | Passive | Infinitive | ...bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth... | |
| Gal 5:7 | Present | Passive | Infinitive | Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? | |
| Heb 13:17 | Present | Passive | Imperative | Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves... | |
| Jas 3:3 | Present | Passive | Infinitive | ...the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. |
πειθαρχέω (G3980) — to obey authority — 3 NT instances¶
A compound of πείθω + ἀρχή (authority/ruler). More specific than ὑπακούω: obedience specifically to constituted authority (God, magistrates). All three NT instances are in Acts 5 and Titus 3, both contexts of civil/divine authority.
| Reference | Tense | Voice | Mood | Case | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Act 5:29 | Present | Active | Infinitive | ...We ought to obey God rather than men. | |
| Act 5:32 | Present | Active | Participle | Dative | ...whom God hath given to them that obey him. |
| Tit 3:1 | Present | Active | Infinitive | ...to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, |
ὑποτάσσω (G5293) — to subject / subordinate — 1 NT instance¶
Distinct from the other obedience words: this is structural submission to an ordering of authority, not responsive hearing. The KJV renders it "obey" here but elsewhere renders it "submit" or "be subject to."
| Reference | Tense | Voice | Mood | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tit 3:1 | Present | Passive | Infinitive | ...to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, |
(Note: Tit 3:1 uses both ὑποτάσσω and πειθαρχέω in the same verse — two different Greek words, both rendered "obey" in the KJV.)
ὑπήκοος (G5255) — obedient (adjective) — 1 NT instance¶
The adjectival form related to ὑπακούω.
| Reference | Case | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Act 7:39 | Nominative | To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them... |
Part 2 — LXX (Septuagint, Canonical OT)¶
ὑπακούω (G5219) in the LXX — 52 instances¶
In the LXX, ὑπακούω renders the concept of hearkening to a voice — almost always in contexts of obedience to God's voice, a parent's voice, or a master's call. The Hebrew behind it is typically שָׁמַע (to hear/hearken), frequently in the formula "hearken to/obey my voice" (שָׁמַע בְּקוֹל).
In Job, ὑπακούω shifts toward "to answer" — responding to a call or challenge — reflecting the broader semantic range of שָׁמַע.
| Reference | Tense | Voice | Mood | Heb. Lemma | KJV Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genesis 16:2 | Aorist | Active | Indicative | ...the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go... | |
| Genesis 22:18 | Aorist | Active | Indicative | ...because thou hast obeyed my voice. | |
| Genesis 26:5 | Aorist | Active | Indicative | Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge... | |
| Genesis 27:13 | Aorist | Active | Imperative | ...Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me... | |
| Genesis 39:10 | Aorist | Active | Indicative | ...she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her... | |
| Genesis 41:40 | Future | Middle | Indicative | ...according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled... | |
| Leviticus 26:14 | Aorist | Active | Subjunctive | But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments; | |
| Leviticus 26:18 | Aorist | Active | Subjunctive | And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me... | |
| Leviticus 26:21 | Present | Active | Infinitive | ...and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues... | |
| Leviticus 26:27 | Aorist | Active | Subjunctive | And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me; | |
| Deuteronomy 17:12 | Aorist | Active | Infinitive | ...the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest... | |
| Deuteronomy 20:12 | Aorist | Active | Subjunctive | And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee... | |
| Deuteronomy 21:18 | Present | Active | Participle | ...a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father... | |
| Deuteronomy 21:20 | Present | Active | Indicative | ...This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice... | |
| Deuteronomy 26:14 | Aorist | Active | Indicative | I have not eaten thereof in my mourning... | |
| Deuteronomy 26:17 | Present | Active | Infinitive | Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways... | |
| Deuteronomy 30:2 | Future | Middle | Indicative | ...shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey his voice... | |
| Judges 2:17 | Aorist | Active | Indicative | ...they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring... | |
| Judges 2:20 | Aorist | Active | Indicative | ...Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant... | |
| 1 Samuel 30:24 | Future | Middle | Indicative | ||
| 2 Samuel 22:42 | Aorist | Active | Indicative | ||
| Esther 3:4 | Imperfect | Active | Indicative | ...when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them... | |
| Job 5:1 | Future | Middle | Indicative | Call now, if there be any that will answer thee... | |
| Job 9:3 | Aorist | Active | Subjunctive | If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. | |
| Job 9:14 | Aorist | Middle | Subjunctive | How much less shall I answer him... | |
| Job 9:16 | Aorist | Active | Subjunctive | If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe... | |
| Job 13:22 | Future | Middle | Indicative | Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me. | |
| Job 14:15 | Future | Middle | Indicative | Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee... | |
| Job 19:16 | Aorist | Active | Indicative | I called my servant, and he gave me no answer... | |
| Job 38:34 | Future | Middle | Indicative | Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds... | |
| Psalms 17:45 | Aorist | Active | Indicative | ||
| Proverbs 1:24 | Aorist | Active | Indicative | Because I have called, and ye refused... | |
| Proverbs 2:2 | Future | Middle | Indicative | So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom... | |
| Proverbs 8:1 | Aorist | Active | Subjunctive | Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? | |
| Proverbs 15:23 | Aorist | Active | Subjunctive | A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth... | |
| Proverbs 17:4 | Present | Active | Indicative | A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. | |
| Proverbs 22:21 | Present | Active | Infinitive | ...that thou mightest answer the words of truth... | |
| Song of Songs 3:1 | Aorist | Active | Indicative | ...I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. | |
| Song of Songs 5:6 | Aorist | Active | Indicative | I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone... | |
| Isaiah 11:14 | Future | Middle | Indicative | ...they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west... | |
| Isaiah 29:24 | Present | Active | Infinitive | They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding... | |
| Isaiah 50:2 | Present | Active | Participle | ...when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? | |
| Isaiah 65:12 | Aorist | Active | Indicative | ...because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear... | |
| Isaiah 66:4 | Aorist | Active | Indicative | ...because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear... | |
| Jeremiah 3:13 | Aorist | Active | Indicative | Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord... | |
| Jeremiah 3:25 | Aorist | Active | Indicative | ...for we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers... | |
| Jeremiah 13:10 | Present | Active | Infinitive | This evil people, which refuse to hear my words... | |
| Jeremiah 16:12 | Present | Active | Infinitive | And ye have done worse than your fathers... | |
| Daniel 3:29 | Aorist | Active | Indicative | ...every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against... |
πείθω (G3982) in the LXX — Hebrew root בָּטַח¶
Where the IBM Model 1 word alignment identifies a Hebrew source for LXX πείθω, it is almost exclusively בָּטַח (to trust, be secure, be confident) — not an obedience word. The LXX translators used πείθω in its perfect tense to render the Hebrew stative: the state of being confident / trusting.
This is a critical observation for NT interpretation: πείθω enters the NT's obedience vocabulary carrying an LXX background of trust and confidence, not compliance. When Paul uses πείθω passively in obedience contexts (Gal 3:1; 5:7; Heb 13:17), the nuance is be persuaded / trust rather than submit / comply.
Selected instances where Hebrew root is aligned:
| Reference | Tense | Voice | Mood | Heb. Lemma | KJV Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deuteronomy 28:52 | Perfect | Active | Indicative | בָּטַח | ...until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trusted... |
| Judges 18:10 | Perfect | Active | Participle | בָּטַח | ...ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land... |
| 2 Kings 18:19 | Perfect | Active | Indicative | בָּטַח | ...what confidence is this wherein thou trustest? |
| 2 Kings 18:21 | Perfect | Active | Indicative | בָּטַח | Lo, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed... |
| 2 Kings 19:10 | Perfect | Active | Indicative | בָּטַח | Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee... |
| 2 Chronicles 32:10 | Perfect | Active | Indicative | בָּטַח | ...what do ye trust in, that ye abide in the siege...? |
| Job 11:18 | Perfect | Active | Participle | בָּטַח | ...thou shalt be secure, because there is hope... |
| Job 39:11 | Perfect | Active | Indicative | בָּטַח | Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? |
| Job 40:23 | Perfect | Active | Indicative | בָּטַח | ...he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth. |
| Job 6:20 | Perfect | Active | Participle | בָּטַח | They were confounded because they had hoped... |
| Proverbs 3:5 | Perfect | Active | Participle | בָּטַח | Trust in the Lord with all thine heart... |
| Proverbs 11:28 | Perfect | Active | Participle | בָּטַח | He that trusteth in his riches shall fall... |
| Proverbs 14:16 | Perfect | Active | Participle | בָּטַח | ...the fool rageth, and is confident. |
| Proverbs 16:20 | Perfect | Active | Participle | בָּטַח | ...whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he. |
| Isaiah 12:2 | Perfect | Active | Participle | בָּטַח | ...I will trust, and not be afraid... |
| Isaiah 30:12 | Perfect | Active | Participle | בָּטַח | ...ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness... |
| Isaiah 31:1 | Perfect | Active | Participle | בָּטַח | Woe to them that...stay on horses, and trust in chariots... |
| Isaiah 32:11 | Perfect | Active | Participle | בָּטַח | Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones... |
| Isaiah 36:4 | Perfect | Active | Participle | בָּטַח | ...what confidence is this wherein thou trustest? |
| Isaiah 36:5 | Perfect | Active | Indicative | בָּטַח | ...now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me? |
| Isaiah 36:6 | Perfect | Active | Participle | בָּטַח | Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt... |
| Isaiah 36:7 | Perfect | Active | Indicative | בָּטַח | But if thou say to me, We trust in the Lord our God... |
| Isaiah 37:10 | Perfect | Active | Participle | בָּטַח | Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee... |
| Isaiah 42:17 | Perfect | Active | Participle | בָּטַח | ...they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images... |
| Isaiah 50:10 | Perfect | Active | Indicative | בָּטַח | ...that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord... |
| Isaiah 59:4 | Perfect | Active | Indicative | בָּטַח | ...they trust in vanity, and speak lies... |
| Jeremiah 5:17 | Perfect | Active | Indicative | בָּטַח | ...which thy sons and thy daughters should eat: they shall...destroy thy fenced cities, wherein thou trustedst... |
| Jeremiah 7:4 | Perfect | Active | Imperative | בָּטַח | Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the Lord... |
| Jeremiah 7:8 | Perfect | Active | Indicative | בָּטַח | Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. |
| Jeremiah 12:5 | Perfect | Active | Indicative | בָּטַח | ...how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst... |
| Jeremiah 17:7 | Perfect | Active | Indicative | בָּטַח | Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord... |
| Ezekiel 16:15 | Pluperfect | Active | Indicative | בָּטַח | But thou didst trust in thine own beauty... |
| Ezekiel 33:13 | Perfect | Active | Indicative | בָּטַח | ...if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity... |
| Amos 6:1 | Perfect | Active | Participle | בָּטַח | Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria... |
| Habakkuk 2:18 | Perfect | Active | Indicative | בָּטַח | ...the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker thereof trusteth in his own work...? |
| Zephaniah 3:2 | Pluperfect | Active | Indicative | בָּטַח | She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the Lord... |
Part 3 — Key Observations¶
1. ὑπακούω is the primary NT obedience word¶
15 of 28 KJV "obey" instances in the NT use ὑπακούω. It is always active voice, always directed at a specific voice or command. Its LXX background (52 occurrences) confirms it carries the Hebrew concept of hearkening to a voice (שָׁמַע בְּקוֹל).
2. πείθω ≠ obey in the LXX¶
πείθω appears 131 times in the canonical LXX, but where a Hebrew root can be aligned, it almost always translates בָּטַח (to trust, be secure) — not any Hebrew obedience word. The LXX translators used the perfect tense of πείθω to express the resultant state of being confident. This means NT uses of πείθω passively ("be persuaded," rendered "obey") carry an undertone of trust and confidence rather than simple compliance.
3. Titus 3:1 uses two different obedience words¶
The KJV renders Titus 3:1 as "obey magistrates" twice, but the Greek uses ὑποτάσσω ("be subject to, subordinate oneself to authorities") followed by πειθαρχέω ("obey authority") — two distinct concepts in one verse.
4. The Imperative mood is reserved for specific contexts¶
Obedience commands (Imperative mood) appear in: - Household codes: ὑπακούω Imperative — children/servants to parents/masters (Eph 6:1; Col 3:20, 22) - Church leadership: πείθω Passive Imperative — be persuaded by your leaders (Heb 13:17)
The Synoptic nature miracles (wind and sea obeying) are all Present Indicative — describing ongoing natural submission, not commanding it.
5. Zephaniah 3:2 — the clearest single-verse illustration¶
"She obeyed not the voice [ὑπακούω]; she received not correction; she trusted not [πείθω / בָּטַח] in the Lord; she drew not near to her God."
This verse uses both ὑπακούω and πείθω in the same breath to describe Jerusalem's failure — perfectly illustrating how the LXX distinguishes responsive hearing (ὑπακούω) from confident trust (πείθω/בָּטַח).
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TALXX (CC BY 4.0, Tyndale House Cambridge); KJV text via scrollmapper (MIT); IBM Model 1 Hebrew↔LXX word alignment.