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ὑπακοή

hypakoḗ

G5218 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Attentive hearing or listening leading to responsive action; the act of complying with a command, instruction, or request; the state or condition of obedience. In various contexts, may refer to yielding to authority, submitting to orders, or fulfilling expected actions in response to a directive. The sense can encompass both the act (listening/responding) and the resulting state (being obedient).

Semantic Range

attentive listening; obedience in response to hearing; compliance with authority; submitting to instruction; heeding a message; acting upon a directive

Root / Etymology

From the verb ὑπακούω (to hearken, to listen attentively, often with the implication of compliance or obedience). Ὑπακοή is formed with the prefix ὑπo- (under) + ἀκούω (to hear), indicating hearing positioned under authority, hence 'obedient listening;' noun form denotes the act or quality derived from the verb.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ὑπακοή appears rarely and usually within the sphere of subordinate relationships (e.g., a servant's obedience to a master). In Hellenistic and Koine usage, especially in the Septuagint and New Testament, the term is frequently used to refer to obedience to divine commands, but can also apply to secular authorities, social superiors, or parents. The emphasis is generally on both the attentive listening and the responsive action based on what is heard; mere auditory reception is insufficient – actual compliance is implied. In the New Testament, ὑπακοή features especially in exhortations to moral or religious fidelity (e.g., 'obedience to the faith'). In English, 'obedience' is the standard translation; however, the Greek term retains a nuance of responsiveness to what is genuinely heard, rather than blind or unreflective compliance. This component distinguishes it from more generic terms for submission or following orders. Where English translations may treat the word as purely volitional, the Greek sense includes the readiness to heed as a facet of hearing itself. Not to be confused with ὑποταγή (submission), which emphasizes subordination more than responsive attentiveness.

Translation Consistency

primary "obedience" 15 occurrences

Most natural and typical English rendering of ὑπακοή in the SILEX range — captures attentive hearing that results in compliance or submission. It matches the majority of existing renderings ("obedience" used most often), covers both the action/result senses (obeying vs. the state of being obedient), and will read naturally and consistently across contexts.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ὑπακούω; attentive hearkening, i.e. (by implication) compliance or submission:--obedience, (make) obedient, obey(-ing).

Root Family

ὑπακο- (hypakoḗ) — to listen, to heed, to obey

Root ὑπακο- to listen, to heed, to obey

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5218-02 ὑπακοὴν upakoen N ACC F SG obedience attentive obedience attentive obedience 8
G5218-01 ὑπακοὴ upakoe N NOM F SG obedience obedient listening obedience 4
G5218-03 ὑπακοῆς upakoes N GEN F SG obedience of obedient listening of obedience 3

Occurrences in Scripture

15 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5218-02 Romans 1:5 ὑπακοὴν upakoen N ACC F SG obedience attentive obedience attentive obedience
G5218-03 Romans 5:19 ὑπακοῆς upakoes N GEN F SG obedience of obedient listening of obedience
G5218-02 Romans 6:16 ὑπακοήν upakoen N ACC F SG obedience attentive obedience attentive obedience
G5218-03 Romans 6:16 ὑπακοῆς upakoes N GEN F SG obedience of obedient listening of obedience
G5218-02 Romans 15:18 ὑπακοὴν upakoen N ACC F SG obedience attentive obedience attentive obedience
G5218-01 Romans 16:19 ὑπακοὴ upakoe N NOM F SG obedience obedient listening obedience
G5218-02 Romans 16:26 ὑπακοὴν upakoen N ACC F SG obedience attentive obedience attentive obedience
G5218-02 2 Corinthians 7:15 ὑπακοήν upakoen N ACC F SG obedience attentive obedience attentive obedience
G5218-02 2 Corinthians 10:5 ὑπακοὴν upakoen N ACC F SG obedience attentive obedience attentive obedience
G5218-01 2 Corinthians 10:6 ὑπακοή upakoe N NOM F SG obedience obedient listening obedience
G5218-01 Philemon 1:21 ὑπακοῇ upakoe N DAT F SG obedience obedient listening obedience
G5218-02 Hebrews 5:8 ὑπακοήν upakoen N ACC F SG obedience attentive obedience attentive obedience
G5218-02 1 Peter 1:2 ὑπακοὴν upakoen N ACC F SG obedience attentive obedience attentive obedience
G5218-03 1 Peter 1:14 ὑπακοῆς upakoes N GEN F SG obedient of obedient listening of obedience
G5218-01 1 Peter 1:22 ὑπακοῇ upakoe N DAT F SG obedience obedient listening obedience
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