"a hearkening to; obedience, Rom. 5:19; 6:16; 1 Pet. 1:14; submissiveness, Rom. 16:19; 2 Cor. 7:15; submission, Rom. 1:5; 15:18; 16:26; 2 Cor. 10:5; Heb. 5:8; 1 Pet. 1:2, 22; compliance, Phlm. 21"
Definition and meaning
a hearkening to; obedience, Rom. 5:19; 6:16; 1 Pet. 1:14; submissiveness, Rom. 16:19; 2 Cor. 7:15; submission, Rom. 1:5; 15:18; 16:26; 2 Cor. 10:5; Heb. 5:8; 1 Pet. 1:2, 22; compliance, Phlm. 21
In the original Greek the word is written: ὑπακοή
Historical context
Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, one of the most important commercial cities in the empire. Rome had a Jewish population of around 50,000. The letter addresses real tensions between Jewish believers with centuries of Torah tradition and Gentile believers with no such background. Emperor Nero was on the throne. Within ten years he would execute both Paul and Peter.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of hypakoe (G5218) across the King James Bible.
By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,
For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
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Common questions
Strong's G5218 (hypakoe) is a Greek word that means: a hearkening to; obedience, Rom. 5:19; 6:16; 1 Pet. 1:14; submissiveness, Rom. 16:19; 2 Cor. 7:15; submission, Rom. 1:5; 15:18; 16:26; 2 Cor. 10:5; Heb. 5:8; 1 Pet. 1:2, 22; compliance, Phlm. 21 It appears 14 times in the King James Bible.
The word hypakoe (G5218) appears 14 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5218 is hypakoe, a Greek word defined as: a hearkening to; obedience, Rom. 5:19; 6:16; 1 Pet. 1:14; submissiveness, Rom. 16:19; 2 Cor. 7:15; submission, Rom. 1:5; 15:18; 16:26; 2 Cor. 10:5; He. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
hypakoe is a Greek word found in the New Testament.