"to give ear; to listen, Acts 12:13; to obey, Mt. 8:27; Mk. 1:27; in NT to render submissive acceptance, Acts 6:7; Rom. 6:17; 2 Thess. 1:8; Heb. 5:9; absol. to be submissive, Phil. 2:12"
Definition and meaning
to give ear; to listen, Acts 12:13; to obey, Mt. 8:27; Mk. 1:27; in NT to render submissive acceptance, Acts 6:7; Rom. 6:17; 2 Thess. 1:8; Heb. 5:9; absol. to be submissive, Phil. 2:12
In the original Greek the word is written: ὑπακούω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
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 hypakouo (G5219) across the King James Bible.
But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
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?
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
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Common questions
Strong's G5219 (hypakouo) is a Greek word that means: to give ear; to listen, Acts 12:13; to obey, Mt. 8:27; Mk. 1:27; in NT to render submissive acceptance, Acts 6:7; Rom. 6:17; 2 Thess. 1:8; Heb. 5:9; absol. to be submissive, Phil. 2:12 It appears 21 times in the King James Bible.
The word hypakouo (G5219) appears 21 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5219 is hypakouo, a Greek word defined as: to give ear; to listen, Acts 12:13; to obey, Mt. 8:27; Mk. 1:27; in NT to render submissive acceptance, Acts 6:7; Rom. 6:17; 2 Thess. 1:8; Heb. 5:9; a. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
hypakouo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.