"to obey one in authority, Acts 5:29, 32; Tit. 3:1; genr. to obey, follow, or conform to advice, Acts 27:21*"
Definition and meaning
to obey one in authority, Acts 5:29, 32; Tit. 3:1; genr. to obey, follow, or conform to advice, Acts 27:21*
In the original Greek the word is written: πειθαρχέω
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
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 peitharcheo (G3980) across the King James Bible.
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
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Common questions
Strong's G3980 (peitharcheo) is a Greek word that means: to obey one in authority, Acts 5:29, 32; Tit. 3:1; genr. to obey, follow, or conform to advice, Acts 27:21* It appears 4 times in the King James Bible.
The word peitharcheo (G3980) appears 4 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3980 is peitharcheo, a Greek word defined as: to obey one in authority, Acts 5:29, 32; Tit. 3:1; genr. to obey, follow, or conform to advice, Acts 27:21*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
peitharcheo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.