Word Study for G5219 (ὑπακούω)

hypakoúō /hoop-ak-oo'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom ὑπό and ἀκούω

Meaningto hear under (as a subordinate), i.e. to listen attentively; by implication, to heed or conform to a command or authority

KJV usagehearken, be obedient to, obey.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of hypakoúō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word hypakoúō, represented by G5219, means to hear under, as a subordinate, and to listen attentively. By implication, it signifies heeding or conforming to a command or authority. It appears 23 times across 21 unique verses in the Bible, establishing its role in describing responses to authority.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, G5219 is applied in various contexts of submission. It defines familial and social structures, as when children are commanded to obey their parents Ephesians 6:1 and servants their masters Colossians 3:22. The term also describes the ultimate authority of Christ, as the winds and the sea obey his command Matthew 8:27. This extends to the supernatural realm, where unclean spirits do obey him Mark 1:27. The concept is also applied spiritually, as Abraham obeyed when he was called by God Hebrews 11:8.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the dynamics of command and submission:

G5218 hypakoḗ (obedience): This is the noun form, signifying the act of compliance or submission itself. It is presented as a choice between obedience unto righteousness or sin unto death Romans 6:16.
G2004 epitássō (to command, order): This word represents the command that precedes obedience. It is used when Jesus commandeth the winds and water, and they in turn obey him Luke 8:25.
G1401 doûlos (servant, slave): This term often identifies the one who is called to obey. Believers are servants who can choose to obey either sin or obedience Romans 6:16, and servants are to be obedient to their masters Ephesians 6:5.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G5219 is significant, framing the believer's relationship with God and the world.

Response to Divine Authority: Obedience is the required response not only to God's commands but to the gospel itself. There are consequences for those who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 1:8. Conversely, Jesus is the author of salvation for all who obey him Hebrews 5:9.
The Mark of Faith: Obedience is presented as an outward expression of an inward faith. A great company of priests demonstrated their conversion by becoming obedient to the faith Acts 6:7, and believers are said to have obeyed from the heart Romans 6:17.
Christ's Supreme Authority: The word is used to demonstrate Christ's power over all creation. The disciples marveled that even the winds and the sea obey him Mark 4:41, establishing His divine authority.

Summary

In summary, G5219 conveys more than simple compliance. It represents an attentive listening that leads to action, whether in familial relationships, social structures, or the believer's submission to God. From the obedience of the natural elements to the heart-level obedience required by the gospel, the word illustrates a core principle of biblical faith: the willing submission to a rightful authority.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 21 occurrences, inflected in 11 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Present Active Imperative 2nd Plural 4×
Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Singular 3×
Present Active Indicative 3rd Plural 3×
Aorist Active Indicative 2nd Plural 2×
Present Active Indicative 3rd Singular 2×
Present Active Participle Dative Plural Masculine 2×
Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Aorist Active Infinitive 1×
Imperfect Active Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Present Active Indicative 2nd Plural 1×
Present Active Infinitive 1×

Dative: The indirect object — often "to" or "for".
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Imperfect: Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Imperative: A command or entreaty.
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 21 verses across 11 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Romans (4 verses); never once in the other 16.

Matthew

Mark

Luke

Acts

Romans

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

2 Thessalonians

Hebrews

1 Peter

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.