3980. peitharcheó

Lexicon

peitharcheó: To obey, to be persuaded by authority, to follow commands.

Original Word: πειθαρχέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: peitharcheó
Pronunciation: pay-thar-KHEH-o
Phonetic Spelling: (pi-tharkh-eh'-o)
Definition: To obey, to be persuaded by authority, to follow commands.
Meaning: I obey one in authority, conform to advice, obey, follow.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

to obey authority

From a compound of peitho and archo; to be persuaded by a ruler, i.e. (genitive case) to submit to authority; by analogy, to conform to advice -- hearken, obey (magistrates).

see GREEK peitho

see GREEK archo

HELPS Word-studies

3980 peitharxéō (from 3982 /peíthō, " persuade" and 746/arxē, "what comes first") – properly, persuaded of what must come first, i.e. what has priority (the higher authority).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from a comp. of peithó and archó
Definition
to obey authority
NASB Translation
followed...advice (1), obedient (1), obey (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3980: πειθαρχέω

πειθαρχέω, πειθάρχω; 1 aorist participle πειθαρχησας; (πείθαρχος; and this from πείθομαι and ἀρχή); to obey (a ruler or a superior): Θεῷ, Acts 5:29, 32; magistrates, Titus 3:1 (others take it here absolutely, to be obedient); τῷ λόγῳ τῆς δικαιοσύνης, Polycarp, ad Philipp. 9, 1 [ET]; (A. V. to hearken to) one advising something, Acts 27:21. (Sophocles, Xenophon, Polybius, Diodorus, Josephus, Plutarch, others; on the very frequent use of the verb by Philo see Siegfried, Philo von Alex. as above with, p. 43 (especially, p. 108).)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from two Greek words: πείθω (peithō), meaning "to persuade" or "to obey," and ἄρχω (archō), meaning "to rule" or "to begin."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for πειθαρχέω, the concept of obedience to authority is prevalent in the Old Testament. Some related Hebrew terms include:
• שָׁמַע (shama, Strong's H8085): To hear, listen, or obey.
• צִוָּה (tsavah, Strong's H6680): To command, charge, or appoint.
• מִשְׁמַעַת (mishma'at, Strong's H4928): Obedience, compliance.

These Hebrew terms similarly convey the importance of obedience to divine commands and the authority of God's appointed leaders, reflecting a consistent biblical theme across both Testaments.

Usage: The term πειθαρχέω is used in the New Testament to describe the act of obeying or submitting to authority, particularly in the context of following divine or apostolic instruction.

Context: The Greek verb πειθαρχέω appears in the New Testament in contexts that emphasize the importance of obedience to established authority, especially in relation to God's commands and the teachings of the apostles. This term is used to convey the idea of being persuaded by or yielding to those in positions of leadership, whether spiritual or civil.

In Acts 5:29, the apostles Peter and the other apostles respond to the Sanhedrin, saying, "We must obey God rather than men." Here, πειθαρχέω underscores the priority of divine authority over human authority, highlighting the apostles' commitment to God's command despite opposition from religious leaders.

Similarly, in Acts 27:21, during Paul's voyage to Rome, the term is used in a more practical sense when Paul advises the crew, "Men, you should have followed my advice and not sailed from Crete." This usage illustrates the concept of heeding wise counsel and the consequences of failing to do so.

The use of πειθαρχέω in the New Testament reflects a broader biblical theme of obedience to God and His appointed leaders. It underscores the belief that true authority is derived from God, and thus, obedience to such authority is an expression of faithfulness and trust in God's sovereign plan.

Forms and Transliterations

Πειθαρχειν πειθαρχείν Πειθαρχεῖν πειθαρχησαντας πειθαρχήσαντάς πειθαρχουσιν πειθαρχούσιν πειθαρχοῦσιν Peitharchein Peitharcheîn peitharchesantas peitharchēsantas peitharchḗsantás peitharchousin peitharchoûsin

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 5:29 V-PNA
GRK: ἀπόστολοι εἶπαν Πειθαρχεῖν δεῖ θεῷ
NAS: answered, We must obey God rather
KJV: and said, We ought to obey God rather
INT: apostles said To obey it is necessary God

Acts 5:32 V-PPA-DMP
GRK: θεὸς τοῖς πειθαρχοῦσιν αὐτῷ
NAS: has given to those who obey Him.
KJV: God hath given to them that obey him.
INT: God to those that obey him

Acts 27:21 V-APA-AMP
GRK: ὦ ἄνδρες πειθαρχήσαντάς μοι μὴ
NAS: you ought to have followed my advice and not to have set sail
KJV: ye should have hearkened unto me,
INT: O men having been obedient to me not

Titus 3:1 V-PNA
GRK: ἐξουσίαις ὑποτάσσεσθαι πειθαρχεῖν πρὸς πᾶν
NAS: to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready
KJV: powers, to obey magistrates, to be
INT: to authorities to be subject to be obedient for every

Strong's Greek 3980
4 Occurrences

πειθαρχήσαντάς — 1 Occ.
Πειθαρχεῖν — 2 Occ.
πειθαρχοῦσιν — 1 Occ.