5292. hupotagé

Lexical Summary

hupotagé: Submission, subjection

Original Word: ὑποταγή
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: hupotagé
Pronunciation: hoo-pot-ag-AY
Phonetic Spelling: (hoop-ot-ag-ay')
KJV: subjection
NASB: control, obedience, subjection, submissiveness
Word Origin: [from G5293 (ὑποτάσσω - subject)]

1. subordination

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

subjection.

From hupotasso; subordination -- subjection.

see GREEK hupotasso

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 5292 hypotagḗ – submission. See 5293 (hypotássō).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from hupotassó
Definition
subjection
NASB Translation
control (1), obedience (1), subjection (1), submissiveness (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 5292: ὑποταγῇ

ὑποταγῇ, ὑποταγης, ἡ,

1. the act of subjecting (Dionysius Halicarnassus).

2. obedience, subjection: 2 Corinthians 9:13 (on which see ὁμολογία, b.); Galatians 2:5; 1 Timothy 2:11; 1 Timothy 3:4.

Topical Lexicon

Essence of ὑποταγή (Strong’s Greek 5292)

A state or attitude of yieldedness to an acknowledged authority. In the New Testament the word portrays a willing alignment beneath God-ordained order so that the truth of the gospel may flourish in life, church, and society.

Occurrences and Immediate Contexts

• 2 Corinthians 9:13 – Generous giving displays “the submission coming from your confession of the gospel of Christ,” proving that true faith bows to gospel priorities.
• Galatians 2:5 – Paul refuses “to yield in submission even for a moment” to false brothers, showing that genuine submission serves the truth, not error.
• 1 Timothy 2:11 – A woman is to “learn in quietness and full submission,” safeguarding orderly instruction in the gathered church.
• 1 Timothy 3:4 – An overseer must keep his children “under submission, with complete dignity,” because household order evidences fitness to lead God’s household.

Biblical Theology of Submission

1. Godward foundation: “Submit yourselves therefore to God” (James 4:7). All other submission flows from this absolute allegiance.
2. Christological pattern: Jesus “humbled Himself and became obedient to death” (Philippians 2:8). The One who rules all first submitted completely to the Father.
3. Spirit-enabled virtue: Believers are to be “submitting to one another in the fear of Christ” (Ephesians 5:21), a posture made possible by the indwelling Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

Historical Backdrop

In the Greco-Roman world, ὑποταγή could describe military hierarchy, civic duty, or household relations. The apostles appropriate the term but fill it with gospel content, emphasizing willing, dignified response rather than coerced subservience. This radicalized humility shocked a culture that prized status and patronage.

Ministry Significance

1. Stewardship and Mission (2 Corinthians 9:13) – Financial generosity is not mere philanthropy; it is a tangible confession that Christ’s lordship governs one’s resources.
2. Doctrinal Integrity (Galatians 2:5) – True submission never compromises gospel truth; it resists error for the sake of preserving freedom in Christ.
3. Congregational Order (1 Timothy 2:11) – Ordered learning protects the assembly from disorder and false teaching, allowing all to be edified.
4. Leadership Qualification (1 Timothy 3:4) – A home that walks in respectful order authenticates a man’s readiness to shepherd the church.

Pastoral Applications

• Disciple believers to see submission as active faith, not passive compliance.
• Teach that resistance to heresy is an act of higher submission to Christ’s authority.
• Model servant leadership that invites voluntary followership rather than demands it.
• Encourage households to reflect gospel order, strengthening the witness of the local church.

Relationship to Allied Concepts

Obedience (ὑπακοή), humility (ταπεινοφροσύνη), and peace (εἰρήνη) intertwine with ὑποταγή. Where godly submission thrives, humility cushions authority and peace marks relationships (Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 3:1-6).

Summary

ὑποταγή is gospel-shaped yieldedness. It honors God, preserves truth, orders the church, and adorns family life, demonstrating that the lordship of Jesus Christ penetrates every sphere of human experience.

Forms and Transliterations

υποταγη υποταγή ὑποταγῇ hypotage hypotagē hypotagêi hypotagē̂i upotage upotagē

Englishman's Concordance

2 Corinthians 9:13 N-DFS
GRK: ἐπὶ τῇ ὑποταγῇ τῆς ὁμολογίας
NAS: God for [your] obedience to your confession
KJV: professed subjection unto
INT: at the submission of the confession

Galatians 2:5 N-DFS
GRK: εἴξαμεν τῇ ὑποταγῇ ἵνα ἡ
NAS: But we did not yield in subjection to them for even
KJV: we gave place by subjection, no, not
INT: did we yield in subjection that the

1 Timothy 2:11 N-DFS
GRK: ἐν πάσῃ ὑποταγῇ
NAS: with entire submissiveness.
KJV: with all subjection.
INT: in all submissiveness

1 Timothy 3:4 N-DFS
GRK: ἔχοντα ἐν ὑποταγῇ μετὰ πάσης
NAS: under control with all
KJV: his children in subjection with all
INT: having in subjection with all

Strong's Greek 5292
4 Occurrences

ὑποταγῇ — 4 Occ.