Lexical Summary hupotassó: To subject, to subordinate, to submit, to be under obedience Original Word: ὑποτάσσω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance to subject, put in subjectionFrom hupo and tasso; to subordinate; reflexively, to obey -- be under obedience (obedient), put under, subdue unto, (be, make) subject (to, unto), be (put) in subjection (to, under), submit self unto. see GREEK hupo see GREEK tasso HELPS Word-studies 5293 hypotássō (from 5259 /hypó, "under" and 5021 /tássō, "arrange") – properly, "under God's arrangement," i.e. submitting to the Lord (His plan). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom hupo and tassó Definition to place or rank under, to subject, mid. to obey NASB Translation put in subjection (5), subject (16), subjected (7), subjecting (1), subjection (4), submissive (3), submit (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5293: ὑποτάσσωὑποτάσσω: 1 aorist ὑπεταξα; passive, perfect ὑποτεταγμαι; 2 aorist ὑπεταγην; 2 future ὑποταγήσομαι; present middle ὑποτάσσομαι; to arrange under, to subordinate; to subject, put in subjection: τίνι τί or τινα, 1 Corinthians 15:27{c}; Hebrews 2:5; Philippians 3:21; passive, Romans 8:20 (see διά B. II. 1 b.): 1 Corinthians 15:27{b} and following; 1 Peter 3:22; τινα or τί ὑπό τούς πόδας τίνος, 1 Corinthians 15:27{a}; Ephesians 1:22; ὑποκάτω τῶν ποδῶν τίνος, Hebrews 2:8; middle to subject oneself, to obey; to submit to one's control; to yield to one's admonition or advice: absolutely, Romans 13:5; 1 Corinthians 14:34 (cf. Buttmann, § 151, 30); τινα, Luke 2:51; Luke 10:17, 20; Romans 8:7; Romans 13:1; 1 Corinthians 14:32; 1 Corinthians 16:16; Ephesians 5:21f (but in Ephesians 5:22, G T WH text omit; Tr marginal reading brackets ὑποτάσσεσθε); Ephesians 5:24; Colossians 3:18; Titus 2:5, 9; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:18; 1 Peter 3:1, 5; 1 Peter 5:5; 2 aorist passive with a middle force, to obey (R. V. subject oneself, Buttmann, 52 (46)), Romans 10:3; imperative obey, be subject: James 4:7; 1 Peter 2:13; 1 Peter 5:5; 2 future passive Hebrews 12:9. (The Sept.; (Aristotle), Polybius, Plutarch, Arrian, Herodian) Topical Lexicon Divine Order and the Story Line of Scripture From Genesis onward, Scripture presents a universe structured by God-given authority. Romans 8:20 records that “the creation was subjected to futility… in hope,” revealing that even the natural order answers to God’s sovereign purpose. The same motif appears in Hebrews 2:8; nothing stands outside the Creator’s right to arrange, direct, and, when sin entered, to re-order all things through redemption. The Pattern Realized in Christ Jesus Christ embodies perfect, willing submission. As a twelve-year-old He “was obedient to them” (Luke 2:51), honoring earthly parents. In His passion He yielded to the Father’s will (implicit in Philippians 2:8), and in resurrection the Father “put everything under His feet” (Ephesians 1:22). 1 Corinthians 15:27-28 balances two truths: the Son now rules over all, yet in the final scene He Himself will be “made subject to Him who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all.” Thus biblical submission never implies inferiority; it highlights functional order within equal worth. Cosmic Subjection and Spiritual Powers The scope extends beyond human society. Demons “submit” in Christ’s name (Luke 10:17, 20), and “angels, authorities, and powers” are “subject to Him” (1 Peter 3:22). Spiritual warfare is therefore fought from a position of delegated authority, not human capacity. Submission within the Church A redeemed community mirrors divine order. Believers are to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21), an attitude substantiated by humility (1 Peter 5:5) and discernment (1 Corinthians 14:32-34). Church order is neither chaotic nor oppressive, but a Spirit-enabled harmony that protects gospel witness (1 Corinthians 16:16). Civil and Public Life Romans 13:1-5 and Titus 3:1 insist that governing authorities derive legitimacy from God. Submission is “for the Lord’s sake” (1 Peter 2:13) and is limited only where earthly commands directly contradict divine commands (Acts 5:29, by implication). The believer’s default posture is cooperative obedience, marked by good works that silence hostility. Household and Vocational Codes Ephesians 5:24; Colossians 3:18; Titus 2:5 instruct wives to submit to their husbands “as the church submits to Christ,” while husbands must love sacrificially (Ephesians 5:25). Children honor parents (implied in the term’s broader usage), and slaves or employees are to “submit… in everything” that is morally right (Titus 2:9; 1 Peter 2:18). These instructions contextualize authority within covenant love and mutual accountability, safeguarding against abuse. Interior Submission to God’s Righteousness Romans 10:3 diagnoses Israel’s failure as refusal to “submit to God’s righteousness.” Likewise, “the mind of the flesh… does not submit to God’s law” (Romans 8:7). Genuine faith is therefore inseparable from a yielded heart. James 4:7 captures the paradox: “Submit yourselves… to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” True liberty arises through surrender to divine authority. Discipleship and Fatherly Discipline Hebrews 12:9 reasons from earthly experience: if we respected human fathers, “shall we not much more submit to the Father of spirits and live?” Submission here safeguards life, holiness, and perseverance amid trial. Eschatological Consummation Current experience is partial; “at present we do not see everything subject to Him” (Hebrews 2:8). Yet Philippians 3:21 assures that Christ will “transform our lowly bodies” by the same power “to subject all things to Himself.” The consummation will vindicate every act of faithful submission enacted in time. Pastoral and Ministry Implications • Preaching should present submission as worship—a glad alignment with God’s character. Historical Reception Early church fathers applied these texts to maintain unity under apostolic teaching. Reformers appealed to them against both ecclesiastical anarchy and state absolutism. Throughout revivals, willingness to yield to Scripture proved a hallmark of authentic renewal. Key Themes for Further Study 1. Submission as a reflection of Trinitarian relations. In every sphere—cosmic, ecclesial, civil, familial, personal—Scripture weaves a single thread: God is bringing all things into joyful, righteous submission under Christ, and believers are invited to live that reality now. Forms and Transliterations γυναῖκες υπεταγη υπετάγη ὑπετάγη υπεταγησαν υπετάγησαν ὑπετάγησαν υπέταξαν υπεταξας υπέταξας ὑπέταξας υπετάξατε υπέταξε υπεταξεν υπέταξεν ὑπέταξεν υποταγεντων υποταγέντων ὑποταγέντων υποταγη υποταγή ὑποταγῇ υποτάγηθι υποταγησεται υποταγήσεται ὑποταγήσεται υποταγησομεθα υποταγησόμεθα ὑποταγησόμεθα Υποταγητε υποτάγητε Ὑποτάγητε υποταξαι υποτάξαι ὑποτάξαι υποταξαντα υποτάξαντα ὑποτάξαντα υποταξαντι υποτάξαντι ὑποτάξαντι υποταξαντος υποτάξαντος ὑποτάξαντος υποτάξας υποτάξει υποτασσεσθαι υποτάσσεσθαι ὑποτάσσεσθαι υποτασσεσθε υποτάσσεσθε ὑποτάσσεσθε υποτασσεσθω υποτασσέσθω ὑποτασσέσθω υποτασσεσθωσαν ὑποτασσέσθωσαν υποτασσεται υποτάσσεται ὑποτάσσεται υποτασσησθε υποτάσσησθε ὑποτάσσησθε υποτασσομεναι υποτασσόμεναι ὑποτασσόμεναι υποτασσομενας υποτασσομένας ὑποτασσομένας υποτασσομενοι υποτασσόμενοι ὑποτασσόμενοι υποτασσομενος υποτασσόμενος ὑποτασσόμενος υποτάσσων υποτεταγμενα υποτεταγμένα ὑποτεταγμένα υποτεταγμένων υποτετακται υποτέτακται ὑποτέτακται gunaikes hypetage hypetagē hypetáge hypetágē hypetagesan hypetagēsan hypetágesan hypetágēsan hypetaxas hypétaxas hypetaxen hypétaxen hypotage hypotagē hypotagêi hypotagē̂i hypotagenton hypotagentōn hypotagénton hypotagéntōn hypotagesetai hypotagēsetai hypotagḗsetai hypotagesometha hypotagesómetha hypotagēsometha hypotagēsómetha Hypotagete Hypotagēte Hypotágete Hypotágēte hypotassesthai hypotássesthai hypotassesthe hypotassēsthe hypotássesthe hypotássēsthe hypotassestho hypotassesthō hypotasséstho hypotassésthō hypotassesthosan hypotassesthōsan hypotassésthosan hypotassésthōsan hypotassetai hypotássetai hypotassomenai hypotassómenai hypotassomenas hypotassoménas hypotassomenoi hypotassómenoi hypotassomenos hypotassómenos hypotaxai hypotáxai hypotaxanta hypotáxanta hypotaxanti hypotáxanti hypotaxantos hypotáxantos hypotetagmena hypotetagména hypotetaktai hypotétaktai upetage upetagē upetagesan upetagēsan upetaxas upetaxen upotage upotagē upotagenton upotagentōn upotagesetai upotagēsetai upotagesometha upotagēsometha Upotagete Upotagēte upotassesthai upotassesthe upotassēsthe upotassestho upotassesthō upotassesthosan upotassesthōsan upotassetai upotassomenai upotassomenas upotassomenoi upotassomenos upotaxai upotaxanta upotaxanti upotaxantos upotetagmena upotetaktaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Luke 2:51 V-PPM/P-NMSGRK: καὶ ἦν ὑποτασσόμενος αὐτοῖς καὶ NAS: to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother KJV: and was subject unto them: but INT: and he was subject to them And Luke 10:17 V-PIM/P-3S Luke 10:20 V-PIM/P-3S Romans 8:7 V-PIM/P-3S Romans 8:20 V-AIP-3S Romans 8:20 V-APA-AMS Romans 10:3 V-AIP-3P Romans 13:1 V-PMM-3S Romans 13:5 V-PNM 1 Corinthians 14:32 V-PIM/P-3S 1 Corinthians 14:34 V-PMM/P-3P 1 Corinthians 15:27 V-AIA-3S 1 Corinthians 15:27 V-RIM/P-3S 1 Corinthians 15:27 V-APA-GMS 1 Corinthians 15:28 V-ASP-3S 1 Corinthians 15:28 V-FIP-3S 1 Corinthians 15:28 V-APA-DMS 1 Corinthians 16:16 V-PSM/P-2P Ephesians 1:22 V-AIA-3S Ephesians 5:21 V-PPM/P-NMP Ephesians 5:24 V-PIM/P-3S Philippians 3:21 V-ANA Colossians 3:18 V-PMM-2P Titus 2:5 V-PPM/P-AFP Titus 2:9 V-PNM Strong's Greek 5293 |