Today we discover that the word “obey” is in the Scriptures regarding marriage. This time it’s the Greek word “hupakouo.”
“hupo” meaning “to place under, to be under obedience.
“akouo” meaning “to hear, to obey, to hearken, give heed, yield.”
Where do we find it? 1 Peter 3:5, 6: “For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection (hupotasso) unto their own husbands: Even as Sarah obeyed (hupakouo) Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.”
So there it is. The Bible says that we are Sarah’s daughters when we “obey” our husbands.
In fact, this is how the women who lived ”once upon a time” adorned themselves. Actually, it was how they made themselves beautiful.
Beck translation: “This is how long ago the holy women who trusted in God used to make themselves BEAUTIFUL: they submitted to their husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him lord.”
NCV translation: In this same way the holy women who lived long ago and followed God, made themselves BEAUTIFUL, yielding to their own husbands.”
HCSB translation: “For in the past, the holy women who put their hope in God also BEAUTIFIED themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord.”
The Bible calls it a beautiful thing. Peter was referring to women who lived long ago. Now we are even further into the future and even further (yes, f-u-r-t-h-e-r) away from God’s original pattern! Why do we think we know best? Why do we spurn God’s way? Why do even Christian women reject God’s pattern?
The word “hupakouo” is the same word used for “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1).
We learn more of what it means when we read other passages where this word is used. It’s the word that is used when Jesus “rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marveled, saying What manner of man is this that even the winds and the sea obey (hupakouo) him!” (Mathew 8:26, 27). Also Mark 4:41 and Luke 8:25). The winds didn’t resist Jesus. They obeyed Him.
It’s used when Jesus cast out unclean spirits: “For with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey (hupakouo) him.”
It’s used in Scriptures about obeying the gospel (Acts 6:7; Romans 6:17; 2 Philippians 2;123; Thessalonians 1:7-1-0; 3:14; Hebrews 5:9; and 11:8).
Because God ordained marriage as the glorious picture of Christ and the church, we should embrace the spirit of obedience. The paramount thing Jesus talked about in the gospels was to obey His commandments (John 14:15, 21, 23; and 15:19). How can we be part of Christ’s body if we do not obey His commandments? In the same way, as the church hears and obeys Jesus’ commandments, so we reveal this picture by hearing and obeying our husbands.
But we notice that our obedience is “as unto the Lord” (Ephesians 5;22). A wife does not obey her husband if he asks her to sin or do anything that is contrary to God’s Word. If it is contrary to Christ and His Word, it does not reveal the picture of the bride without “spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing” (Ephesians 5:26, 27).
Be blessed today,
Nancy Campbell
Picture: Sunny-side-up Eggs art print by Soosh