ἀπειθ-έω G0544
disobey, be disobedient — to refuse compliance with authority or reject the persuasion of truth
Apeitheo occupies the space between mere unbelief and active defiance. Built from the alpha-privative and peitho ('to persuade'), it literally means 'to be unpersuadable' — a willful refusal to be moved by evidence or authority. In the New Testament it describes those who reject the gospel message (Acts 14:2, 19:9), those who disobey God's revealed will (Rom 2:8, 10:21, 1 Pet 2:8), and even the 'disobedient spirits' of Noah's generation (1 Pet 3:20). John 3:36 draws the starkest line: 'whoever disobeys the Son shall not see life.' The Spanish 'desobedecer,' French 'desobeir,' and German 'ungehorsam sein' capture the active refusal implied, though the Greek root reveals something deeper — not merely breaking a rule, but closing oneself off to persuasion altogether.
1. disobey, be disobedient — To refuse to be persuaded by or comply with authority, truth, or the message of the gospel, expressing willful resistance rather than mere ignorance. Applied to Jewish opponents of the apostolic mission (Acts 14:2, 19:9), to humanity's broader rebellion against God (Rom 2:8, 10:21, 11:30-31), to those who stumble over the cornerstone (1 Pet 2:8, 3:1), and to the antediluvian generation (1 Pet 3:20). John 3:36 employs it as the antithesis of believing in the Son. All 14 occurrences share the notion of culpable, active refusal — not passive doubt but resolute non-compliance. 14×
AR["-العُصَاةِ", "العاصينَ", "الغَيرِ-مُطيعينَ", "الَّذينَ-لا-يُطيعونَ", "عَاصٍ", "عَاصِي", "عَصَوْا", "عَصَيْتُمْ", "عُصَاة", "غَيرَ-مُطيعينَ", "غَيرُ-المُطيعينَ", "لَمْ-يُطِيعُوا"]·ben["অবাধ্য", "অবাধ্য-ছিলে", "অবাধ্য-হয়", "অবাধ্য-হয়ে", "অবাধ্য-হয়েছিল", "অবাধ্য-হয়েছে,", "অবাধ্যকারীদের", "অবাধ্যদের", "অবাধ্যদের-সঙ্গে", "অবিশ্বাস-করলেন", "যারা-অবাধ্য-হয়েছিল"]·DE["ungehorsam-sein", "ἀπειθήσαντες", "ἠπείθουν"]·EN["disobey", "disobeyed", "disobeying", "having-disobeyed", "ones-disobeying", "were-disobeying"]·FR["désobéir", "désobéissant"]·heb["אֵינָם-מַאֲמִינִים", "הַמְּמָרִים", "לֹא מַאֲמִין", "לֹא-מַאֲמִינִים", "לֹא-צִיִּתֶם", "לֹא-צִיּוּ", "לֹא־מַאֲמִינִים", "מַמְרִים", "מַמְרֶה", "סֵרְבוּ", "שֶׁלֹּא-צִיְּתוּ"]·HI["अनाज्ञाकारी", "अवज्ञा-करते-हुए", "अविश्वास-करनेवालों", "अविश्वास-किया", "अविश्वासियों,", "अविश्वासियों-से", "अविश्वासी", "आज्ञा-न-मानते-हों", "आज्ञा-न-मानने-वालों", "आज्ञा-नहीं-मानते", "जिन्होंने-आज्ञा-न-मानी-थी", "विश्वास-न-किया"]·ID["tidak-percaya", "tidak-percaya,", "tidak-taat", "yang-tidak-percaya", "yang-tidak-taat"]·IT["apeithon", "disobbedire"]·jav["ingkang-boten-manut", "ingkang-duraka", "ingkang-mbalela", "ingkang-mbangkang", "kang-mboten-manut", "kang-mboten-manut,", "mbangkang", "mboten-nurut", "sami-mbangkang", "sami-mbangkang,"]·KO["불순종하는-자는", "불순종하는-자들-에게서", "불순종하는-자들에게", "불순종하여", "불순종하였으나", "불순종하였으니", "불순종한", "불순종한-자들과", "불순종한-자들에게", "순종하지-아니하고", "순종하지-않는-자들의", "순종하지-않는-자들이라", "순종하지-않았던", "순종하지-않으면"]·PT["aos-que-foram-desobedientes", "desobedecendo", "desobedeceram,", "desobedecestes", "desobedeciam,", "desobediente", "desobedientes", "que-desobedece", "que-desobedeceram", "que-foram-desobedientes", "sendo-desobedientes,", "são-desobedientes"]·RU["в-", "не-", "не-повиновались,", "не-покоряются", "некогда", "некогда-непокорным,", "непокорившиеся", "непокорившимся", "непокорные,", "непокорными", "непокоряющийся", "непокоряющимся", "непокоряющихся"]·ES["desobedecen", "desobedeciendo", "desobedecieron", "desobedecisteis", "desobediente", "desobedientes", "no-creían", "que-desobedece", "que-desobedecen", "que-desobedecieron"]·SW["asiyemtii", "hamkutii", "hawaamini", "hawakutii,", "wakakataa", "wakiasi", "walioasi", "waliokaidi", "wasiitii", "wasio-amini", "wasioamini", "wasioitii", "wasiotii"]·TR["itaat-etmeyen", "itaat-etmiyorlardı", "itaatsiz", "itaatsizlerden", "itaatsizlere", "itaatsizlerle", "itaatsizlik-edenler", "itaatsizlik-edenlere", "itaatsizlik-edenlerin", "itaatsizlik-ederse", "itaatsizlik-etmiş", "itaatsizlik-ettiler", "itaatsizlik-ettiniz"]·urd["نافرمان", "نافرمان-تھے", "نافرمان-ہوئے", "نافرمانوں", "نافرمانوں-کے", "نافرمانوں-کے-ساتھ", "نافرمانی-کرتے-ہوئے،", "نافرمانی-کرتے-ہیں", "نافرمانی-کرنے-والا", "نافرمانی-کرنے-والوں-کا", "نافرمانی-کرنے-والے", "نہ-مانتے-تھے", "نہ-ماننے-والے"]
Senses
Related Senses
H8104 1. Qal: keep, observe (law/covenant) (399×)G3101 1. disciple, learner (263×)H5826 1. Qal: to help, aid (53×)H8334 1. to minister, serve (52×)H8334 2. minister, servant, attendant (46×)G5083 1. observe or obey commands (41×)H8104 2. Niphal: beware, take heed (34×)G1247 1. to serve or minister to (32×)H3256 1. discipline, chastise (Piel active) (27×)H5833 1. help, aid, assistance (26×)H8104 3. Qal: watch, look out (26×)H5341 1. keep, observe (commandments) (24×)G5083 2. guard or protect someone (23×)H5647 2. serve, minister to (a person) (21×)H5826 2. Qal participle: helper (21×)G5219 1. obey, be obedient to (20×)H5341 2. guard, protect, preserve (a person) (20×)G1398 1. serve, render service to (19×)H5828 1. help, assistance (19×)H5411 1. Nethinim, temple servants (18×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀπειθ-έω, Attic dialect form of ἀπῐθέω (though even Trag. preferred ἀπιστέω, which see 11), to be disobedient, refuse compliance, Refs 4th c.BC+; opposed to πείθομαι, Refs 5th c.BC+: frequently with dative, disobey, οὐκ ἀπειθήσας θεῷRefs 5th c.BC+; τὰ μεγάλα ἀ. τινί in great matters, Refs; ἀ. ταῖς ἐνεχυρασίαις not to abide by them, Refs; ἐντολῶνLXX __2 of animals, Refs 5th c.BC+; of ships, τοῖς οἴαξιν ἀ.Refs 1st c.BC+ __3 of a woman, refuse compliance, Refs 5th c.AD+