This adjective describes one who hearkens to and obeys another, either as a character quality (obedient disposition) or a status (being subject to authority). It can take a genitive (obedient to) or dative (submissive to) construction. Classical Greek used it for subjects obedient to rulers, students to teachers, or phenomena responsive to natural laws. The New Testament emphasizes willing obedience as a virtue—not mere external compliance but genuine submission of will. All three occurrences involve human obedience to God or divinely appointed leadership.