# obey, keep

## Definition:

The term “obey” means to do what has been commanded by a person or law. The term “obedient” describes someone who obeys. Sometimes a command prohibits doing something, as in “do not steal.” In this case, to “obey” means not to steal. In the Bible, often the term “keep” means “to obey.”

* Usually the term “obey” is used in the context of obeying the commands or laws of a person in authority. For example, people obey laws which are created by the leaders of a country, kingdom, or other organization.
* Children obey their parents, people obey God, and citizens obey the laws of their country.
* When someone in authority commands people not to do something, they obey by not doing that.
* Ways to translate obey could include a word or phrase that means “do what is commanded” or “follow orders” or “do what God says to do.”
* The term “obedient” could be translated as “doing what was commanded” or “following orders” or “doing what God commands.”

(See also: [citizen](../other/citizen.md), [command](../kt/command.md), [disobey](../other/disobey.md), [kingdom](../other/kingdom.md), [law](../other/law.md))

## Bible References:

* [Acts 5:32](rc://en/tn/help/act/05/32)
* [Acts 6:7](rc://en/tn/help/act/06/7)
* [Genesis 28:6-7](rc://en/tn/help/gen/28/06)
* [James 1:25](rc://en/tn/help/jas/01/25)
* [James 2:10](rc://en/tn/help/jas/02/10)
* [Luke 6:47](rc://en/tn/help/luk/06/47)
* [Matthew 7:26](rc://en/tn/help/mat/07/26)
* [Matthew 19:20-22](rc://en/tn/help/mat/19/20)
* [Matthew 28:20](rc://en/tn/help/mat/28/20)

## Examples from the Bible stories:

* __[3:4](rc://en/tn/help/obs/03/04)__ Noah __obeyed__ God. He and his three sons built the boat just the way God had told them.
* __[5:6](rc://en/tn/help/obs/05/06)__ Again Abraham __obeyed__ God and prepared to sacrifice his son.
* __[5:10](rc://en/tn/help/obs/05/10)__ “Because you (Abraham) have __obeyed __ me, all the families of the world will be blessed through your family”
* __[5:10](rc://en/tn/help/obs/05/10)__ But the Egyptians did not believe God or __obey__ his commands.
* __[13:7](rc://en/tn/help/obs/13/07)__ If the people __obeyed__ these laws, God promised that he would bless and protect them.

## Word Data:

* Strong’s: H1697, H2388, H3349, H4928, H6213, H7181, H8085, H8086, H8104, G01910, G39800, G39820, G50830, G50840, G52180, G52190, G52550, G52920, G52930, G54420
