IF YOU WANT TO GET TECHNICAL ABOUT HEBREWS 13:17

The King James translators in 1611 worked in a world where church and monarchy were tightly connected. Authority and hierarchy were part of everyday life — both in government and religion. So when they came to Hebrews 13:17, they chose words like “obey” and “rule” that fit the tone of their culture’s structure, not necessarily the heart of the Greek text. They leaned toward institutional authority because that’s how the church functioned in their time.

Modern translations return to the original sense (some don’t) — describing leaders who guide and believers who trust and cooperate, not rulers and subjects. These versions better reflect the relational, servant-hearted leadership that Jesus taught and the early church practiced.

We’ve all heard that verse — “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves…” It’s quoted often, especially when someone wants to remind you who’s “in charge.” But if you want to get technical about it — and sometimes you should — the original Greek doesn’t say obey or rule at all.

The verse in Greek reads:

Πείθεσθε τοῖς ἡγουμένοις ὑμῶν καὶ ὑπείκετε (Peithesthe tois hēgoumenois hymōn kai hypeikete)

At first glance, that may look like a mouthful. But let’s take it slow, because there’s gold in those words.

The first word, peithesthe, comes from peithō. It doesn’t mean “obey” in the sense of being commanded. It means “be persuaded,” “be won over,” or “trust.” The writer is saying, “Be open to those who lead you. Let yourself be convinced by their example.” It’s not about submission to an office; it’s about being inspired by a life.

Then there’s hēgoumenois, which our English Bibles often render as “them that have the rule over you.” But hēgoumenois simply means “leaders,” “guides,” or “those who go before.” It’s a relational term, not a hierarchical one. Think of someone walking ahead on a trail, showing you the way, not sitting above you giving orders.

Finally, hypeikete is translated “submit yourselves,” but it really means “yield,” “cooperate,” or “be receptive.” It’s the kind of openness that comes from respect and trust, not from fear or force.

So, if you put it all together, the verse really says something like:

“Be persuaded by your leaders and be open to them, for they watch over your souls as those who will give account.”

That sounds different, doesn’t it? It replaces the image of a ruler sitting in authority with the picture of a shepherd walking beside the flock. It calls for trust, not control — cooperation, not domination.

The early church never functioned as a corporation. Their leaders weren’t board members or businessmen; they were servants, shepherds, and spiritual guides. When the writer of Hebrews spoke of those who “watch for your souls,” he meant men and women who prayed for others, fed them the Word, and modeled faith by example.

Somewhere along the way, we began to read the Bible through the lens of power — building structures, hierarchies, and systems of control. But Christ’s kingdom was never meant to work that way. Jesus said plainly, “The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them…but it shall not be so among you” (Matthew 20:25–26).

When you understand Hebrews 13:17 in its true language, the pressure to “submit” to mere human systems begins to lift. You can respect godly leadership without surrendering your conscience. You can learn from shepherds without bowing to bosses.

God’s church doesn’t run on domination; it runs on love. Spiritual authority is not the power to control — it’s the grace to influence through example.

So if anyone ever tells you, “You can’t have an independent faith or ministry unless you’re under someone’s rule,” remember what the text really says. Be persuaded by those who genuinely lead you — those who live what they teach — but never trade the voice of Christ for the commands of men.

If my reading of Hebrews 13:17 is wrong, then who exactly are these “leaders” we are supposed to obey? Are they the Baptist pastors, the Catholic priests, the Presbyterian elders — each with their own rules, traditions, and interpretations of what it means to follow Christ? If they are not simply seasoned, Spirit‑filled believers who walk the path themselves, who guide by example, teach the Word faithfully, and help others grow in faith, then who are they? And if every group gives a different answer about what it means to live as a Christian, how can blind obedience to human authority be the standard? The verse is meant to point us to real shepherds, not human institutions, and if we lose that, we lose the very purpose of God’s design for leadership in the church.

The Shepherd of your soul still leads His sheep personally. And when He calls you to walk a certain path, you don’t need a board’s permission to follow Him.

BDD