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Wives and Husbands
In this part of Ephesians, the writer teaches about wives and husbands by linking marriage closely with Christ and the assembly. The instructions begin with reverence for Christ and then speak to wives and husbands in turn.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
These verses are teaching in a letter, not a story. The passage repeats the relationship between Christ and the assembly as its main comparison. It speaks of being subject, loving, giving himself up, sanctifying, cleansing, nourishing, cherishing and becoming one flesh, then ends with a summary for husband and wife.
Ephesians 5:21–33Main takeaway
This passage teaches that marriage is to be understood in relation to Christ and the assembly, with wives called to respectful submission and husbands called to self-giving love.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01The starting point is the fear of ChristThe first instruction is broad: “subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.”
Explanation
The first instruction is broad: “subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.” Then wives are told to be subject to their own husbands “as to the Lord.” These opening lines frame the passage with Christ, first by “the fear of Christ” and then by the comparison “as to the Lord.”
02Wives and the picture of the assemblyThe reason given is a comparison. The husband is called “the head of the wife” as Christ is “the head of the assembly,” and Christ is also called “the savior of the body.”
Explanation
The reason given is a comparison. The husband is called “the head of the wife” as Christ is “the head of the assembly,” and Christ is also called “the savior of the body.” Then the writer says that as the assembly is subject to Christ, wives are to be subject to their own husbands in everything.
03Husbands and Christ-like loveHusbands are commanded to love their wives in the pattern of Christ, who loved the assembly and gave himself up for her.
Explanation
Husbands are commanded to love their wives in the pattern of Christ, who loved the assembly and gave himself up for her. The passage then states Christ’s purpose: to sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, and to present the assembly glorious, holy and without defect.
04Love your wife as your own bodyThe teaching turns to the image of the body. Husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies, and loving one’s wife is linked with loving oneself.
Explanation
The teaching turns to the image of the body. Husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies, and loving one’s wife is linked with loving oneself. The explanation is that people nourish and cherish their own flesh, and the Lord does this for the assembly, because believers are members of his body.
05One flesh and a great mysteryThe passage quotes, “a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife,” and “the two will become one flesh.”
Explanation
The passage quotes, “a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife,” and “the two will become one flesh.” Then it says, “This mystery is great,” speaking about Christ and the assembly. The final summary is direct: each husband must love his wife, and the wife is to respect her husband.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01How do the words “in the fear of Christ” and “as to the Lord” shape the opening instructions?
Look closely at how the passage begins with Christ in view before it speaks directly to wives and husbands.
02What does this passage say Christ did for the assembly, and how does that relate to husbands?
List the actions named in the text itself: Christ loved, gave himself up, sanctified, cleansed, and the Lord nourishes and cherishes the assembly.
03Why does the passage include the words, “the two will become one flesh”?
Notice what comes immediately after the quotation: the statement about “a great mystery” concerning Christ and the assembly.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ephesians 5:21–33
21subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.
22Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
23For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body.
24But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything.
25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly and gave himself up for her,
26that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
27that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without defect.
28Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.
29For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly,
30because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones.
31“For this cause a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife. Then the two will become one flesh.”
32This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and the assembly.
33Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.