Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Ephesians 5:22
What does Ephesians 5:22 mean?
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Ephesians 5:22
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The phrase "your own husbands" is incredibly significant here, emphasizing that this submission is rooted in the unique, personal bond of marriage. It’s not a general command to all men, but a call to honor the specific covenant relationship established between a wife and her husband, reflecting the Lord's command.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is transitioning from general warnings about conduct to specific instructions for various relationships within the Christian community, starting with marriage. This section frames marital roles as illustrations of Christ's relationship with the Church, where wives' submission is to be understood within the context of their husbands' loving leadership. The passage then proceeds to outline the reciprocal duties of husbands, illustrating the profound sacrificial love they are called to emulate.
The Bible doesn't call for blind obedience, but submission within a specific context. What makes that context so important?
The word 'own' in 'your own husbands' isn't just descriptive; it emphasizes the unique, personal bond within marriage. This submission is grounded in the peculiar relationship that exists between a husband and wife, a sacred covenant ordained by God. It's not a generic command to all women but specifically directed towards wives in their particular role within their marriage. This personal connection is the foundation upon which this specific form of submission is built.
Why does Paul link a wife's submission to her husband with submission 'as to the Lord'?
The phrase 'as to the Lord' transforms the act of submission from a mere social or hierarchical arrangement into a spiritual discipline. It means that a wife's obedience to her husband is to be done with the same heart attitude and for the same ultimate reason as her obedience to Christ. God has ordained the husband to have a position of headship within the family, and submitting to him, within the bounds of God's commands, is seen as submitting to God's established order. It calls for a willingness to obey not just because it's a marital duty, but because it honors God's design.
Does this command to submit mean wives must obey their husbands no matter what?
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The Bible is clear that submission to human authority, including a husband's, is always secondary to obedience to God. Submission is commanded 'as to the Lord,' which implies that it operates within the framework of God's will. A wife is not called to submit to anything that violates God's explicit commands or compromises her conscience. Furthermore, this submission is intended to function within a loving, reciprocal relationship, not one of tyranny or exploitation. The husband's role as 'head' is paralleled with Christ's role as the Savior of the church, implying a sacrificial, loving, and protective leadership, not absolute control.
Understand the original words
Kyriō · Greek Noun
The divine Sovereign and Master who possesses supreme authority over all creation and specifically over the Church. It denotes Jesus' lordship as the resurrected Redeemer.
This verse reiterates the same instruction to wives, emphasizing that it is 'fitting in the Lord,' directly linking the marital submission to a godly context.
1 Peter 3:1Peter echoes this teaching, urging wives to 'be subject to your own husbands,' and connects their conduct to winning over unbelieving husbands, highlighting the relational aspect.
Genesis 2:18-24This foundational passage describes the creation of woman from man and their becoming 'one flesh,' providing the theological basis for the complementary roles and headship discussed in Ephesians.
1 Corinthians 11:3Paul establishes the principle of headship here, stating that 'the head of every man is Christ, the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God,' which underpins the hierarchical structure mentioned in Ephesians.
Ephesians 5:23-24These verses immediately follow, explaining the 'why' behind the wife's submission by comparing the husband's headship to Christ's headship over the Church, framing it within a picture of Christ's loving care.
vincentEphesians 5:22: "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord."
Your own (ἰδίοις)The peculiar personal relationship is emphasized as the ground of the duty.
barnesEphesians 5:22: "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord."
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands - On this passage, compare notes on 1 Corinthians 11:3-9 . The duty of the submission of the wife to her husband is everywhere enjoined in the Scriptures; see 1 Peter 3:1 ; Colossians 3:18 ; Titus 2:5 . While Christianity designed to elevate the character of the wife, and to make her a fit companion of an intelligent and pious husband, it did not intend to destroy…
The phrase "your own husbands" is incredibly significant here, emphasizing that this submission is rooted in the unique, personal bond of marriage. It’s not a general command to all men, but a call to honor the specific covenant relationship established between a wife and her husband, reflecting the Lord's command.
Paul is transitioning from general warnings about conduct to specific instructions for various relationships within the Christian community, starting with marriage. This section frames marital roles as illustrations of Christ's relationship with the Church, where wives' submission is to be understood within the context of their husbands' loving leadership. The passage then proceeds to outline the reciprocal duties of husbands, illustrating the profound sacrificial love they are called to emulate.
Paul is transitioning from general warnings about conduct to specific instructions for various relationships within the Christian community, starting with marriage. This section frames marital roles as illustrations of Christ's relationship with the Church, where wives' submission is to be understood within the context of their husbands' loving leadership. The passage then proceeds to outline the reciprocal duties of husbands, illustrating the profound sacrificial love they are called to emulate.
"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord." — The phrase "your own husbands" is incredibly significant here, emphasizing that this submission is rooted in the unique, personal bond of marriage. It’s not a general command to all men, but a call t…
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Last reviewed October 2026