Ephesians 5:22-23
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "your own husbands" isn't just a casual identifier; it strongly emphasizes the personal and unique nature of this marital bond, grounding the call for submission in that specific, intimate relationship. This isn't a generic command but one tied to the particular man God has joined you with, reflecting a divinely appointed connection meant to mirror Christ and the Church.
Paul transitions from general exhortations about living in unity to specific instructions for different relationships within the household. This verse initiates the discussion on marriage, framing the wife's submission to her husband as an act directed towards the Lord. It sets the stage for the reciprocal responsibilities that follow, where the husband's love is also commanded.
This verse calls wives to submit to their husbands, but why this specific instruction? The answer lies in a profound spiritual parallel.
The command for wives to submit to their husbands isn't just about earthly order; it's a reflection of a heavenly reality. Paul explains in verse 23 that 'the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church.' This means the wife's submission is meant to mirror the Church's willing submission to Christ. It’s not about a wife being inferior, but about a specific God-ordained relationship where love and authority are patterned after Christ's loving, sacrificial leadership over His Church. The goal is not to diminish the wife, but to create a dynamic within marriage that points to Christ’s relationship with His people.
While the Bible calls for submission, it’s crucial to understand that this authority is never absolute. Where does it end?
The concept of marital submission is always set within a framework of love and righteousness. The husband’s authority, patterned after Christ’s, is for the protection and well-being of his wife and family, not for tyranny. Crucially, this submission does not extend to situations that violate God's commands. If a husband were to ask his wife to do something dishonest, ungodly, or that violates her conscience before God, her ultimate allegiance is to the Lord. As the commentary notes, 'He has no right to require her to commit an act of dishonesty, to connive at wrong-doing... She is bound to obey God, rather than any man.' True submission respects divine law above all else.
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.
kephalē · Greek Noun
An authoritative leader, source, or origin. In marriage, it denotes the husband's role as the provider of leadership and protection, modeled after Christ's care for His people.
ekklēsia · Greek Noun
The assembly or congregation of believers worldwide who are united to Christ. It is described as His body, reflecting both a living organism and a spiritual organization under His rule.
sōtēr · Greek Noun
The one who delivers or rescues from danger, bondage, or destruction. Specifically, it refers to Jesus, who saves the believer from the penalty and power of sin.
This instruction on wifely submission is given within the context of Paul's letters to the early churches, a time when Christian teachings were influencing and sometimes challenging the deeply ingrained social customs of the Roman world, particularly regarding family structures.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry and the Early Church
Jesus' teachings and the establishment of the early church began to challenge existing social structures and hierarchies.
c. AD 48-52
Paul's First Missionary Journey and Founding of Churches
Paul establishes churches throughout Asia Minor, laying the groundwork for his epistles that would address the practical implications of Christian faith.
c. AD 54-56
Paul Writes 1 Corinthians
In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul addresses issues of order within the church, including instructions on family roles.
c. AD 60-62— this verse
Paul Writes Ephesians from Rome
While imprisoned in Rome, Paul writes to the church in Ephesus, providing foundational teaching on Christian doctrine and practice, including household relationships.
This passage echoes the instruction for wives to submit to their husbands, grounding it in their behavior and conduct, which can win over unbelieving spouses.
Colossians 3:18This verse directly parallels Ephesians 5:22, commanding wives to submit to their husbands, emphasizing that this is fitting and proper within the context of their relationship in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 11:3This verse establishes the headship principle, stating that Christ is the head of man, and man is the head of woman, providing a theological backdrop for the instruction found in Ephesians 5:22.
Titus 2:5Here, wives are exhorted to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home, and submissive to their own husbands, linking submission to a broader call for godly conduct and maintaining the reputation of the faith.
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" isn't just a casual identifier; it strongly emphasizes the personal and unique nature of this marital bond, grounding the call for submission in that specific, intimate relationship. This isn't a generic command but one tied to the particular man God has joined you with, reflecting a divinely appointed connection meant to mirror Christ and the Church.
Paul transitions from general exhortations about living in unity to specific instructions for different relationships within the household. This verse initiates the discussion on marriage, framing the wife's submission to her husband as an act directed towards the Lord. It sets the stage for the reciprocal responsibilities that follow, where the husband's love is also commanded.
Paul transitions from general exhortations about living in unity to specific instructions for different relationships within the household. This verse initiates the discussion on marriage, framing the wife's submission to her husband as an act directed towards the Lord. It sets the stage for the reciprocal responsibilities that follow, where the husband's love is also commanded.
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c. AD 62-64
Paul Writes Colossians and other Epistles
Paul continues to guide various churches, reiterating principles of submission and mutual responsibility within Christian households.
"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior." — The phrase "your own husbands" isn't just a casual identifier; it strongly emphasizes the personal and unique nature of this marital bond, grounding the call for submission in that specific, intimate…
