Back to Ephesians 5

Ephesians 5:25-32

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it; that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without defect. Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly; because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones. “For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh.” This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and of the assembly.

World English Bible · Public Domain
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Ephesians 5:25-32 sits inside this longer paragraph.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it; that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without defect. Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly; because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones. “For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh.” This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and of the assembly. Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it;

    that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,

    that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without defect.

    Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.

    For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly;

    because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones.

    “For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh.”

    This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and of the assembly.

  • TYNDALE Tyndale New Testament (1534)

    Husbandes love youre wyves even as Christ loved the congregacion and gave him silfe for it

    to sanctifie it and clensed it in the fountayne of water thorow the worde

    to make it vnto him selfe a glorious congregacion with oute spot or wrynckle or eny soche thinge: but that it shuld be holy and with out blame.

    So ought men to love their wyves as their awne bodyes. He that loveth his wyfe loveth him sylfe.

    For no man ever yet hated his awne flesshe: but norissheth and cherisseth it even as the lorde doth the congregacion.

    For we are members of his body of his flesshe and of his bones.

    For this cause shall a man leave father and mother and shall cotinue with his wyfe and two shalbe made one flesshe.

    This is a great secrete but I speake bitwene Christ and the congregacion.

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  • GNV Geneva Bible (1599)

    Husbands, loue your wiues, euen as Christ loued the Church, and gaue himselfe for it,

    That hee might sanctifie it, and clense it by the washing of water through the worde,

    That hee might make it vnto him selfe a glorious Church, not hauing spot or wrinkle, or any such thing: but that it shoulde bee holy and without blame.

    So ought men to loue their wiues, as their owne bodies: he that loueth his wife, loueth him selfe.

    For no man euer yet hated his owne flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, euen as the Lord doeth the Church.

    For we are members of his bodie, of his flesh, and of his bones.

    For this cause shall a man leaue father and mother, and shall cleaue to his wife, and they twaine shalbe one flesh.

    This is a great secrete, but I speake concerning Christ, and concerning the Church.

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Examined in Scripture Analysis

Contradictions (1)

Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.

  • Is it okay to hate your relatives?

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Cross-references (97)

  • 1 Peter 3:7 (v25) You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as also…
  • Colossians 3:19 (v25) Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be bitter against them.
  • Ephesians 5:28 (v25) Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.
  • Hebrews 10:22 (v26) let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed…
  • John 15:3 (v26) You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
Show all 91 cross-references
  • Genesis 2:24 (vv25, 31) Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh.
  • Ezekiel 36:25 (v26) I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filthiness, and from all your idols.
  • John 3:5 (v26) Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom.
  • John 17:17-19 (v26) Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world. For their sakes I…
  • 1 Corinthians 6:11 (v26) Some of you were such, but you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the…
  • Matthew 19:5 (vv28, 31) and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?’
  • Genesis 2:21-24 (v28) Yahweh God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. As the man slept, he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.…
  • Ephesians 5:25 (v28) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it;
  • Colossians 1:22 (v27) yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without defect and blameless before him,
  • Titus 3:5-7 (v26) not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and…
  • 1 Peter 1:22-23 (v26) Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth through the Spirit in sincere brotherly affection, love one another from…
  • Ephesians 5:33 (vv25, 28) Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
  • Hebrews 9:14 (vv26–27) how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without defect to God, cleanse your conscience from…
  • 1 Peter 1:19 (v27) but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish or spot, the blood of Christ,
  • 2 Corinthians 11:2 (vv27, 32) For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. For I married you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
  • Ephesians 5:2 (v25) Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.
  • Ephesians 6:17 (v26) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
  • 1 Corinthians 6:15 (v30) Don’t you know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May…
  • Ephesians 1:4 (v27) even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love,
  • Song of Solomon 4:7 (v27) You are all beautiful, my love. There is no spot in you.
  • Mark 10:7-8 (v31) For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will join to his wife, and the two will become one flesh, so that they are no…
  • 2 Corinthians 4:14 (v27) knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will present us with you.
  • 1 John 5:6 (v26) This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and the blood. It is the Spirit who…
  • 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (v30) For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For in one…
  • Romans 12:5 (v30) so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another,
  • Jude 1:24 (v27) Now to him who is able to keep them from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory in great joy,
  • Zechariah 13:1 (v26) “In that day there will be a spring opened to David’s house and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.
  • Titus 2:14 (v26) who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for…
  • 2 Peter 3:14 (v27) Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without defect and blameless in his sight.
  • Genesis 2:23 (v30) The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken out of Man.”
  • Colossians 1:28 (v27) We proclaim him, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus;
  • 1 Peter 3:21 (v26) This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward…
  • Jude 1:21 (v27) Keep yourselves in God’s love, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
  • Revelation 21:2 (v32) I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
  • Isaiah 54:5 (v32) For your Maker is your husband; Yahweh of Armies is his name. The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer. He will be called the God of the…
  • Galatians 1:4 (v25) who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father—
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (v27) May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our…
  • Hebrews 10:10 (v26) by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
  • Revelation 19:7-8 (v32) Let’s rejoice and be exceedingly glad, and let’s give the glory to him. For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself…
  • Revelation 21:10-27 (v27) He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,…
  • Isaiah 62:4-5 (v32) You will not be called Forsaken any more, nor will your land be called Desolate any more; but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land…
  • Acts 22:16 (v26) Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
  • Colossians 2:2 (v32) that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that…
  • Hebrews 12:22-24 (v27) But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels, to the…
  • Isaiah 60:15-20 (v27) “Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, so that no one passed through you, I will make you an eternal excellency, a joy of many…
  • 1 Corinthians 6:16 (v31) Or don’t you know that he who is joined to a prostitute is one body? For, “The two”, he says, “will become one flesh.”
  • Galatians 2:20 (v25) I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live…
  • Ephesians 1:23 (v30) which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
  • 1 Timothy 3:16 (v32) Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached…
  • 1 Peter 1:2 (v26) according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his…
  • Revelation 7:9-17 (v27) After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could count, out of every nation and of all tribes, peoples, and…
  • Ephesians 5:31 (vv28–29) “For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh.”
  • Psalms 45:13 (v27) The princess inside is all glorious. Her clothing is interwoven with gold.
  • Proverbs 5:18-19 (v25) Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe and a graceful deer— let her breasts satisfy you at all times.…
  • Ezekiel 16:9 (v26) “ ‘ “Then washed I you with water. Yes, I thoroughly washed away your blood from you, and I anointed you with oil.
  • Ezekiel 34:14-15 (v29) I will feed them with good pasture; and their fold will be on the mountains of the height of Israel. There they will lie down in a good…
  • Matthew 20:28 (v25) even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
  • Acts 26:18 (v26) to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins…
  • James 1:18 (v26) Of his own will he gave birth to us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
  • Revelation 1:5 (v25) and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and…
  • Revelation 5:9 (v25) They sang a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the book and to open its seals: for you were killed, and bought us for God with your…
  • Proverbs 11:17 (v29) The merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
  • Ecclesiastes 4:5 (v29) The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.
  • John 3:29 (v32) He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the…
  • John 6:50-58 (v29) This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, that anyone may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down out of…
  • John 15:8 (v26) “In this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples.
  • Colossians 2:19 (v30) and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with…
  • Jude 1:1 (v26) Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:
  • Genesis 24:67 (v25) Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his…
  • Song of Solomon 1:1-8 (v32) The Song of songs, which is Solomon’s. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for your love is better than wine. Your oils have a…
  • Isaiah 40:11 (v29) He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom. He will gently lead those who…
  • Isaiah 62:3 (v27) You will also be a crown of beauty in Yahweh‘s hand, and a royal diadem in your God’s hand.
  • Jeremiah 33:9 (v27) This city will be to me for a name of joy, for praise, and for glory, before all the nations of the earth, which will hear all the good…
  • John 17:7 (v26) Now they have known that all things whatever you have given me are from you,
  • Psalms 45:9-17 (v32) Kings’ daughters are among your honorable women. At your right hand the queen stands in gold of Ophir. Listen, daughter, consider, and turn…
  • Matthew 23:37 (v29) “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children…
  • Acts 20:28 (v25) Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the…
  • 2 Samuel 12:3 (v25) but the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and raised. It grew up together with him, and with his…
  • Psalms 87:3 (v27) Glorious things are spoken about you, city of God.
  • Ezekiel 34:27 (v29) The tree of the field will yield its fruit, and the earth will yield its increase, and they will be secure in their land. Then they will…
  • Luke 22:19-20 (v25) He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in…
  • John 6:51 (v25) I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Yes, the bread which I will give…
  • Romans 1:31 (v29) without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful;
  • Ephesians 6:19 (v32) on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News,
  • 1 Timothy 2:6 (v25) who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony in its own times,
  • 1 Peter 1:18-21 (v25) knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your…

91 distinct cross-references across this passage (97 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (23 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On vv25–32 25. Husbands, love your wives. From husbands, on the…

25. Husbands, love your wives. From husbands, on the other hand, the apostle requires that they cherish toward their wives no ordinary love; for to them, also, he holds out the example of Christ, — even as Christ also loved the church. If they are honored to bear his image, and to be, in some measure, his representatives, they ought to resemble him also in the discharge of duty.

And gave himself for it. This is intended to express the strong affection which husbands ought to have for their wives, though he takes occasion, immediately afterwards, to commend the grace of Christ. Let husbands imitate Christ in this respect, that he scrupled not to die for his church. One peculiar consequence, indeed, which resulted from his death, — that by it he redeemed his church, — is altogether beyond the power of men to imitate.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv25–32 The husbands’ duty towards their wives, is to love…
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv25–32 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv25–32 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved…
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain On vv25, 28, 31 The apostle having propounded the wife’s duty first, recommends…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv25–30 That he might present it to himself a glorious…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv25–31 Even as Christ loved the church - Here is…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv25–32 Verse 25. Husbands, love your wives] Here is a…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv25, 26, 28 Eph 5:25. The apostle now proceeds to speak of…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv25–32 Husbands, love your wives - The duty of the…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv26, 27, 28, 32 Cleansing it by the laver [3] of water, in…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv25–32 "Thou hast seen the measure of obedience; now hear…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv25–32 25. Christ… gave himself—As for the wives St. Paul…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv25–32 25. Husbands] Here the instruction is equally precise and…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32 (25) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv25–32 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved…
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv25, 30, 31, 32 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved…
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain On vv25–32 25–27. Husbands, love your wives. We have here not…
William B. Godbey 1900 · Public Domain On vv25–31 25. “Husbands love your wives with Divine love, as…
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On vv25, 32 even as Christ
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On v28 Further application of the comparison:
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv25, 28, 31 General Information:
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32 5:25-33 Christian husbands are to love their wives just…
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