Ephesians 5:33 kjv
Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Ephesians 5:33 nkjv
Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Ephesians 5:33 niv
However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Ephesians 5:33 esv
However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Ephesians 5:33 nlt
So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Ephesians 5 33 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eph 5:22 | "Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord." | Direct instruction to wives |
| Eph 5:23 | "For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church," | Husband as head parallel |
| Eph 5:24 | "Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything." | Submission analogy |
| Eph 5:25 | "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" | Husband's sacrificial love command |
| Col 3:18 | "Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord." | Parallel to Ephesians |
| Col 3:19 | "Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them." | Parallel to Ephesians |
| Gen 2:18 | "The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make a helper suitable for him.”" | Origin of helper concept |
| Gen 2:24 | "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." | Union in marriage |
| Prov 31:30 | "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." | Woman's inner character |
| 1 Pet 3:1 | "Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if they do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives," | Submission for evangelism |
| 1 Pet 3:7 | "Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect, as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered." | Respectful cohabitation |
| Matt 19:4-6 | "“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?" | Marriage as one flesh unity |
| Mark 10:6-9 | "But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”" | God's design for marriage |
| Heb 13:4 | "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the sexually immoral and all the wicked." | Honor in marriage |
| 1 Cor 7:3-5 | "The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control." | Mutual conjugal rights |
| Mal 2:14-16 | "You ask, “For what reason?” Because the LORD witnessed between you and the wife of your youth. You have broken faith with her, though she is your partner and your wife by covenant. Has not One God made them? Is it not One Flesh they form? And One will? So guard the lifeblood of your spirits, and do not let anyone be faithless to the wife of your youth. “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel, “and I hate a man who covers his wife with violence." | Covenant faithfulness; God's hatred of divorce and violence |
| John 13:34-35 | "“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”" | Christian love ethic |
| Rom 12:10 | "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." | Mutual honor |
| Gal 5:22-23 | "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." | Qualities for relationships |
| Eph 4:2 | "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." | Attitude for unity |
| 1 Thess 4:4 | "that each of you should learn to control his own possession in sanctification and honor," | Honor and control in marriage |
Ephesians 5 verses
Ephesians 5 33 Meaning
Husbands must love their wives as they love themselves, and wives must respect their husbands. This is the divine order and expectation for marital relationships.
Ephesians 5 33 Context
This verse is the concluding statement of Ephesians chapter 5, which has been addressing the conduct of believers in various relationships, including household codes (though not explicitly framed as such). The preceding verses (5:22-32) have laid out a specific, reciprocal model for husbands and wives, rooted in the relationship between Christ and the Church. Paul instructs wives to submit to their husbands and husbands to love their wives sacrificially. This verse, 5:33, summarizes and reinforces these specific duties, framing them not as a mere social convention but as a profound, divinely ordained pattern to be practiced by every Christian household. The broader context of Ephesians is one of unity and new life in Christ, encouraging believers to live out their faith authentically in all spheres of life.
Ephesians 5 33 Word analysis
- And (καὶ, kai): A conjunction connecting two independent clauses, emphasizing the importance of both parts of the instruction. It signifies "and also" or "moreover," linking the instruction to the wife with that to the husband, creating a balanced imperative.
- Let (in the sense of "each one"): While not an explicit Greek word here, the imperative nature of the following verbs implies a direct command to "each one" or "every husband" and "every wife."
- Wife (γυνὴ, gune): Refers to a married woman. The instruction here is specifically directed towards wives within the marital union.
- Respect (or Fear, φόβος, phobos): In this context, phobos does not imply terror or abject fear, but rather a deep reverence, awe, esteem, and respectful consideration. It suggests honoring, acknowledging authority, and holding in high regard. It echoes the respectful submission seen in the context of approaching God or the King. It is akin to the "fear of the Lord."
- Husband (ἀνὴρ, aner): Refers to a married man, the male partner in the marriage. The instruction is for him to receive this respect.
- Love (ἀγαπάω, agapao): The command for husbands is to agapao. This is the selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love that mirrors Christ's love for the church. It's not based on emotion but on choice, commitment, and action, valuing the other person supremely. This contrasts with the instruction for wives to phobeo, highlighting distinct but complementary roles and attitudes.
Word groups analysis:
- "Let each man love his wife, and let each woman respect her husband.": This phrase encapsulates the dual imperatives of the verse. The use of "each man" and "each woman" universalizes the command within the Christian context, applying it to all married individuals. The contrasting verbs, agapao (love) for the husband and phobos (respect/reverence) for the wife, highlight distinct yet equally vital contributions to a healthy marital relationship. It's not that wives are not to love or husbands not to respect; rather, these are the primary commands given to each respective role as established in the preceding verses and as demonstrated by Christ and the Church.
Ephesians 5 33 Bonus section
The contrast between the verbs agapao (love) for the husband and phobos (respect/reverence) for the wife is significant. It’s important to understand that phobos here is not about being dominated or cowering in fear. Biblical phobos (as seen in 1 Peter 3:2, 6 where a similar instruction is given) refers to reverence and awe, the kind of respect shown to someone holding a God-ordained position, akin to the "fear of the Lord." It is a recognition of God's ordering of the family structure. Similarly, the husband's agapao is not merely romantic affection; it's a deep, volitional love characterized by self-sacrifice, mirroring Christ's unselfish devotion. This reciprocal command forms the bedrock of a healthy Christian marriage, where both partners are cherished and honored according to God's design.
Ephesians 5 33 Commentary
This final verse of Ephesians 5 provides a powerful and concise summary of the marital responsibilities laid out by Paul. It crystallizes the dynamic that Paul has been developing: a Christ-centered approach to marriage. Husbands are to demonstrate agapao – a deep, sacrificial, Christ-like love – towards their wives, mirroring Christ's love for the church. This love is active, purposeful, and committed. Wives, in turn, are to exercise phobos – a profound respect, reverence, and esteem – towards their husbands. This is not a servile or fearful submission but a God-given deference and acknowledgment of the husband's headship as established in the household. Together, these actions create a marital bond that reflects the divine relationship between Christ and His Church, fostering unity, security, and mutual honor. The essence is that this mutual respect and sacrificial love are the pillars upon which Christian marriage is built, as intended by God.