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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ephesians/5-25.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/9/49_Eph_05_25.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ephesians 5:25 - Wives and Husbands" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/ephesians/5-25.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/ephesians/5-25.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/ephesians/">Ephesians</a> > <a href="/ephesians/5.htm">Chapter 5</a> > Verse 25</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad5.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/ephesians/5-24.htm" title="Ephesians 5:24">◄</a> Ephesians 5:25 <a href="/ephesians/5-26.htm" title="Ephesians 5:26">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/ephesians/5.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/ephesians/5.htm">New International Version</a> Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her <a href="/nlt/ephesians/5.htm">New Living Translation</a> For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her <a href="/esv/ephesians/5.htm">English Standard Version</a> Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, <a href="/bsb/ephesians/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her <a href="/blb/ephesians/5.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Husbands, love the wives just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, <a href="/kjv/ephesians/5.htm">King James Bible</a> Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; <a href="/nkjv/ephesians/5.htm">New King James Version</a> Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, <a href="/nasb_/ephesians/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, <a href="/nasb/ephesians/5.htm">NASB 1995</a> Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, <a href="/nasb77/ephesians/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; <a href="/lsb/ephesians/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, <a href="/amp/ephesians/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Husbands, love your wives [seek the highest good for her and surround her with a caring, unselfish love], just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, <a href="/csb/ephesians/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her <a href="/hcsb/ephesians/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her <a href="/asv/ephesians/5.htm">American Standard Version</a> Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it; <a href="/cev/ephesians/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> A husband should love his wife as much as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. <a href="/erv/ephesians/5.htm">English Revised Version</a> Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it; <a href="/gwt/ephesians/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. <a href="/gnt/ephesians/5.htm">Good News Translation</a> Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. <a href="/isv/ephesians/5.htm">International Standard Version</a> Husbands, love your wives as the Messiah loved the church and gave himself for it, <a href="/msb/ephesians/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her <a href="/net/ephesians/5.htm">NET Bible</a> Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her <a href="/nheb/ephesians/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it; <a href="/wbt/ephesians/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; <a href="/wey/ephesians/5.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> Married men, love your wives, as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself up to death for her; <a href="/web/ephesians/5.htm">World English Bible</a> Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly and gave himself up for her, <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/ephesians/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> The husbands: love your own wives, as the Christ also loved the Assembly, and gave Himself for it, <a href="/blb/ephesians/5.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Husbands, love the wives just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, <a href="/ylt/ephesians/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> The husbands! love your own wives, as also the Christ did love the assembly, and did give himself for it, <a href="/slt/ephesians/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Husbands, love your own wives, as also Christ loved the church, and delivered himself up for it;<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/ephesians/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also loved the church, and delivered himself up for it: <a href="/cpdv/ephesians/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and handed himself over for her, <a href="/nabre/ephesians/5.htm">New American Bible</a> Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her <a href="/nrsvce/ephesians/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/ephesians/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved his church, and gave himself for it; <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/ephesians/5.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> Husbands, love your wives, as The Messiah also loves his church and gave himself up for her sake,<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/ephesians/5.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> Husbands, love your wives, as the Christ also loved the church, and delivered himself up for it, <a href="/godbey/ephesians/5.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> Husbands, love your wives with divine love, as Christ also loved the church with divine love, and gave himself for her; <a href="/haweis/ephesians/5.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> Husbands, love your own wives, as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; <a href="/mace/ephesians/5.htm">Mace New Testament</a> You husband, love your spouse, even as Christ loved the church, and laid down his life for her: <a href="/wey/ephesians/5.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> Married men, love your wives, as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself up to death for her; <a href="/worrell/ephesians/5.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also loved the assembly, and delivered Himself up for it, <a href="/worsley/ephesians/5.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave up Himself for it: <a href="/parallel/ephesians/5-25.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AfeSHen3sAQ?start=1001" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/ephesians/5.htm">Wives and Husbands</a> …24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25<a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: Hoi (Art-VMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/435.htm" title="435: andres (N-VMP) -- A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man.">Husbands,</a> <a href="/greek/25.htm" title="25: agapate (V-PMA-2P) -- To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Perhaps from agan; to love.">love</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tas (Art-AFP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">your</a> <a href="/greek/1135.htm" title="1135: gynaikas (N-AFP) -- A woman, wife, my lady. Probably from the base of ginomai; a woman; specially, a wife.">wives,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">just</a> <a href="/greek/2531.htm" title="2531: kathōs (Adv) -- According to the manner in which, in the degree that, just as, as. From kata and hos; just as, that.">as</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/5547.htm" title="5547: Christos (N-NMS) -- Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.">Christ</a> <a href="/greek/25.htm" title="25: ēgapēsen (V-AIA-3S) -- To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Perhaps from agan; to love.">loved</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/1577.htm" title="1577: ekklēsian (N-AFS) -- From a compound of ek and a derivative of kaleo; a calling out, i.e. a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation.">church</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/3860.htm" title="3860: paredōken (V-AIA-3S) -- From para and didomi; to surrender, i.e yield up, intrust, transmit.">gave Himself up</a> <a href="/greek/1438.htm" title="1438: heauton (RefPro-AM3S) -- Himself, herself, itself. "></a> <a href="/greek/5228.htm" title="5228: hyper (Prep) -- Gen: in behalf of; acc: above. ">for</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autēs (PPro-GF3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">her</a> 26to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/colossians/3-19.htm">Colossians 3:19</a> Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. <a href="/1_peter/3-7.htm">1 Peter 3:7</a> Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. <a href="/1_john/3-16.htm">1 John 3:16</a> By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. <a href="/john/15-12.htm">John 15:12-13</a> This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. / Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. <a href="/1_corinthians/13-4.htm">1 Corinthians 13:4-7</a> Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. / It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. / Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. ... <a href="/1_john/4-10.htm">1 John 4:10-11</a> And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. / Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. <a href="/romans/5-8.htm">Romans 5:8</a> But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. <a href="/philippians/2-5.htm">Philippians 2:5-8</a> Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: / Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, / but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. ... <a href="/1_corinthians/7-3.htm">1 Corinthians 7:3</a> The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. <a href="/genesis/2-24.htm">Genesis 2:24</a> For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. <a href="/matthew/20-28.htm">Matthew 20:28</a> just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” <a href="/john/13-34.htm">John 13:34</a> A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. <a href="/1_john/3-18.htm">1 John 3:18</a> Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth. <a href="/1_corinthians/11-3.htm">1 Corinthians 11:3</a> But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. <a href="/songs/8-6.htm">Song of Solomon 8:6-7</a> Set me as a seal over your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as unrelenting as Sheol. Its sparks are fiery flames, the fiercest blaze of all. / Mighty waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love, his offer would be utterly scorned.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;love.<a href="/ephesians/5-28.htm">Ephesians 5:28</a> So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.<a href="/genesis/2-24.htm">Genesis 2:24</a> Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.<a href="/genesis/24-67.htm">Genesis 24:67</a> And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.loved.<a href="/ephesians/5-2.htm">Ephesians 5:2</a> And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.<a href="/matthew/20-28.htm">Matthew 20:28</a> Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.<a href="/luke/22-19.htm">Luke 22:19,20</a> And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ephesians/5-24.htm">Assembly</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-24.htm">Christ</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-24.htm">Church</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-2.htm">Death</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/4-11.htm">Delivered</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-24.htm">Husbands</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-2.htm">Love</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-24.htm">Married</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-24.htm">Wives</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/ephesians/5-27.htm">Assembly</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-29.htm">Christ</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-27.htm">Church</a> <a href="/philippians/1-20.htm">Death</a> <a href="/colossians/1-13.htm">Delivered</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-28.htm">Husbands</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-28.htm">Love</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-28.htm">Married</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-28.htm">Wives</a><div class="vheading2">Ephesians 5</div>1. <a href="/ephesians/5-1.htm">After general exhortations to love;</a> 3. <a href="/ephesians/5-3.htm">to flee sexual immorality;</a> 4. <a href="/ephesians/5-4.htm">and all uncleanness;</a> 7. <a href="/ephesians/5-7.htm">not to converse with the wicked;</a> 15. <a href="/ephesians/5-15.htm">to walk carefully;</a> 18. <a href="/ephesians/5-18.htm">and to be filled with the Spirit;</a> 22. <a href="/ephesians/5-22.htm">he descends to the particular duties, how wives ought to obey their husbands;</a> 25. <a href="/ephesians/5-25.htm">and husbands ought to love their wives,</a> 32. <a href="/ephesians/5-32.htm">even as Christ does his church.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ephesians/5.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ephesians/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/ephesians/5.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>Husbands, love your wives This command is directed specifically to husbands, emphasizing the importance of love within the marital relationship. In the Greco-Roman world, marriage was often seen as a social contract rather than a relationship based on love. This directive challenges cultural norms by elevating the role of love in marriage. The Greek word for love used here is "agape," which denotes a selfless, sacrificial love. This sets a high standard for husbands, calling them to love their wives with the same depth and commitment that Christ has for the church.just as Christ loved the church This phrase sets the standard for the type of love husbands should have for their wives. Christ's love for the church is unconditional, sacrificial, and eternal. It is a love that seeks the well-being and spiritual growth of the church. This comparison elevates the marital relationship to a spiritual level, where the husband is called to reflect Christ's love. The church, in this context, refers to the collective body of believers, highlighting the communal and covenantal nature of Christ's love.and gave Himself up for her This refers to the ultimate sacrifice Christ made by dying on the cross for the sins of humanity. It underscores the depth of Christ's love, which is willing to endure suffering and death for the sake of the church. This act of giving Himself up is a model for husbands, who are called to prioritize their wives' needs and well-being above their own. The sacrificial nature of this love is a call to action, urging husbands to embody a love that is active and self-giving. This phrase also connects to the broader biblical theme of redemption and the covenant relationship between God and His people.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/h/husbands.htm">Husbands</a> In this passage, husbands are addressed directly, emphasizing their role within the marriage relationship. 2. <a href="/topical/w/wives.htm">Wives</a> Although not directly addressed in this verse, wives are the recipients of the love and sacrificial care that husbands are commanded to provide. 3. <a href="/topical/c/christ.htm">Christ</a> The ultimate example of sacrificial love, Christ's relationship with the church serves as the model for husbands. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_church.htm">The Church</a> Represents the collective body of believers, whom Christ loved and for whom He sacrificed Himself. 5. <a href="/topical/p/paul_the_apostle.htm">Paul the Apostle</a> The author of the letter to the Ephesians, providing guidance and instruction to the early Christian community.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/s/sacrificial_love.htm">Sacrificial Love</a> Husbands are called to love their wives with the same selflessness and sacrifice that Christ demonstrated for the church. This means prioritizing their wives' needs and well-being above their own. <a href="/topical/c/christ_as_the_model.htm">Christ as the Model</a> The love of Christ for the church is the standard for marital love. Husbands should study and emulate Christ's humility, service, and unconditional love. <a href="/topical/s/spiritual_leadership.htm">Spiritual Leadership</a> Husbands are to lead their families spiritually, nurturing their wives' faith and encouraging growth in their relationship with God. <a href="/topical/m/mutual_respect_and_honor.htm">Mutual Respect and Honor</a> While this verse focuses on husbands, the broader context of <a href="/bsb/ephesians/5.htm">Ephesians 5</a> emphasizes mutual submission and respect within marriage. <a href="/topical/p/practical_expressions_of_love.htm">Practical Expressions of Love</a> Love should be demonstrated through actions, such as listening, serving, and supporting one's wife in daily life.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_ephesians_5.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Ephesians 5</a> <a href="/q/bible's_view_on_loveless_marriages.htm">What does the Bible say about loveless marriages?</a> <a href="/q/how_should_husbands_love_their_wives.htm">How should husbands love their wives?</a> <a href="/q/what_is_the_gospel_of_jesus'_wife.htm">What is the Gospel of Jesus' Wife?</a> <a href="/q/what's_the_marriage_supper_of_the_lamb.htm">What is the Marriage Supper of the Lamb?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/ephesians/5.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(25) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church.--The love of Christ for His Church is such that He counts Himself incomplete without her (<a href="/ephesians/1-23.htm" title="Which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all in all.">Ephesians 1:23</a>), and raises her to be one with Himself; that He bears with her weakness and frailty; that He draws her on by the cords of love; and that He gives up Himself for her. Only so far as the husband shows the like love in perfect sympathy, in chivalrous forbearance, in abhorrence of tyranny, in willingness to self-sacrifice, has he any right to claim lordship.And gave himself for it.--Here, as before, the antitype transcends the type. In the character of our Lord's sacrifice, as an atonement offered "for" the Church, and in the regenerating and cleansing effect of that sacrifice (see next verse), none can approach Him. The husband may be said to give himself for his wife, but it cannot be in any higher sense than as taking the chief share of the burden, and if possible the pain, of life for her. He may follow Christ in love, and in that alone. Compare St. Paul's words in <a href="/colossians/1-24.htm" title=" Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:">Colossians 1:24</a>, "I fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ for His body's sake, which is the Church" (where see Note).(25-27) In these verses we trace, under the nuptial metaphor, a clear description of the three great stages in salvation--justification in His "giving Himself for us, sanctification in the "cleansing by water in the Word," glorification in the final "presentation" to Christ in glory. The metaphor is certainly preserved in the last two clauses, which correspond to the bath of purification of the bride, and the festal presentation of her (usually by the friend of the bridegroom, <a href="/john/3-29.htm" title="He that has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.">John 3:29</a>), in all her beauty and adornment, to her husband at his own home; perhaps even in the first also, for the husband used to give a dowry, which was held in the rude simplicity of ancient times to purchase his wife, and here that which Christ gives is the unspeakable price of His own Self. Throughout, in accordance with the whole tenor of the Epistle, it is the Church as a whole, not the individual soul, which is "the Spouse of Christ."<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ephesians/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 25. - Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for her. The husband's duty to the wife is enforced by another parallel - it ought to correspond to Christ's love for the Church. This parallel restores the balance; if it should seem hard for the wife to be in subjection, the spirit of love, Christ-like love, on the part of the husband makes the duty easy. Christ did not merely pity the Church, or merely desire her good, but loved her; her image was stamped on his heart and her name graven on his hands; he desired to have her for his companion, longing for a return of her affection, for the establishment of sympathy between her and him. And he gave himself for her (comp. ver. 2), showing that her happiness and welfare were dearer to him than his own - the true test of deep, real love. <a href="/commentaries/ephesians/5-25.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>Husbands, ἄνδρες (andres) Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_435.htm">Strong's 435: </a> A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man. love ἀγαπᾶτε (agapate) Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_25.htm">Strong's 25: </a> To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Perhaps from agan; to love. [your] τὰς (tas) Article - Accusative Feminine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. wives, γυναῖκας (gynaikas) Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1135.htm">Strong's 1135: </a> A woman, wife, my lady. Probably from the base of ginomai; a woman; specially, a wife. just καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. as καθὼς (kathōs) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_2531.htm">Strong's 2531: </a> According to the manner in which, in the degree that, just as, as. From kata and hos; just as, that. Christ Χριστὸς (Christos) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5547.htm">Strong's 5547: </a> Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus. loved ἠγάπησεν (ēgapēsen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_25.htm">Strong's 25: </a> To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Perhaps from agan; to love. the τὴν (tēn) Article - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. church ἐκκλησίαν (ekklēsian) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1577.htm">Strong's 1577: </a> From a compound of ek and a derivative of kaleo; a calling out, i.e. a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. gave Himself up παρέδωκεν (paredōken) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3860.htm">Strong's 3860: </a> From para and didomi; to surrender, i.e yield up, intrust, transmit. for ὑπὲρ (hyper) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_5228.htm">Strong's 5228: </a> Gen: in behalf of; acc: above. her αὐτῆς (autēs) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/ephesians/5-25.htm">Ephesians 5:25 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-25.htm">NT Letters: Ephesians 5:25 Husbands love your wives even as Christ (Ephes. Eph. 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