Ephesians 5:22-6:9

Wives and Husbands

22 z Wives, a submit to your own husbands, b as to the Lord. 23 For c the husband is the head of the wife even as d Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is e himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit f in everything to their husbands.

25 g Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and h gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by i the washing of water j with the word, 27 so k that he might present the church to himself in splendor, l without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 1 28 In the same way m husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because n we are members of his body. 31 o "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and p the two shall become one flesh." 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, q let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she r respects her husband.

Ephesians 6

Children and Parents

1 s Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 t "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, u but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

5 v Slaves, 2 obey your earthly masters 3 with fear and trembling, w with a sincere heart, x as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as y people-pleasers, but as servants 4 of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 z knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, a whether he is a slave or free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, b and stop your threatening, knowing that c he who is both their Master 5 and yours is in heaven, and that d there is no partiality with him.

  1. Cross References
    Ephesians 5:22 - 6:9
    Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
    Colossians 3:18 - 4:1
    Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
  2. Cross References
    Genesis 3:16
    To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.
  3. Cross References
    Ephesians 6:5
    Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ.
  4. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 11:3
    But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.
  5. Cross References
    Ephesians 1:22 - 23
    And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church.
  6. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 6:13
    Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food" - and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
  7. Cross References
    Colossians 3:20
    Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
    Colossians 3:22
    Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
    Titus 2:9
    Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative.
  8. Cross References
    Ephesians 5:28
    In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
    Ephesians 5:33
    However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
    1 Peter 3:7
    Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
  9. Cross References
    Ephesians 5:2
    And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
  10. Cross References
    Titus 3:5
    He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.
    Revelation 7:14
    I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
  11. Cross References
    Ephesians 6:17
    And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
    Hebrews 6:5
    And have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come.
    John 15:3
    Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
  12. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 11:2
    For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
    Ephesians 1:4
    Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
  13. Cross References
    Song of Solomon 4:7
    You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.
  14. Cross References
    Ephesians 5:25
    Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
    Ephesians 5:33
    However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
  15. Cross References
    Genesis 2:23
    Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
    1 Corinthians 6:15
    Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!
  16. Cross References
    Matthew 19:5
    And said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?
    Mark 10:7 - 8
    Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife.
    Genesis 2:24
    Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
  17. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 6:16
    Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh.
  18. Cross References
    Genesis 2:24
    Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
  19. Cross References
    Ephesians 5:25
    Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
    Ephesians 5:28
    In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
  20. Cross References
    1 Peter 3:2
    When they see your respectful and pure conduct.
    1 Peter 3:6
    As Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.
  21. Cross References
    Proverbs 1:8
    Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching.
    Proverbs 6:20
    My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not your mother's teaching.
    Proverbs 23:22
    Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
  22. Cross References
    Exodus 20:12
    Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
  23. Cross References
    Exodus 20:12
    Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
  24. Cross References
    Genesis 18:19
    For I have chosen him, that he may command his ...
    Deuteronomy 4:9
    Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, ...
    Deuteronomy 6:7
    You shall teach them diligently to your childre...
    Deuteronomy 11:19
    You shall teach them to your children, talking ...
    Psalms 78:4
    We will not hide them from their children, but ...
    Proverbs 19:18
    Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not ...
    Proverbs 22:6
    Train up a child in the way he should go; even ...
    Proverbs 29:17
    Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;...
    2 Timothy 3:15
    And how from childhood you have been acquainted...
  25. Cross References
    1 Peter 2:18
    Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.
  26. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 11:3
    But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
  27. Cross References
    Ephesians 5:22
    Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
  28. Cross References
    Galatians 1:10
    For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
  29. Cross References
    Psalms 62:12
    And that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work.
  30. Cross References
    Galatians 3:28
    There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
    Colossians 3:11
    Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
  31. Cross References
    Leviticus 25:43
    You shall not rule over him ruthlessly but shall fear your God.
  32. Cross References
    John 13:13
    You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.
    Job 31:13 - 15
    If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me.
  33. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 10:17
    For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.