Ephesians 5:21-33

Walk in Love

21 y submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

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.

  1. Cross References
    Philippians 2:3
    Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Cross References
    Ephesians 6:5
    Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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
  14. Cross References
    Song of Solomon 4:7
    You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.
  15. 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.
  16. 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!
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. 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.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.