Husbands

Husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the church. This page lists the Bible's instructions to husbands.

Love your wife

• Ephesians 5:25-29
  ²⁵Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her ²⁶That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. ²⁸So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:Indeed, no one ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church.
  Show context · Read Ephesians 5 →
• Ephesians 5:33
  Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.Nevertheless, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
  Show context · Read Ephesians 5 →
• Colossians 3:19
  Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
  Show context · Read Colossians 3 →

Understanding and honour

• 1 Peter 3:7
  Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.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.
  Show context · Read 1 Peter 3 →

Faithfulness to one wife

• Proverbs 5:18-19
  ¹⁸Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth: ¹⁹Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.A loving doe, a graceful fawn— may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever.
  Show context · Read Proverbs 5 →
• Malachi 2:14-15
  ¹⁴Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. ¹⁵And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.
  Show context · Read Malachi 2 →
• Ecclesiastes 9:9
  Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.Enjoy life with your beloved wife all the days of the fleeting life that God has given you under the sun—all your fleeting days. For this is your portion in life and in your labor under the sun.
  Show context · Read Ecclesiastes 9 →

Head of the wife

• Ephesians 5:23
  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior.
  Show context · Read Ephesians 5 →
• 1 Corinthians 11:3
  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.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.
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Providing for the household

• 1 Timothy 5:8
  But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
  Show context · Read 1 Timothy 5 →

One flesh and mutual duty

• Genesis 2:24
  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
  Show context · Read Genesis 2 →
• 1 Corinthians 7:3-4
  ³Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. ⁴The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife.
  Show context · Read 1 Corinthians 7 →

See also

• Wives
• Marriage
• Fathers
• Divorce

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.