Wives

Wives are addressed in the New Testament letters, which call them to submit to and reverence their husbands, and in Proverbs 31, which describes a virtuous woman. This page lists the Bible's instructions to wives and its descriptions of a good wife.

Submission and reverence

• Ephesians 5:22-24
  ²²Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. ²³For 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. ²⁴Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
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• 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.
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• Colossians 3:18
  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
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• 1 Peter 3:1-6
  ¹Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they refuse to believe the word, they will be won over without words by the behavior of their wives ²While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.when they see your pure and reverent demeanor. ³Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, ⁴But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight. ⁵For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:For this is how the holy women of the past adorned themselves. They put their hope in God and were submissive to their husbands, ⁶Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.just as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. And you are her children if you do what is right and refuse to give way to fear.
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The virtuous woman

• Proverbs 31:10-12
  ¹⁰Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies. ¹¹The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value. ¹²She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
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• Proverbs 31:25-30
  ²⁵Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come. ²⁶She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. ²⁷She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. ²⁸Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well: ²⁹Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.“Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!” ³⁰Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
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• Proverbs 12:4
  A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but she who causes shame is like decay in his bones.
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A good wife is from the Lord

• Proverbs 18:22
  Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
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• Proverbs 19:14
  House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the Lord.Houses and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
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• Genesis 2:18
  And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.The LORD God also said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a suitable helper.”
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Loving husbands and children

• Titus 2:3-5
  ³The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;Older women, likewise, are to be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers or addicted to much wine, but teachers of good. ⁴That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,In this way they can train the young women to love their husbands and children, ⁵To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.to be self-controlled, pure, managers of their households, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be discredited.
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Mutual duty

• 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.
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See also

• Husbands
• Marriage
• Mothers

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.