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The Christian Household

22 Wives, be subject[a] to your husbands as to the Lord,(A) 23 for the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.(B) 24 Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, 27 so as to present the church to himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind, so that she may be holy and without blemish.(C) 28 In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hates his own flesh, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, 30 because we are members of his body.[b](D) 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”(E) 32 This is a great mystery, but I am speaking about Christ and the church. 33 Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect[c] her husband.

Children and Parents

Children, obey your parents in the Lord,[d] for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—this is the first commandment with a promise(F) “so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.(G)

Slaves and Masters

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect[e] and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ,(H)

Footnotes

  1. 5.22 Gk lacks be subject
  2. 5.30 Other ancient authorities add of his flesh and of his bones
  3. 5.33 Or fear
  4. 6.1 Other ancient authorities lack in the Lord
  5. 6.5 Or fear

22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands(A) as you do to the Lord.(B) 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church,(C) his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands(D) in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives,(E) just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her(F) 26 to make her holy,(G) cleansing[a] her by the washing(H) with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself(I) as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.(J) 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives(K) as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body.(L) 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”[b](M) 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife(N) as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.(O) “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”[c](P)

Fathers,[d] do not exasperate your children;(Q) instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.(R)

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect(S) and fear, and with sincerity of heart,(T) just as you would obey Christ.(U)

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:26 Or having cleansed
  2. Ephesians 5:31 Gen. 2:24
  3. Ephesians 6:3 Deut. 5:16
  4. Ephesians 6:4 Or Parents