Devine Scripture

Ephesians 5:25

What does Ephesians 5:25 mean?

A plain-English look at Ephesians 5:25 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Ephesians 5:25 means

Husbands are commanded to love their wives with the measure and manner of Christ’s love for the church. He “loved the church, and gave himself up for it.” This sets a standard of sacrificial, self-forgetful devotion. A husband’s authority is cruciform; it looks like dying to self for his wife’s good. Love here is not mere feeling but decisive action that seeks her holiness, protection, and joy. By using Christ’s cross as the model, Paul overturns any notion of domineering leadership. The more a husband resembles Christ’s self-giving, the more his leadership becomes safe and life-giving, reflecting the very gospel it images.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Husbands, have love for your wives, even as Christ had love for the church, and gave himself for it;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

The husbands! love your own wives, as also the Christ did love the assembly, and did give himself for it,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also loved the church and delivered himself up for it:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Husbands, love your own wives, even as the Christ also loved the assembly, and has delivered himself up for it,

Context

After calling wives to submission modeled on the church’s relation to Christ (vv. 22–24), Paul turns to husbands, giving an even longer and weightier charge. Verses 26–27 will explain Christ’s purpose in giving Himself for the church—her sanctification and glorious presentation—which in turn shapes the husband’s aim in loving his wife. Verses 28–30 will extend the analogy using the body image, and verses 31–32 will root it in the creation design and the mystery of Christ and the church.

v.24But as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their husbands in everything.

v.25This passage

v.26that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 20:28

    even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

  • Luke 22:19

    And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

  • 1 Peter 3:7

    Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell withyour wivesaccording to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered.

  • Ephesians 5:28

    Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself:

  • Revelation 1:5

    and from Jesus Christ, who isthe faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood;

  • Ephesians 5:33

    Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she fear her husband.

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