Devine Scripture

Ephesians 5:30

What does Ephesians 5:30 mean?

A plain-English look at Ephesians 5:30 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Ephesians 5:30 means

Believers are “members of his body,” united to Christ in a living, organic way. This union explains Christ’s nourishing and cherishing care (v. 29) and gives marriage its model and meaning. If Christ treats His people as His own body, husbands should treat their wives as their own selves. The church’s identity in Christ is thus both doctrine and ethic: who we are in Him shapes how we love at home. Membership in Christ’s body also dignifies every believer’s place in the community; we are inseparably connected to Him and, therefore, to one another, called to embody His gracious care.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

because we are members of his body.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

because we are members of his body.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Because we are parts of his body.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

because members we are of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Because we are members of him, body, of his flesh and of his bones.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

for we are members of his body; [we are of his flesh, and of his bones.]

Context

This short but profound statement grounds the analogy: Christ’s care for the church is not distant; we are members of His body. It prepares for the quotation of Genesis 2:24 in verse 31, establishing the creational basis for the one-flesh union in marriage. Verse 32 will then reveal the “mystery” that this union ultimately signifies Christ and the church, before verse 33 concludes with practical exhortations for love and respect.

v.29for no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church;

v.30This passage

v.31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.

Cross references

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

  • Romans 12:5

    so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:15

    Know ye not that your bodies are members of Christ? shall I then take away the members of Christ, and make them members of a harlot? God forbid.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:12

    For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.

  • Genesis 2:23

    And the man said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

  • Ephesians 1:23

    which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

  • Colossians 2:19

    and not holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increaseth with the increase of God.

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore Ephesians 5

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Ephesians 5.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to Ephesians 5:30.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary