the Fourth Week of Advent
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Ephesians 5:22
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- EveryParallel Translations
Wives, be willing to serve your husbands the same as the Lord.
Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord.
Wemen submit youre selves vnto youre awne husbandes as vnto the Lorde.
Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
Wives, subject yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
Wives, yield to your husbands, as you do to the Lord,
Wives, [be in subjection] to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as unto the Lord.
Married women, submit to your own husbands as if to the Lord;
Wymmen, be thei suget to her hosebondis,
Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
A wife should put her husband first, as she does the Lord.
Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Wives, be under the authority of your husbands, as of the Lord.
Wives should submit to their husbands as they do to the Lord;
Wives, [submit yourselves] to your own husbands, as to the Lord,
Wives, submit yourselvessubmit yourselves">[fn] to your husbands as to the Lord.Genesis 3:16; 1 Corinthians 14:34; Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 3:18; Titus 2:5; 1 Peter 3:1;">[xr]
WIVES, be subject to your husbands as to our Lord.
Wives, be ye submissive to your husbands, as to our Lord.
Wiues, submit your selues vnto your own husbands, as vnto the Lord.
For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
Wives, obey your own husbands. In doing this, you obey the Lord.
Wives, be subject to your husbands as you are to the Lord.
Wiues, submit your selues vnto your husbands, as vnto the Lord.
Wives submit yourselves to your husbands as to our LORD.
Ye wives, unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord,
Let women be subject to their husbands, as to the Lord:
Wyues, submit your selues vnto your owne husbandes, as vnto the Lorde:
Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands as to the Lord.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord,
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
—wives to their own husbands as to the Lord,
Wives, subject yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord,
The wives! to your own husbands subject yourselves, as to the Lord,
Let the wemen submytte them selues vnto their hussbandes, as vnto the LORDE.
let married women be submissive to their husbands, out of regard to the Lord.
Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord,
Colossians 3:18,19">[xr] Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
Wives, be honorable and reverent to your husbands just like you are to the Lord.
Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
submit: Ephesians 5:24, Genesis 3:16, Esther 1:16-18, Esther 1:20, 1 Corinthians 14:34, Colossians 3:18-25, 1 Timothy 2:11, 1 Timothy 2:12, Titus 2:5, 1 Peter 3:1-6
as: Ephesians 6:5, Colossians 3:22, Colossians 3:23
Reciprocal: Genesis 24:67 - and took Numbers 30:8 - General Ruth 1:8 - the dead Esther 1:12 - refused Esther 1:22 - that every man Song of Solomon 2:7 - ye stir 1 Corinthians 11:3 - and the head of the Ephesians 5:21 - submitting Ephesians 5:33 - reverence
Cross-References
So Adam lived nine hundred and thirty years in all, and he died.
When Seth was a hundred and five years old, he became the father of Enosh.
And [in reverent fear and obedience] Enoch walked with God; and he was not [found among men], because God took him [away to be home with Him].
These are the records of the generations (family history) of Noah. Noah was a righteous man [one who was just and had right standing with God], blameless in his [evil] generation; Noah walked (lived) [in habitual fellowship] with God.
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; Walk [habitually] before Me [with integrity, knowing that you are always in My presence], and be blameless and complete [in obedience to Me].
"He said to me, 'The LORD, before whom I walk [habitually and obediently], will send His angel with you to make your journey successful, and you will take a wife for my son from my relatives and from my father's house;
Then Jacob (Israel) blessed Joseph, and said, "The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked [in faithful obedience], The God who has been my Shepherd [leading and caring for me] all my life to this day,
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I will cause bread to rain from heaven for you; the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, so that I may test them [to determine] whether or not they will walk [obediently] in My instruction (law).
'I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.
"You shall walk [that is, live each and every day] in all the ways which the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long in the land which you will possess.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands,.... This is an instance, explaining the above general rule; which subjection lies in honour and reverence, Ephesians 5:33, and in obedience; they should think well of their husbands, speak becomingly to them, and respectfully of them; the wife should take care of the family, and family affairs, according to the husband's will; should imitate him in what is good, and bear with that which is not so agreeable; she should not curiously inquire into his business, but leave the management of it to him; she should help and assist in caring and providing for the family; and should abide with him in prosperity and adversity, and do nothing without his will and consent: and this subjection is only to her husband; not to any other man, nor to her children, nor to her servants, or any brought into her house; and this consideration should render the subjection more easy, voluntary, and cheerful: and which is but reasonable that it should be; as may be gathered from the time, matter, and end of the woman's creation, she was made after him, out of him, and for him; and from her fall, and being first in the transgression; and from her being the weaker and inferior sex; and from the profitableness and comeliness of it; and the credit of religion requires it, that so the word of God be not blasphemed: wherefore it follows,
as unto the Lord; that is, either as the Lord has commanded, that so it should be, showing a regard to his precepts; or as in the sight of the Lord, and so yielding it sincerely and heartily; or in things pertaining to the Lord, which are consistent with the law of the Lord, and the Gospel of Christ; and in like manner as the church is subject to Christ, her Lord and husband, as follows.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands - On this passage, compare notes on 1 Corinthians 11:3-9. The duty of the submission of the wife to her husband is everywhere enjoined in the Scriptures; see 1 Peter 3:1; Colossians 3:18; Titus 2:5. While Christianity designed to elevate the character of the wife, and to make her a fit companion of an intelligent and pious husband, it did not intend to destroy all subordination and authority. Man, by the fact that he was first created; that the woman was taken from him; that he is better qualified for ruling than she is, is evidently designed to be at the head of the little community that constitutes a family. In many other things, woman may be his equal; in loveliness, and grace, and beauty, and tenderness, and gentleness, she is far his superior; but these are not the qualities adapted for government. Their place is in another sphere; and “there,” man should be as cautious about invading her prerogative, or abridging her liberty, as “she” should be about invading the prerogative that belongs to him. In every family there should be a head - someone who is to be looked up to as the counselor and the ruler; someone to whom all should be subordinate. God has given that prerogative to man; and no family prospers where that arrangement is violated. Within proper metes and limits, therefore, it is the duty of the wife to obey, or to submit herself to her husband. Those limits are such as the following:
1. In domestic arrangements, the husband is to be regarded as the head of the family; and he has a right to direct as to the style of living, the expenses of the family, the clothing, etc.
2. In regard to the laws which are to regulate the family, he is the head. It is his to say what is to be done; in what way the children are to employ themselves, and to give directions in regard to their education, etc.
3. In business matters, the wife is to submit to the husband. She may counsel with him, if he chooses; but the affairs of business and property are under his control, and must be left at his disposal.
4. In everything, except that which relates to “conscience and religion,” he has authority. But there his authority ceases. He has no right to require her to commit an act of dishonesty, to connive at wrong-doing, to visit a place of amusement which her conscience tells her is wrong, nor has he a right to interfere with the proper discharge of her religious duties. He has no right to forbid her to go to church at the proper and usual time, or to make a profession of religion when she pleases. He has no right to forbid her endeavoring to exercise a religious influence over her children, or to endeavor to lead them to God. She is bound to obey God, rather than any man (see the notes on Acts 4:19); and when even a husband interferes in such cases, and attempts to control her, he steps beyond his proper bounds, and invades the prerogative of God, and his authority ceases to be binding. It ought to be said, however, that in order to justify her acting independently in such a case, the following things are proper:
(1) It should be really a case of conscience - a case where the Lord has plainly required her to do what she proposes to do - and not a mere matter of whim, fancy, or caprice.
(2) When a husband makes opposition to the course which a wife wishes to pursue in religious duties, it should lead her to re-examine the matter, to pray much over it, and to see whether she cannot, with a good conscience, comply with his wishes.
(3) If she is convinced that she is right, she should still endeavor to see whether it is not “possible” to win him to her views, and to persuade him to accord with her; see 1 Peter 3:1. It is “possible” that, if she does right, he may be “persuaded” to do right also.
(4) If she is constrained, however, to differ from him, it should be with mildness and gentleness. There should be no reproach, and no contention. She should simply state her reasons, and leave the event to God.
(5) She should, “after” this, be a better wife, and put forth more and more effort to make her husband and family happy. She should show that the effect of her religion has been to make her love her husband and children more; to make her more and more attentive to her domestic duties, and more and more kind in affliction. By a “life” of pure religion, she should aim to secure what she could not by her entreaties - his consent that she should live as she thinks she ought to, and and walk to heaven in the path in which she believes that her Lord calls her. While, however, it is to be conceded that the husband has “authority” over the wife, and a “right” to command in all cases that do not pertain to the conscience, it should be remarked:
(1) That his command should be reasonable and proper.
(2) He has no right to require anything wrong, or contrary to the will of God.
(3) Where commands begin “in this relation,” happiness usually ends; and the moment a husband “requires” a wife to do anything, it is usually a signal of departing or departed affection and peace. When there are proper feelings in both parties in this relation there will be no occasion either to command or to obey. There should be such mutual love and confidence, that the known “wish” of the husband should be a law to the wife: and that the known desires of the wife should be the rule which he would approve. A perfect government is that where the known wish of the lawgiver is a sufficient rule to the subject. Such is the government of heaven; and a family on earth should approximate as nearly as possible to that.
As unto the Lord - As you would to the Lord, because the Lord requires it, and has given to the husband this authority.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 22. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands — As the Lord, viz. Christ, is the head or governor of the Church, and the head of the man, so is the man the head or governor of the woman. This is God's ordinance, and should not be transgressed. The husband should not be a tyrant, and the wife should not be the governor. Old Francis Quarles, in his homely rhymes, alluding to the superstitious notion, that the crowing of a hen bodes ill luck to the family, has said:-
"Ill thrives the hapless family that shows
A cock that's silent, and a hen that crows:
I know not which live most unnatural lives,
Obeying husbands or commanding wives."
As unto the Lord. — The word Church seems to be necessarily understood here; that is: Act under the authority of your husbands, as the Church acts under the authority of Christ. As the Church submits to the Lord, so let wives submit to their husbands.
