Ephesians 5:22-33 is the foundational passage upon which the teaching of wives submitting to their husbands is based.  And for obvious reasons:  it uses the phrases “submit” or “be subject to” in most Bible translations.  Let’s look at this passage a little more closely.

Ephesians 5:22 NASB  Wives, be subject to [G5293] your own husbands, as to the Lord.

G5293 - Greek hupotassō  (hoop-ot-as'-so):

·         To subordinate; reflexively to obey.  (Strong’s Greek & Hebrew Dictionary)

·         To arrange under, to subordinate; to subject one’s self, obey; to submit to one’s control.  (Thayer’s Greek Definitions)

·         To place or arrange under; to subordinate.  (Mounce Greek Dictionary)

This is THE verse that is used to establish the principle of wives submitting to their husbands.  It also is used to define what submission looks like.  

At first glance, there seems to be a hierarchy (an aspect of subordination) in marriage.  Does this means that husbands are to exert controlling, dominating leadership over their wives? Is the husband supposed to be the king, and the wife the king’s servant?

Let’s look at all of chapter 5 of Ephesians, in order to discern the context and overall theme:

Ephesians 5:1-2 NASB  Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;  (2)  and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

Ephesians 5:3-20 – examples of how to walk in love:

·         Vs 3-18 are examples of behaviors that are NOT consistent with our love for Christ.

·         Vs 19-20 are examples of behaviors that ARE consistent with our love for Christ.

Ephesians 5:21 NASB  and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.  (A summary statement of how to walk in love.)

Ephesians 5:22-33 is then a specific example of walking in love – in this case, the example of how a husband and wife are to walk in love.

So, the entire chapter is focused on walking in love, and includes examples and illustrations of how believers are (and are NOT) to walk in love.

Now, with this understanding of the overarching topic of the chapter (walking in love), let’s read Ephesians 5:22-33.

Ephesians 5:22-33 ESV  Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  (23)  For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.  (24)  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.  (25)  Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,  (26)  that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,  (27)  so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.  (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 hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,  (30)  because we are members of his body.  (31)  “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”  (32)  This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.  (33)  However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

I can imagine you are thinking, “OK, I still don’t see anything in this passage other than a form of hierarchy or subordination in marriage.  What additional perspective can I gain by viewing this passage through the lens of the chapter theme of "walking in love?”  

Well, the answer, of course, is in the next episode! 😊

Today, I encourage you to “Reflect on This.”