Ephesians - 5:23



23 For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Ephesians 5:23.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
for a husband is head of the wife, as also the Christ is head of the assembly. He is Saviour of the body.
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the Savior of the body.
because a husband is the Head of his wife as Christ also is the Head of the Church, being indeed the Saviour of this His Body.
Quoniam vir est caput uxoris, quemadmodum et Christus caput est Ecclesiae, qui idem est servator corporis.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

For the husband is the head of the wife. This is the reason assigned why wives should be obedient. Christ has appointed the same relation to exist between a husband and a wife, as between himself and his church. This comparison ought to produce a stronger impression on their minds, than the mere declaration that such is the appointment of God. Two things are here stated. God has given to the husband authority over the wife; and a resemblance of this authority is found in Christ, who is the head of the church, as the husband is of the wife. And he is the savior of the body. The pronoun HE (autos) is supposed by some to refer to Christ; and, by others, to the husband. It applies more naturally, in my opinion, to Christ, but still with a view to the present subject. In this point, as well as in others, the resemblance ought to hold. As Christ rules over his church for her salvation, so nothing yields more advantage or comfort to the wife than to be subject to her husband. To refuse that subjection, by means of which they might be saved, is to choose destruction.

For the husband is the head of the wife - see the notes on 1-Corinthians 11:3.
As Christ is the head of the church - As Christ rules over the church, and has a right to direct and control it.
And he is the Saviour of the body - That is, of the church, represented as "his body;" see notes, Ephesians 1:23. The idea here seems to be, that as Christ gave himself to save his body, the church; as he practiced self-denial and made it an object of intense solicitude to preserve that church, so ought the husband to manifest a similar solicitude to make his wife happy, and to save her from want, affliction, and pain. He ought to regard himself as her natural protector; as bound to anticipate and provide for her needs; as under obligation to comfort her in trial, even as Christ does the church. What a beautiful illustration of the spirit which a husband should manifest is the care which Christ has shown for his "bride," the church! See the notes on Ephesians 5:25-29.

For the husband is the head of the wife - This is the reason which the apostle gives for his injunctions. See above.
He is the Savior of the body - As Christ exercises authority over the Church so as to save and protect it, so let the husband exercise authority over his wife by protecting, comforting, and providing her with every necessary and comfort of life, according to his power.

(9) For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: (10) and he is the saviour of the body.
(9) A declaration of the former saying: because God has made the man head of the woman in marriage, as Christ is the head of the Church.
(10) Another argument: because the good estate of the wife depends on the man, so that this submission is not only just, but also very profitable: as also the salvation of the Church depends on Christ, although to a far greater degree.

For the husband is the head of the wife,.... See Gill on 1-Corinthians 11:3.
Even as Christ is the head of the church; all the elect; See Gill on Ephesians 1:22. And he is the Saviour of the body; not "of our body", as the Ethiopic version reads, of that part of man, which is called the body; though that indeed is redeemed and saved by Christ, as well as the soul; but "of his body", as the Vulgate Latin version reads; that is, of the church, which is his body; see Ephesians 1:23; of which he is the Saviour; he provides everything for it, preserves and protects it, and has wrought out salvation for it, which every member of it partakes of.

(1-Corinthians 11:3.)
even as--Greek, "as also."
and he is--The oldest manuscripts read, "Himself (being) Saviour," omitting "and," and "is." In Christ's case, the Headship is united with, nay gained by, His having SAVED the body in the process of redemption; so that (Paul implies) I am not alleging Christ's Headship as one entirely identical with that other, for He has a claim to it, and office in it, peculiar to Himself [ALFORD]. The husband is not saviour of the wife, in which particular Christ excels; hence, "But" (Ephesians 5:24) follows [BENGEL].

The head - The governor, guide, and guardian of the wife. And he is the Saviour of the body - The church, from all sin and misery.

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