Passage
Ephesians 5.21-6.9
Book: Ephesians · NASB95
Immediate context (±2 verses)
ASV
19. speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20. giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
21. subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ. 22. Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body. 24. But as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their husbands in everything. 25. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it; 26. that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, 27. that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28. Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself: 29. for no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church; 30. because we are members of his body. 31. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh. 32. This mystery is great: but I speak in regard of Christ and of the church. 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. 6:1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 6:2. Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise), 6:3. that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 6:4. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord. 6:5. Servants, be obedient unto them that according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6:6. not in the way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 6:7. with good will doing service, as unto the Lord, and not unto men: 6:8. knowing that whatsoever good thing each one doeth, the same shall he receive again from the Lord, whether he be bond or free. 6:9. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, and forbear threatening: knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no respect of persons with him.
6:10. Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. 6:11. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 5:19-6:11, ASV)
WEB
19. speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing, and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20. giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God, even the Father;
21. subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ. 22. Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body. 24. But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything. 25. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it; 26. that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, 27. that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without defect. 28. Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. 29. For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly; 30. because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones. 31. “For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh.” 32. This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and of the assembly. 33. Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband. 6:1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 6:2. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with a promise: 6:3. “that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.” 6:4. You fathers, don’t provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 6:5. Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to Christ; 6:6. not in the way of service only when eyes are on you, as men pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 6:7. with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men; 6:8. knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive the same again from the Lord, whether he is bound or free. 6:9. You masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him.
6:10. Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. 6:11. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 5:19-6:11, WEB)
KJV
19. Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20. Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21. Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 22. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23. 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. 24. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26. That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27. That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30. For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. 6:1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 6:2. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 6:3. That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 6:4. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 6:5. Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6:6. Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 6:7. With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: 6:8. Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. 6:9. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him. forbearing: or, moderating your: some read, both your and their Master
6:10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 6:11. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 5:19-6:11, KJV)
YLT
19. speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20. giving thanks always for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the God and Father;
21. subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of God. 22. The wives! to your own husbands subject yourselves, as to the Lord, 23. because the husband is head of the wife, as also the Christ [is] head of the assembly, and he is saviour of the body, 24. but even as the assembly is subject to Christ, so also [are] the wives to their own husbands in everything. 25. The husbands! love your own wives, as also the Christ did love the assembly, and did give himself for it, 26. that he might sanctify it, having cleansed [it] with the bathing of the water in the saying, 27. that he might present it to himself the assembly in glory, not having spot or wrinkle, or any of such things, but that it may be holy and unblemished; 28. so ought the husbands to love their own wives as their own bodies: he who is loving his own wife, himself he doth love; 29. for no one ever his own flesh did hate, but doth nourish and cherish it, as also the Lord, the assembly, 30. because members we are of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones; 31. 'for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they shall be, the two, for one flesh;' 32. this secret is great, and I speak in regard to Christ and to the assembly; 33. but ye also, every one in particular, let each his own wife so love as himself, and the wife, that she may reverence the husband. 6:1. The children! obey your parents in the Lord, for this is righteous; 6:2. honour thy father and mother, 6:3. which is the first command with a promise, 'That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live a long time upon the land.' 6:4. And the fathers! provoke not your children, but nourish them in the instruction and admonition of the Lord. 6:5. The servants! obey the masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling, in the simplicity of your heart, as to the Christ; 6:6. not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but as servants of the Christ, doing the will of God out of soul, 6:7. with good-will serving, as to the Lord, and not to men, 6:8. having known that whatever good thing each one may do, this he shall receive from the Lord, whether servant or freeman. 6:9. And the masters! the same things do ye unto them, letting threatening alone, having known that also your Master is in the heavens, and acceptance of persons is not with him.
6:10. As to the rest, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might; 6:11. put on the whole armour of God, for your being able to stand against the wiles of the devil, (Ephesians 5:19-6:11, YLT)
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Setting
- Speaker: TBD
- Audience: TBD
- Location: TBD
- Time period: TBD
Theological reading
Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added.
Key words
Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word.
- TBD
- TBD
- TBD
- TBD
Quoted in
Arguments and defeaters:
- Argument from Love, via Ephesians 5.25-32
- Argument from the Addressee of Gratitude, via Ephesians 5.20
- Argument from the Universal Music Convergence, via Ephesians 5.18-19, Ephesians 5.19
- Biblical Marriage Consent Objection Defeater, via Ephesians 5.21, Ephesians 5.22, Ephesians 5.25
- Biblical Sexual Ethics Objection Defeater, via Ephesians 5.21-33
- Christianity Is the White Mans Religion Objection Defeater, via Ephesians 5, Ephesians 5.21
- Deuteronomy 21 Captive Bride Objection Defeater, via Ephesians 5.25
- Divine Jealousy Is Covenantal Zeal (Defeater), via Ephesians 5.25, Ephesians 5.25-32
- Islamic Sex Slavery Objection Defeater, via Ephesians 5.21, Ephesians 5.25, Ephesians 5.25-27, Ephesians 5.26-27
- Jesus Didnt Know the Hour Objection Defeater, via Ephesians 5, Ephesians 5.25-32
- Jesus is Not a Human Sacrifice (Defeater), via Ephesians 5.2
- Misogyny in the Bible Objection Defeater, via Ephesians 5, Ephesians 5.21, Ephesians 5.22, Ephesians 5.25, Ephesians 5.25-33
- Mutah Temporary Marriage Contradiction Objection Defeater, via Ephesians 5, Ephesians 5.25
- OT Polygamy Objection Defeater, via Ephesians 5.31
- Rape Only Condemned When Unmarried Objection Defeater, via Ephesians 5.21-33
Concepts:
- Authority to Cast Out Demons, via Ephesians 5.18
- Baptism, via Ephesians 5.26
- Biblical Sexual Ethics Objection, via Ephesians 5.21-33
- Biblical Stewardship, via Ephesians 5.15-16, Ephesians 5.16
- Calvinism, via Ephesians 5.25
- Canons of Dort, via Ephesians 5.25
- Christian Discernment, via Ephesians 5.10
- Church at Ephesus
- Idolatry, via Ephesians 5.5
- Marriage, via Ephesians 5, Ephesians 5.21, Ephesians 5.22-33, Ephesians 5.31
- Misogyny in the Bible Objection, via Ephesians 5, Ephesians 5.22-33
- Old Testament Witness to the Deity of Christ, via Ephesians 5.25-32
- OT Polygamy Objection, via Ephesians 5.31
- OT Sexual-Violence Laws, via Ephesians 5.21-33
- Paraclete, Identity and Recipients, via Ephesians 5.18
- Penal Substitutionary Atonement, via Ephesians 5.2
- Pentecost, via Ephesians 5.18
- Pneumatology, via Ephesians 5.18
- Spirit of Jezebel, via Ephesians 5.21
- Spirit of Slumber, via Ephesians 5.14
- Spirit of Stupor, via Ephesians 5.14
- Spirit of Vanity and Futility, via Ephesians 5.15-16
- Underage and Non-Consensual Marriage Objection, via Ephesians 5
- Verses on Gods Goodness and Human Worth, via Ephesians 5.25-27
- Water and Life, via Ephesians 5.26
- Women in Ministry, via Ephesians 5.22-24
People:
Lexicon:
- G0025 - agapao, via Ephesians 5.25
- G0026 - agape, via Ephesians 5.2, Ephesians 5.25
- G0932 - basileia, via Ephesians 5.5
- G1577 - ekklesia, via Ephesians 5.23-32, Ephesians 5.25, Ephesians 5.25-32, Ephesians 5.26-27
- G2540 - kairos, via Ephesians 5.16
- G3466 - mysterion, via Ephesians 5.32
- G3860 - paradidomi, via Ephesians 5.2, Ephesians 5.25
- G4990 - soter, via Ephesians 5.23
- G5219 - hypakouo, via Ephesians 5.21, Ephesians 5.21-24, Ephesians 5.22, Ephesians 5.24, Ephesians 5.25
- H1320 - basar, via Ephesians 5.31
Guides:
Notes
Your annotations.
Why these four translations
ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.
The four:
- ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.
See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.