Husband and Wife
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The relationship between husband and wife is a foundational element of biblical teaching, reflecting the divine order and purpose for marriage. This union is established by God and is intended to be a lifelong covenant characterized by love, respect, and mutual support.

Creation and Purpose

The institution of marriage is first introduced in the Book of Genesis. God created man and woman to complement each other, establishing the marital relationship as a reflection of His creative order. Genesis 2:24 states, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." This verse underscores the unity and exclusivity of the marital bond.

Roles and Responsibilities

Scripture outlines distinct roles and responsibilities for husbands and wives, emphasizing a harmonious partnership. Ephesians 5:22-33 provides a detailed description of these roles. Wives are instructed to submit to their husbands as to the Lord, while husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the church. Ephesians 5:25 states, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her." This sacrificial love is the standard for husbands, highlighting the depth of commitment required.

Mutual Respect and Love

The Bible emphasizes mutual respect and love as central to the husband-wife relationship. Colossians 3:18-19 advises, "Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them." This passage reinforces the idea that both partners are to act in love and consideration, fostering a nurturing and supportive environment.

Unity and Partnership

The concept of unity is paramount in the biblical view of marriage. 1 Peter 3:7 instructs, "Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered." This verse highlights the spiritual partnership between husband and wife, emphasizing equality in their shared faith journey.

Challenges and Perseverance

The Bible acknowledges that marriage can face challenges and requires perseverance. 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 advises couples to remain committed to their marriage vows, stating, "To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife." This passage underscores the importance of reconciliation and the enduring nature of the marital covenant.

Proverbs and Wisdom Literature

The wisdom literature of the Bible also provides insights into the husband-wife relationship. Proverbs 31:10-31 describes the virtues of a noble wife, highlighting her industriousness, wisdom, and fear of the Lord. This passage serves as an ideal for wives, illustrating the value and honor they bring to the marital relationship.

Conclusion

The biblical portrayal of husband and wife is one of a sacred covenant, reflecting God's design for human relationships. Through love, respect, and mutual submission, the marriage relationship serves as a testament to God's faithfulness and the transformative power of His love.
Topical Bible Verses
Ephesians 5:33
Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Topicalbible.org

1 Corinthians 7:3-5
Let the husband render to the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife to the husband.
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Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
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1 Peter 3:7
Likewise, you husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
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Ephesians 5:22-24
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
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1 Timothy 2:12
But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
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Proverbs 5:18-19
Let your fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of your youth.
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Hebrews 13:4
Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
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1 Corinthians 6:18
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man does is without the body; but he that commits fornication sins against his own body.
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1 John 3:16
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
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Greek
5362. philandros -- loving men, (of a wife) loving her husband
... loving men, (of a wife) loving her husband. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration:
philandros Phonetic Spelling: (fil'-an-dros) Short Definition: loving ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5362.htm - 7k

4801. suzeugnumi -- to yoke together
... Mk 10:9). 4801 ("closely-yoked") is only used for marriage in the NT --
a in which a husband and wife , . ["The word for 'joined ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4801.htm - 7k

4632. skeuos -- a vessel, implement, pl. goods
... a vessel, implement, equipment or apparatus (literally or figuratively (specially,
a wife as contributing to the usefulness of the husband)) -- goods, sail ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4632.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew
1166. baal -- to marry, rule over
... have dominion over, be husband, married, wife. A primitive root; to be master;
hence, (as denominative from ba'al) to marry -- have ...
/hebrew/1166.htm - 6k
Library

Whether Husband and Wife are Equal in the Marriage Act?
... OF THE THINGS ANNEXED TO MARRIAGE, AND FIRST OF THE PAYMENT OF THE MARRIAGE DEBT
(TEN ARTICLES) Whether husband and wife are equal in the marriage act? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether husband and wife are 2.htm

The Harmony of Husband and Wife.
... Book XIV. 2. The Harmony of Husband and Wife. So much then for the more common
understanding of the two or three whom the Word exhorts to be in agreement. ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/2 the harmony of husband.htm

Whether Spiritual Relationship Passes from Husband to Wife?
... OF THE IMPEDIMENT OF SPIRITUAL RELATIONSHIP (FIVE ARTICLES) Whether spiritual
relationship passes from husband to wife? Objection ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether spiritual relationship passes from.htm

Whether Husband and Wife are Mutually Bound to the Payment of the ...
... TO MARRIAGE, AND FIRST OF THE PAYMENT OF THE MARRIAGE DEBT (TEN ARTICLES) Whether
husband and wife are mutually bound to the payment of the marriage debt? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether husband and wife are.htm

Whether Husband and Wife Can Take a Vow Contrary to the Marriage ...
... FIRST OF THE PAYMENT OF THE MARRIAGE DEBT (TEN ARTICLES) Whether husband and wife
can take a vow contrary to the marriage debt without their mutual consent? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether husband and wife can.htm

Whether Husband and Wife May be Reconciled after Being Divorced?
... THAT SUPERVENES TO MARRIAGE AFTER ITS CONSUMMATION, NAMELY FORNICATION (SIX ARTICLES)
Whether husband and wife may be reconciled after being divorced? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether husband and wife may.htm

Whether in a Case of Divorce Husband and Wife Should be Judged on ...
... TO MARRIAGE AFTER ITS CONSUMMATION, NAMELY FORNICATION (SIX ARTICLES) Whether in
a case of divorce husband and wife should be judged on a par with each other? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether in a case of.htm

Whether Affinity Remains after the Death of Husband or Wife?
... OF THE IMPEDIMENT OF AFFINITY (ELEVEN ARTICLES) Whether affinity remains
after the death of husband or wife? Objection 1: It would ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether affinity remains after the.htm

Concerning the Pharisees and Scribes Tempting Jesus (By Asking) ...
... And mark, at the same time, that in the case of those who are formed "after the
image," the words were not "husband and wife" but "male and female." But we ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/16 concerning the pharisees and.htm

On Matrimony
... "Dissolved""that is, can married persons ever"for any cause"separate and marry again;
that is, take another husband or wife while the first husband or ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 26 on matrimony.htm

Resources
Can a Christian woman wear sexually provocative lingerie for her husband? | GotQuestions.org

How is a woman's desire for her husband a curse (Genesis 3:16)? | GotQuestions.org

What should I be looking for in a husband? What does the Bible say about finding a husband? | GotQuestions.org

Husband: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Husband

Husband and Wife

Husband: Faithful: Isaac

Husband: Faithful: Joseph

Husband: Figurative

Husband: General Scriptures Concerning

Husband: Unreasonable and Oppressive: Ahasuerus

Role of the Husband

Related Terms

Vows (38 Occurrences)

Released (52 Occurrences)

Brother-in-law (5 Occurrences)

Dies (71 Occurrences)

Marry (48 Occurrences)

Marries (20 Occurrences)

Pledges (15 Occurrences)

Boaz (25 Occurrences)

Tamar (28 Occurrences)

Discharged (8 Occurrences)

Copulation (11 Occurrences)

Void (64 Occurrences)

Alive (166 Occurrences)

Bond (32 Occurrences)

Virtue (21 Occurrences)

Defiled (119 Occurrences)

Fulfill (80 Occurrences)

Bloody (19 Occurrences)

Vow (49 Occurrences)

Takes (380 Occurrences)

Sarah (38 Occurrences)

Married (152 Occurrences)

Pains (59 Occurrences)

Sarai (13 Occurrences)

Relationships (1 Occurrence)

Intercourse (6 Occurrences)

Tonight (23 Occurrences)

To-night (15 Occurrences)

Rights (35 Occurrences)

Elimelech (6 Occurrences)

Dower (4 Occurrences)

Drusilla (1 Occurrence)

Divorced (10 Occurrences)

Departs (16 Occurrences)

Marital (4 Occurrences)

Man (26072 Occurrences)

Propitious (12 Occurrences)

Pardon (31 Occurrences)

Binding (23 Occurrences)

Betrothed (19 Occurrences)

Bath-sheba (12 Occurrences)

Bathsheba (14 Occurrences)

Bride (31 Occurrences)

Committeth (22 Occurrences)

Adulteress (12 Occurrences)

Annul (10 Occurrences)

Spouse (7 Occurrences)

Separated (97 Occurrences)

Belong (127 Occurrences)

Established (200 Occurrences)

Pledge (55 Occurrences)

Mourned (54 Occurrences)

Pregnant (33 Occurrences)

Duty (90 Occurrences)

Adultery (49 Occurrences)

During (182 Occurrences)

Confirm (39 Occurrences)

Placed (297 Occurrences)

Brother's (46 Occurrences)

Establish (133 Occurrences)

Commits (39 Occurrences)

Reconciliation (11 Occurrences)

Reconcile (10 Occurrences)

Sleeping (69 Occurrences)

Puts (197 Occurrences)

Father-in-law (25 Occurrences)

Force (250 Occurrences)

Christian (41 Occurrences)

Divorce (18 Occurrences)

Faithless (46 Occurrences)

Release (61 Occurrences)

Silent (120 Occurrences)

Statement (88 Occurrences)

Aged (63 Occurrences)

Bound (175 Occurrences)

Die (401 Occurrences)

Free (454 Occurrences)

Astray (116 Occurrences)

Husband
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