Wife: Relation of, to Husband
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The relationship between a wife and her husband is a foundational aspect of biblical teaching, reflecting both divine order and the covenantal nature of marriage. The Scriptures provide guidance on the roles, responsibilities, and dynamics within this sacred union.

Creation and Purpose

The relationship between husband and wife is rooted in the creation narrative. In Genesis 2:18, the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a suitable helper." This establishes the wife as a companion and helper, designed to complement and support her husband. The term "helper" (Hebrew: ezer) signifies a role of strength and partnership, not inferiority.

Unity and Oneness

The marital relationship is characterized by unity and oneness. 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 profound union signifies a deep, intimate bond that transcends mere physical connection, encompassing emotional, spiritual, and relational dimensions.

Roles and Responsibilities

The New Testament further elaborates on the roles within marriage. Ephesians 5:22-24 instructs, "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything." This submission is not a call to subservience but a voluntary, respectful yielding that mirrors the church's relationship with Christ.

Mutual Love and Respect

While the wife is called to submit, the husband is equally charged with loving his wife sacrificially. Ephesians 5:25 commands, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her." This love is selfless, nurturing, and protective, creating an environment where the wife can flourish.

Partnership and Co-heirship

The Apostle Peter emphasizes the partnership aspect of marriage in 1 Peter 3:7: "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 equality and shared inheritance in Christ, urging husbands to honor and respect their wives.

Proverbs 31: The Virtuous Wife

Proverbs 31:10-31 provides a portrait of the virtuous wife, illustrating her industriousness, wisdom, and fear of the Lord. She is depicted as a woman of strength and dignity, who manages her household with skill and care, earning the respect and praise of her husband and children.

Conclusion

The biblical portrayal of the wife's relation to her husband is one of mutual respect, love, and partnership. It is a dynamic relationship that reflects the divine order and serves as a testament to God's design for marriage.
Nave's Topical Index
Genesis 2:18,23,24
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
Nave's Topical Index

1 Corinthians 11:3-12
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
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Library

Whether Husband and Wife are Mutually Bound to the Payment of the ...
... And therefore, since the wife has power over her husband only in relation to the
generative power and not in relation to things directed to the preservation of ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether husband and wife are.htm

Whether Affinity Remains after the Death of Husband or Wife?
... Now the consanguinity of the husband with his blood-relations ... Therefore, the wife's
affinity with them ceases also. ... I answer that, A relation ceases in two ways ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether affinity remains after the.htm

Whether a Person Contracts Affinity through the Marriage of a ...
... there results in him the aforesaid relation through the ... from the same stock as the
husband, there results in him affinity with the latter's wife, without any ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether a person contracts affinity.htm

Whether Affinity is a Cause of Affinity?
... being connected with B by the first kind of affinity, contracts affinity of the
second kind with her husband A; and D, the wife of this relation C being ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether affinity is a cause.htm

Whether Matrimony is a Kind of Joining?
... things are related to one another; for the husband is the wife's husband, and the
wife is the husband's wife. Therefore matrimony is a kind of relation, nor is ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether matrimony is a kind.htm

Whether Husband and Wife are Equal in the Marriage Act?
... Further, Marriage is a relation of equiparence, since it is a kind of union, as
stated above ([5006]Q[44], AA[1],3). Therefore husband and wife are equal in ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether husband and wife are 2.htm

On Marriage.
... remember that it is impossible that a comparison between Christ and men should apply
at every point, and of course the relation of wife to husband cannot, in ...
/.../schleiermacher/selected sermons of schleiermacher/vii on marriage.htm

The Story of Ruth, the Gleaner
... "You are a near relation of my husband and of his father, Elimelech. ... And when Boaz
saw Ruth, he loved her; and soon after this he took her as his wife. ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of ruth the.htm

Why all Things Work for Good
... This is a near and sweet relation. The husband seeks the good of his spouse;
he were unnatural that should go about to destroy his wife. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a divine cordial/why all things work for.htm

Whether Fear is Appropriately Divided into Filial, Initial ...
... 3. Again, the relation of a son to his father, of" a wife to her husband,
and of a servant to his master, are severally different. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/nature and grace/article two whether fear is.htm

Resources
What does it mean to be a godly wife? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about being a Christian wife? | GotQuestions.org

What can we learn from the account of Potiphar's wife? | GotQuestions.org

Wife: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Wife

Wife: Bath-Sheba

Wife: Beloved, by Isaac

Wife: Beloved, by Jacob

Wife: Called: Desire of the Eyes

Wife: Contentious, Zipporah

Wife: Domestic Duties of

Wife: Fruitful Vine

Wife: Hated

Wife: Help

Wife: Idolatrous, Solomon's Wives

Wife: Incorruptible, Vashti

Wife: Jezebel

Wife: Loyal

Wife: Obtained by Violence

Wife: Potiphar's

Wife: Procured

Wife: Purchased

Wife: Relation of, to Husband

Wife: Tactful Abigail

Wife: The Judgment Denounced Against Eve

Wife: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To

Wife: Unfaithful

Wife: Vows of

Related Terms

Wife's (21 Occurrences)

Servant-wife (12 Occurrences)

Covenant-wife (1 Occurrence)

Mid-wife (1 Occurrence)

Bashemath (6 Occurrences)

Basemath (7 Occurrences)

Ab'igail (16 Occurrences)

Abim'elech (58 Occurrences)

Abihail (6 Occurrences)

Basmath (7 Occurrences)

Childless (25 Occurrences)

Sar'ai (12 Occurrences)

Abigail (18 Occurrences)

Bathsheba (14 Occurrences)

Concubine (21 Occurrences)

Committeth (22 Occurrences)

Abram's (8 Occurrences)

Ahinoam (7 Occurrences)

Sex (51 Occurrences)

Zeresh (3 Occurrences)

Brother's (46 Occurrences)

Bath-sheba (12 Occurrences)

Bas'emath (7 Occurrences)

Sexual (59 Occurrences)

Commits (39 Occurrences)

Conceiveth (27 Occurrences)

Cleave (52 Occurrences)

Achsah (5 Occurrences)

Ahi'jah (22 Occurrences)

Abigal (1 Occurrence)

Son-in-law (14 Occurrences)

Abram (48 Occurrences)

Sarai (13 Occurrences)

Aquila (7 Occurrences)

Son's (34 Occurrences)

Ahijah (23 Occurrences)

Conceived (66 Occurrences)

Cheer (22 Occurrences)

Beareth (108 Occurrences)

Abimelech (63 Occurrences)

Virtue (21 Occurrences)

Cleophas (1 Occurrence)

Acsah (5 Occurrences)

Adulteress (12 Occurrences)

Amram (14 Occurrences)

Aunt (3 Occurrences)

Aholibamah (7 Occurrences)

Ahin'o-am (7 Occurrences)

Adah (8 Occurrences)

Anah (10 Occurrences)

Sister-in-law (1 Occurrence)

Sleeps (20 Occurrences)

Zacharias (11 Occurrences)

Barzillai (10 Occurrences)

Sake (241 Occurrences)

Acquired (32 Occurrences)

Abijah (32 Occurrences)

Connection (72 Occurrences)

Buried (125 Occurrences)

Sarah (38 Occurrences)

Cause (1309 Occurrences)

Becometh (82 Occurrences)

Adultery (49 Occurrences)

Ahimaaz (15 Occurrences)

Questioned (57 Occurrences)

Carmel (33 Occurrences)

Kindred (41 Occurrences)

Barren (44 Occurrences)

Bare (250 Occurrences)

Account (460 Occurrences)

Zipporah (3 Occurrences)

Zechari'ah (51 Occurrences)

Kin (18 Occurrences)

Keturah (4 Occurrences)

Bethu'el (10 Occurrences)

Burial (25 Occurrences)

Befallen (20 Occurrences)

Bithiah (2 Occurrences)

Carmelite (6 Occurrences)

Wife: Purchased
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