Wives: Duties of, to Their Husbands: To Reverence Them
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The concept of reverence within the marital relationship is deeply rooted in biblical teachings, emphasizing the respect and honor a wife is to show her husband. This duty is not merely a cultural artifact but is presented as a divine ordinance, reflecting the order and harmony intended by God for the family unit.

Biblical Foundation

The primary scriptural basis for the duty of wives to reverence their husbands is found in Ephesians 5:33, which states, "Nevertheless, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband" . This passage highlights the reciprocal nature of marital duties, where love and respect are intertwined, creating a balanced and nurturing relationship.

Reverence as Respect and Honor

Reverence in the biblical sense encompasses both respect and honor. It involves recognizing the husband's role as the head of the household, as outlined in Ephesians 5:23: "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" . This headship is not about dominance but about leadership and responsibility, mirroring Christ's sacrificial love for the church.

Practical Expressions of Reverence

1. Support and Encouragement: A wife shows reverence by supporting her husband's leadership and encouraging him in his endeavors. This support is not passive but active, involving engagement and partnership in decision-making and family life.

2. Communication: Respectful communication is a key aspect of reverence. Proverbs 31:26 describes the virtuous wife: "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue" . A wife honors her husband by speaking with kindness and wisdom, fostering an environment of mutual respect.

3. Submission: The concept of submission, as mentioned in Ephesians 5:22, "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord" , is often misunderstood. Biblical submission is a voluntary act of respect and deference, acknowledging the husband's role while maintaining the wife's dignity and worth.

4. Prayer and Spiritual Support: Reverence also involves spiritual support, praying for the husband and the family. A wife who prays for her husband demonstrates a deep respect for his spiritual well-being and leadership.

Theological Implications

The duty of reverence is not merely a social construct but a theological principle that reflects the relationship between Christ and the church. As the church reveres Christ, so too is the wife called to reverence her husband. This relationship is a living testimony of God's design for marriage, where love and respect are foundational.

Challenges and Considerations

While the duty to reverence is clear, it is not without challenges. Cultural shifts and personal experiences can impact how this duty is perceived and practiced. It is essential for both husbands and wives to approach these biblical teachings with humility and a willingness to grow together in their understanding and application of God's word.

In summary, the duty of wives to reverence their husbands is a profound biblical principle that calls for respect, honor, and support within the marital relationship. It is a reflection of the divine order and a testament to the harmonious partnership intended by God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Letter xv. Social and Relative Duties.
... the duties arising out of it are very properly classed as moral duties. ... As the Church
is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in ...
/.../letter xv social and relative.htm

The Christian Home
... Paul says, "Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also ... Duties of Young and
Old.""That the aged men be ... women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love ...
/.../sell/studies in the life of the christian/study x the christian home.htm

The Domestic Relation.
... about the fashions and society than the duties of home. ... The humble apostle, after
exhorting the wives to be in subjection to their husbands, commands them ...
/.../orr/the gospel day /chapter xiii the domestic relation.htm

Mothers, Daughters, and Wives in Israel
... as to leave no leisure for the duties of married ... been quite solitary in Palestine;
we find their sisters in a ... Wives such as Priscilla, mothers such as that of ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 9 mothers daughters and.htm

Homilies on Galatians and Ephesians.
... 543]159; as brethren, [544]157; their duties to serve ... Wives, to submit themselves
to their husbands in ... 640]145, [641]151; to reverence their husbands, [642]146 ...
/.../homilies on galatians and ephesians.htm

Christ the Believer's Husband
... I say, duties of love. ... From whom may husbands justly command respect, if not from
their wives? ... at least, are too prone to disrespect their husbands; as Michal ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/christ the believers husband.htm

The First Epistle General of Peter
... Christian brotherhood and its duties, submission to ... obey even unreasonable masters,
wives if good and gentle may win their husbands, husbands must reverence ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter xxi the first epistle.htm

Letter cxcix. Canonica Secunda.
... performance of his ministerial functions, from the fact that his sacred duties lie
not ... Soldiers' wives who have married in their husbands' absence will ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter cxcix canonica secunda.htm

Ephesians v. 22-24
... He is no longer setting down the duties of love ... care and anxiety which always arise
to wives from those ... silver vessels, are sent back to their several owners. ...
/.../homily xx ephesians v 22-24.htm

Covenant Duties.
... unto the Lord." "Husbands, love your wives, even as ... they honour the Father."[295]
These duties are, it ... My Witnesses," give testimony, in their profession, and ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter iv covenant duties.htm

Resources
Why did God allow polygamy / bigamy in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Why did David need Abishag to keep him warm when he had wives and concubines? | GotQuestions.org

Does the Bible truly teach monogamy / monogamous relationships? | GotQuestions.org

Wives: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Wives

Wives of Ministers should be Exemplary

Wives: Bad: Herodias

Wives: Bad: Jezebel

Wives: Bad: Job's Wife

Wives: Bad: Michal

Wives: Bad: Samson's Wife

Wives: Bad: Sapphira

Wives: Bad: Zeresh

Wives: Duties of, to Their Husbands: To be Faithful to Them

Wives: Duties of, to Their Husbands: To be Subject to Them

Wives: Duties of, to Their Husbands: To Love Them

Wives: Duties of, to Their Husbands: To Obey Them

Wives: Duties of, to Their Husbands: To Remain With Them for Life

Wives: Duties of, to Their Husbands: To Reverence Them

Wives: Good are a Blessing to Husbands

Wives: Good are a Token of the Favour of God

Wives: Good are Benevolent to the Poor

Wives: Good are Diligent and Prudent

Wives: Good are from the Lord

Wives: Good are Praised by Husbands

Wives: Good: Abigail

Wives: Good: Bring Honor on Husbands

Wives: Good: Duty of, to Unbelieving Husbands

Wives: Good: Elizabeth

Wives: Good: Esther

Wives: Good: Orpah and Ruth

Wives: Good: Priscilla

Wives: Good: Sarah

Wives: Good: Secure Confidence of Husbands

Wives: Good: should be Silent in the Churches

Wives: Good: Wife of Manoah

Wives: Not to be Selected from Among the Ungodly

Wives: should be Adorned with a Meek and Quiet Spirit

Wives: should be Adorned with Good Works

Wives: should be Adorned with Modesty and Sobriety

Wives: should be Adorned: Not With Ornaments

Wives: should Seek Religious Instruction from Their Husbands

Related Terms

Servant-wives (4 Occurrences)

Concubines (18 Occurrences)

Adah (8 Occurrences)

Zillah (3 Occurrences)

Lamech (11 Occurrences)

Ahinoam (7 Occurrences)

Begetteth (52 Occurrences)

Infants (71 Occurrences)

Fathered (4 Occurrences)

Dearer (4 Occurrences)

Bashemath (6 Occurrences)

Ahin'o-am (7 Occurrences)

Subjection (40 Occurrences)

Married (152 Occurrences)

Jizreelitess (5 Occurrences)

Goblets (12 Occurrences)

Riseth (165 Occurrences)

Mahalath (6 Occurrences)

Basmath (7 Occurrences)

Consorts (3 Occurrences)

Ab'igail (16 Occurrences)

Maachah (19 Occurrences)

Subject (99 Occurrences)

Abigail (18 Occurrences)

Polygamy

Wife (437 Occurrences)

Widows (33 Occurrences)

Slain (235 Occurrences)

Provide (74 Occurrences)

Besides (178 Occurrences)

Foreign (65 Occurrences)

Captive (123 Occurrences)

Calamity (108 Occurrences)

Threescore (87 Occurrences)

Lain (57 Occurrences)

Loveth (88 Occurrences)

Queens (4 Occurrences)

Taking (445 Occurrences)

Ziklag (13 Occurrences)

Carmel (33 Occurrences)

Jabesh-gilead (12 Occurrences)

Looted (9 Occurrences)

Wounding (24 Occurrences)

Wagons (14 Occurrences)

Won (24 Occurrences)

Waggons (9 Occurrences)

Injuring (4 Occurrences)

Feasting (39 Occurrences)

Twenty-eight (13 Occurrences)

Rachel (42 Occurrences)

Raising (29 Occurrences)

Ruled (84 Occurrences)

Eighteen (22 Occurrences)

Elkanah (20 Occurrences)

Deportment (12 Occurrences)

Diminished (11 Occurrences)

Daylight (24 Occurrences)

Decrease (4 Occurrences)

Divorced (10 Occurrences)

Ma'acah (22 Occurrences)

Permitted (31 Occurrences)

Plunder (118 Occurrences)

Princesses (4 Occurrences)

Beeri (2 Occurrences)

Bruising (5 Occurrences)

Bani (15 Occurrences)

Beget (20 Occurrences)

Behavior (20 Occurrences)

Basemath (7 Occurrences)

Ben-hadad (27 Occurrences)

Carmelite (6 Occurrences)

Carts (13 Occurrences)

Captives (69 Occurrences)

Ammonite (22 Occurrences)

Anah (10 Occurrences)

Sixty (70 Occurrences)

Submit (36 Occurrences)

Shemariah (5 Occurrences)

Wives: Duties of, to Their Husbands: To Remain With Them for Life
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