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What does the Bible say about beating my wife?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible unequivocally condemns a husband’s violence against his wife, calling him to love, honor, protect, and cherish her as a fellow heir of God’s grace. Colossians 3:19 commands husbands not to be harsh with their wives, while Ephesians 5:28-29 teaches that a husband should care for his wife as he cares for his own body. First Peter 3:7 requires husbands to live with understanding and show honor, warning that failure in this may hinder their prayers. Abuse is sinful cruelty, not biblical leadership, and no passage should be twisted to excuse it, as 2 Peter 3:15-16 warns. A woman facing violence should seek immediate safety and help from trusted authorities, church leaders, and civil protection.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Colossians 3:19 31 votes

    Husbands, love your wives, and don't be bitter against them.

  • 1 Peter 3:7 22 votes

    You husbands, in like manner, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as being also joint heirs of the grace of life; that your prayers may not be hindered.

  • Ephesians 5:28-29 20 votes

    [28] Even so ought husbands also 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;

  • 2 Peter 3:15-16 9 votes

    [15] Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you; [16] as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

  • 1 Timothy 3:3 6 votes

    not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;

  • Psalms 11:1-7 3 votes

    [1] > In Yahweh, I take refuge. How can you say to my soul, "Flee as a bird to your mountain!" [2] For, behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrows on the strings, That they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart. [3] If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do? [4] Yahweh is in his holy temple. Yahweh is on his throne in heaven. His eyes observe. His eyes examine the children of men. [5] Yahweh examines the righteous, But the wicked and him who loves violence his soul hates. [6] On the wicked he will rain blazing coals; Fire, sulfur, and scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. [7] For Yahweh is righteous. He loves righteousness. The upright shall see his face.

  • 1 Timothy 2:12 3 votes

    But I don't permit a woman to teach, nor to exercise authority over a man, but to be in quietness.

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