What does the Bible say about wives?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible presents wives as equal heirs of God’s grace, called to honor Christ within marriage through faithful, respectful, and godly character. Ephesians 5:22-33 places a wife’s submission within the larger pattern of mutual devotion to Christ, while commanding husbands to love sacrificially as Christ loves the church. Proverbs 31:10 praises a capable, wise, industrious woman whose fear of the Lord gives her lasting beauty and worth. First Peter 3:1-5 commends a gentle, pure, Godward spirit, and 1 Peter 3:7 requires husbands to show understanding and honor to their wives. Marriage is therefore a covenant of love, service, faithfulness, and shared dependence on God’s grace.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Proverbs 31:10 4 votes
Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.
- Ephesians 5:22-33 4 votes
Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 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. But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without defect. Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly, because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones. “For this cause a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife. Then the two will become one flesh.” This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and the assembly. Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
- 1 Peter 3:7 3 votes
You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman as to the weaker vessel, as also being joint heirs of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
- Proverbs 21:19 3 votes
It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.
- Ephesians 5:33 3 votes
Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
- Ephesians 5:28 3 votes
Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.
- Ephesians 5:22 3 votes
Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
- Ephesians 5:25 3 votes
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly and gave himself up for her,
- 1 Peter 3:1-5 3 votes
In the same way, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, so that, even if any don’t obey the Word, they may be won by the behavior of their wives without a word, seeing your pure behavior in fear. Let your beauty come not from the outward adorning of braiding your hair, and of wearing gold ornaments or of putting on fine clothing, but from the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight. For this is how in the past the holy women who hoped in God also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands.
- Colossians 3:19 2 votes
Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be bitter against them.
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