Colossians 3:18

Instructions for Christian Households

18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Colossians 3:18 in Other Translations

18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord.

18 Wives, understand and support your husbands by submitting to them in ways that honor the Master.

18 Wives, be submissive to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Colossians 3:18 Meaning and Commentary

Colossians 3:18

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands
The apostle proceeds from those duties which related to them as church members one towards another, for their mutual good and edification, and the glory of God, to such as concerned them in their own houses and families, as in a natural relation to each other; as husbands and wives, parents and children, masters and servants; showing hereby, that the Gospel does not at all break in upon, but establishes the duties of common and civil life. Concerning the duty wives to their husbands, here exhorted to, (See Gill on Ephesians 5:22). The reason urging to a regard to it is,

as it is fit in the Lord;
that is, Christ, as the Syriac version reads it. Subjection of wives to their own husbands is "fit" and proper in its own nature, by reason of the original creation of man, and of the woman from him: man was made first, and then the woman; and the woman was made out of the man, out of one of his ribs; and so, though not to be trampled under his feet, but to be by his side, and an help meet to him, yet not to be head, or to rule over him. Moreover, the woman was made for the man, and not the man for the woman; add to this, that the woman was in the transgression, and the means of the fall of man, which gave a fresh reason for, and made the obligation to subjection to him the stronger: and it is also a "decent" and becoming thing for wives to be subject to their husbands; for as it is giving honour to them, it is a real ornament to themselves, and is one of those good works which women professing godliness should adorn themselves with; and makes more comely and beautiful than broidered hair; gold, pearls, or costly array, yea, than their natural favour and beauty: it is what is fitting "in the Lord": it is what he requires, not only what the law of God requires, see ( 1 Corinthians 14:34 ) and which was enjoined originally, see ( Genesis 3:16 ) and was charged as a duty under the legal dispensation; but is what is commanded by Christ under the Gospel dispensation, and is to be observed by all those that are "in" him, that profess to be new creatures, converted persons, that so the word of God be not blasphemed, and the enemy have no occasion to reproach, see ( Titus 2:5 ) ( 1 Timothy 5:14 ) though this phrase may also be considered as a restriction and limitation of this subjection; that though it reaches to all things, yet only to such as are agreeable to the will of the Lord, and not contrary to the Gospel of Christ; for in these they are not to be subject to them, but to Christ the Lord; but in all other things they are, even as the church is subject to Christ: and when this is the case, such subjection is regarded by Christ as if it was done to himself; and indeed his honour and glory should be the governing view in it; see ( Ephesians 5:22 ) .

Colossians 3:18 In-Context

16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Cross References

• 1. S Ephesians 5:22