Ephesians 5:23

23 For ¹the husband is the head of the wife even as ²Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is ³himself its Savior.

Ephesians 5:23 Meaning and Commentary

Ephesians 5:23

For the husband is the head of the wife
(See Gill on 1 Corinthians 11:3).

Even as Christ is the head of the church;
all the elect; (See Gill on Ephesians 1:22). And he is the Saviour of the body; not "of our body", as the Ethiopic version reads, of that part of man, which is called the body; though that indeed is redeemed and saved by Christ, as well as the soul; but "of his body", as the Vulgate Latin version reads; that is, of the church, which is his body; see ( Ephesians 1:23 ) ; of which he is the Saviour; he provides everything for it, preserves and protects it, and has wrought out salvation for it, which every member of it partakes of.

Ephesians 5:23 In-Context

21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.

24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

Cross References

• 1. 5:23 1 Cor. 11:3
• 2. 5:23 See ch. 1:22, 23
• 3. 5:23 [1 Cor. 6:13]