Ephesians 5:23

KJV

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

KJV (with Strong's)

For {G3754} the husband {G435} is {G2076} the head {G2776} of the wife {G1135}, even {G2532} as {G5613} Christ {G5547} is the head {G2776} of the church {G1577}: and {G2532} he {G846} is {G2076} the saviour {G4990} of the body {G4983}.

Complete Jewish Bible

because the husband is head of the wife, just as the Messiah, as head of the Messianic Community, is himself the one who keeps the body safe.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ephesians 5:23 establishes a profound theological analogy, asserting that the husband's headship over his wife mirrors Christ's headship over the Church. This verse clarifies the nature of authority and leadership within Christian marriage by anchoring it in the divine pattern of Christ's relationship with His redeemed community, emphasizing His role not only as the supreme Head but also as the loving Savior and sustainer of His body.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply integrated into Paul's extended discourse on Christian conduct and household relationships, commencing in [Ephesians 5:21](/ephesians/5-21 "Ephesians 5:21 - Mutual Submission in Christ"). Paul begins this section with the overarching command for believers to "submit yourselves one to another in the fear of God" ([Ephesians 5:21](/ephesians/5-21 "Ephesians 5:21 - Mutual Submission")). Ephesians 5:23 then introduces the specific application of this principle to marital roles, forming the foundational premise for the subsequent instructions to wives ([Ephesians 5:22](/ephesians/5-22 "Ephesians 5:22 - Wives Submit to Husbands")) and husbands ([Ephesians 5:25](/ephesians/5-25 "Ephesians 5:25 - Husbands Love Your Wives")). The entire passage, [Ephesians 5:21-33](/ephesians/5-21-33 "Ephesians 5:21-33 - Instructions for Wives and Husbands"), presents Christian marriage as a living parable of Christ and the Church.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Paul's letter to the Ephesians was written to a church in a prominent Greco-Roman city, where societal norms were heavily influenced by patriarchal household codes (often referred to as *Haustafeln*). These codes typically prescribed hierarchical relationships, with the male head of the household holding absolute authority. While Paul addresses these existing structures, he radically transforms their meaning by grounding them in Christological principles. His instructions were revolutionary, demanding a form of headship for husbands that was not domineering but self-sacrificial, mirroring Christ's love for the Church, and calling for a submission from wives that was not born of inferiority but out of reverence for Christ, as seen in [Ephesians 5:22](/ephesians/5-22 "Ephesians 5:22 - Wives Submit to Husbands").
* **Key Themes:** The verse contributes significantly to several major themes within Ephesians and the broader New Testament. Firstly, it underscores **Christ's Supreme Headship** over the Church, presenting Him as the ultimate authority, source of life, and leader for His people. Secondly, it introduces the theme of **Husband's Designated Headship**, which, when understood in light of Christ's example, is characterized by loving leadership, protection, and provision, rather than domination. Thirdly, the imagery of the **Church as Christ's Body** emphasizes the organic unity, interdependence, and vitality of believers under Christ's direction. Finally, the declaration that "he is the saviour of the body" highlights **Christ's Redemptive and Preserving Role**, reinforcing His comprehensive care and protection for His Church, a role that husbands are called to emulate in their care for their wives, as further elaborated in [Ephesians 5:25](/ephesians/5-25 "Ephesians 5:25 - Christ's Sacrificial Love for the Church").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **head (Greek, _kephalḗ'_):** (G2776) This term, while literally referring to the anatomical head, carries significant figurative meaning. In this context, it denotes both "authority" or "leader" and "source" or "origin." Just as the head is the source of direction and life for the body, Christ is the authoritative leader and the life-giving source for the Church. By extension, the husband's headship implies both leadership and a responsibility to be a life-giving, nurturing source for his wife.
* **saviour (Greek, _sōtḗr'_):** (G4990) This word describes a "deliverer" or "preserver." In relation to Christ and the Church, it emphasizes His redemptive work, His ongoing protection, and His ultimate preservation of the Church from spiritual harm and eternal condemnation. For the husband, this implies a responsibility to protect, provide for, and nurture his wife's well-being, both physically and spiritually, in a way that reflects Christ's saving care.
* **body (Greek, _sōma'_):** (G4983) Used in a wide application, this term refers to "the body as a sound whole." In the context of the Church, it signifies an organic, unified entity, where each member is interdependent and connected to Christ, the Head. This metaphor highlights the intimate and vital connection between Christ and His Church, and by extension, the husband and wife, emphasizing their unity and shared life.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For the husband is the head of the wife":** This clause establishes a divinely appointed order within marriage. The husband is given a position of leadership and responsibility. Crucially, this is not a statement of inherent superiority, but of functional role, intended to foster order and flourishing within the marital union.
* **"even as Christ is the head of the church":** This is the interpretive key for understanding the husband's headship. Christ's headship over the Church is the perfect model. His leadership is characterized by self-sacrificial love, humble service, and life-giving provision, not by domination or tyranny. The husband's role is therefore defined by this Christ-like example.
* **"and he is the saviour of the body":** This final clause further elaborates on the nature of Christ's headship, adding the crucial dimension of His redemptive and preserving work. Christ not only leads the Church but also protects, nurtures, and ultimately delivers it. This aspect of Christ's role provides a profound paradigm for the husband's responsibility to care for and protect his wife, ensuring her well-being in every sense.

#### Literary Devices
Ephesians 5:23 is rich in literary devices that enhance its theological message. The most prominent is **Analogy/Simile**, indicated by the phrase "even as" (καθὼς). This explicitly draws a parallel between the relationship of husband and wife and that of Christ and the Church, establishing the latter as the divine archetype for the former. This analogy is further reinforced by the consistent use of **Metaphor**, particularly "head" and "body." "Head" serves as a metaphor for leadership, authority, and source, while "body" represents organic unity, interdependence, and the collective entity. The verse also employs **Parallelism** in its structure, presenting two distinct but analogous relationships side-by-side (husband-wife and Christ-Church), which serves to illuminate the human relationship by referencing the divine.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ephesians 5:23 elevates the institution of marriage from a mere social contract to a profound theological reality, presenting it as a living icon of the relationship between Christ and His Church. The husband's headship is not a license for authoritarianism but a sacred calling to emulate Christ's sacrificial love and servant leadership. Christ's role as "Saviour of the body" underscores His comprehensive care, protection, and redemptive work for the Church, setting the ultimate standard for how a husband is to nurture and cherish his wife. This verse teaches that the health and vitality of a Christian marriage are directly tied to how well it reflects the divine pattern of Christ's love and authority over His redeemed people.

* [Colossians 1:18](/colossians/1-18 "Colossians 1:18 - Christ is the Head of the Body")
* [1 Corinthians 11:3](/1_corinthians/11-3 "1 Corinthians 11:3 - God, Christ, Man, Woman Hierarchy")
* [Philippians 3:20](/philippians/3-20 "Philippians 3:20 - Christ as Savior from Heaven")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ephesians 5:23 calls both husbands and wives to a higher standard, challenging them to view their marital roles through the lens of Christ's relationship with His Church. For husbands, the command to be "head" is not about asserting power, but about embracing a profound responsibility to love, serve, protect, and provide for their wives in a self-sacrificial manner, just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her. This leadership is nurturing, not domineering, focused on the wife's flourishing and spiritual well-being. For wives, while this verse primarily addresses the husband's role, the parallel implies a call to respect and respond to this Christ-like leadership, recognizing the divine order and trusting in a husband who leads with Christ's love. Ultimately, this verse invites all believers to deepen their understanding of Christ's supreme authority and tender care for His Church, fostering greater trust and dependence on Him as the ultimate Head and Savior of their lives.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Christ's role as "Saviour of the body" redefine the husband's headship from a position of worldly power to one of sacrificial service and protection?**
* **In what practical ways can a husband demonstrate Christ-like headship in his marriage, prioritizing his wife's spiritual and physical well-being?**
* **How does understanding Christ's headship of the Church deepen your trust and dependence on Him as your ultimate guide and protector?**

### FAQ

**Is "head" in this verse about superiority or authority?**

Answer: The Greek word for "head" (*kephalē*, G2776) in this context carries both the sense of authority/leader and also "source" or "origin." While it does denote a position of leadership and responsibility, it is fundamentally reinterpreted by the example of Christ. Christ's headship is not one of domineering superiority but of sacrificial love, humble service, and life-giving provision. As [Ephesians 5:25](/ephesians/5-25 "Ephesians 5:25 - Christ's Sacrificial Love for the Church") clarifies, Christ "loved the church and gave himself for her." Therefore, the husband's headship is a call to loving, serving, and protecting leadership, not a license for domination or a claim to inherent superiority.

**Does this verse promote male domination or suppress women?**

Answer: No, when properly understood within its full biblical context, this verse does not promote male domination. Paul's teaching is revolutionary for its time, transforming the prevailing patriarchal norms by grounding the husband's leadership in Christ's self-sacrificial love. The command for the husband to be the "head" is immediately qualified by the example of Christ, who is the "saviour of the body." This means the husband's leadership is characterized by protection, provision, and a willingness to lay down his life for his wife, mirroring Christ's ultimate sacrifice for the Church. It is a call to profound responsibility and selfless care, not to oppressive rule. The passage, particularly [Ephesians 5:21-33](/ephesians/5-21-33 "Ephesians 5:21-33 - Instructions for Wives and Husbands"), presents a vision of marriage where both spouses are called to mutual submission out of reverence for Christ, expressing distinct but complementary roles that reflect divine truth.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ephesians 5:23 finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is not merely a model for the husband's headship; He is the very reality of the divine Head and Savior. Christ's headship over the Church is absolute and perfect, characterized by His sovereign authority and His tender, life-giving care. He is the source of all life and direction for His body, the Church, and His redemptive work on the cross, as described in [Ephesians 5:25](/ephesians/5-25 "Ephesians 5:25 - Christ's Sacrifice for the Church"), is the ultimate act of "saving the body." Through His death and resurrection, He delivered His people from the dominion of sin and death, becoming the "author of eternal salvation" ([Hebrews 5:9](/hebrews/5-9 "Hebrews 5:9 - Christ, the Source of Eternal Salvation")) to all who obey Him. The Church, as His body, lives, moves, and has its being in Him, entirely dependent on His guidance and sustained by His preserving power. Just as the Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep ([John 10:11](/john/10-11 "John 10:11 - The Good Shepherd Lays Down His Life")), Christ, our Head, actively protects, nourishes, and cherishes His Church, ensuring its ultimate glorification. His headship is not abstract but active, continually working for the sanctification and perfection of His bride, the Church, until she is presented to Him "without spot or wrinkle or any such thing" ([Ephesians 5:27](/ephesians/5-27 "Ephesians 5:27 - Christ Sanctifies the Church")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Corinthians 11:3

But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman [is] the man; and the head of Christ [is] God.

1 Corinthians 11:10

For this cause ought the woman to have power on [her] head because of the angels.

Colossians 1:18

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence.

Ephesians 4:15

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ:

Ephesians 1:22

And hath put all [things] under his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church,

Ephesians 1:23

Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Ephesians 5:25

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;