The Bible makes it clear that the husband has a unique role and responsibility in marriage. As a leader, protector and provider he is commanded by God to shepherd his wife, protect her interests and provide for her needs. This article lists some of the many verses about the husband’s role in marriage.
The Bible is clear that husbands are to love their wives and lead them. The Bible also tells us, however, that a husband must give his wife honor as well. A husband’s role in marriage is to be a spiritual leader and protector of the family.
A good husband will provide for his wife by working hard at his job, staying abreast of husband financial responsibility in the Bible, and coming home to spend time with her. He will make sure she has everything she needs before he does anything else for himself. He will always put her needs above his own, even if it means sacrificing something he wants for himself. A good husband will also look after her health by making sure she eats well and exercises regularly so that she can be healthy as well!
Bible Verses About Husband Role
A man is to be the head of the woman, just as Christ is the head of the Church. But what does that mean?
It means that a man must love his wife as Christ loved the Church. It means he must give himself up for her, sacrificing his own needs for hers. He must put her first in all things and treat her with kindness and respect at all times. He must love her when she doesn’t treat him well—and he must even love her when she makes mistakes and causes him harm.
A man’s role is to provide for his family, protect them from harm, and lead them in all things. A man should be a leader in his home, not just because it’s what society tells him to do—but because God told him to do it!
Responsibilities Of A Man According To The Bible
1 Corinthians 14:34
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. (KJV)
1 Peter 3:1-7 (KJV)
Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her
Ephesians 5:25
- “The husband is the head of the woman as Christ is the head of his body, the church.” – 1 Corinthians 11:3
- “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” – Ephesians 5:25
- “Wives, submit to your husbands as you do to the Lord.” – Ephesians 5:22
- “Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” – Colossians 3:19
- “Husbands should love their wives as they love themselves, and women should respect their husbands.” – Ephesians 5:33
Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter against them.
Colossians 3:19
Romans 5:8 ESV / 222 helpful votes
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Ecclesiastes 9:9 ESV / 221 helpful votes
Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun.
1 Peter 3:6 ESV / 220 helpful votes
As Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.
1 Corinthians 7:10 ESV / 212 helpful votes
To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband
Matthew 19:4-6 ESV / 209 helpful votes
He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Ecclesiastes 4:12 ESV / 209 helpful votes
And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ephesians 1:22 ESV / 206 helpful votes
And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,
Acts 5:29 ESV / 206 helpful votes
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
Proverbs 5:18-19 ESV / 206 helpful votes
Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.
Malachi 2:14-16 ESV / 200 helpful votes
But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”
1 Corinthians 7:10-11 ESV / 199 helpful votes
To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.
Proverbs 1:8 ESV / 199 helpful votes
Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
1 Corinthians 7:5 ESV / 197 helpful votes
Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 195 helpful votes
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Genesis 2:23 ESV / 193 helpful votes
Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
Malachi 2:14 ESV / 192 helpful votes
But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.
1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV / 189 helpful votes
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 7:3-5 ESV / 189 helpful votes
The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Ephesians 5:28-33 ESV / 185 helpful votes
In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. …
Proverbs 31:1-31 ESV / 183 helpful votes
The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him: What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows? Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. …
Matthew 19:9 ESV / 181 helpful votes
And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”
Mark 10:6-9 ESV / 180 helpful votes
But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Mark 10:9 ESV / 178 helpful votes
What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Ephesians 5:28-29 ESV / 166 helpful votes
In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,
Colossians 3:17 ESV / 164 helpful votes
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Ephesians 5:21-24 ESV / 164 helpful votes
Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 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. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
John 3:16-17 ESV / 156 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Bible verses about man supporting his wife
A wife’s responsibilities include submitting to her husband, loving him and helping him. A husband’s responsibilities include providing for his family, loving his wife and leading the family.
“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 11:3
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” – Ephesians 5:25
“Wives should submit to their husbands as if to the Lord… For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church …” – Ephesians 5:22-23
“The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband.” – 1 Corinthians 7:3-4
There are several Bible verses about the husband’s role in marriage. The following passages contain some of the most common verses pertaining to a husband’s duties:
Ephesians 5:25-33 – “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her… This is a profound mystery – but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”
1 Peter 3:7 – “Husband, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel…”
1 Corinthians 7:2-5 – “…But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife; and let each woman have her own husband. The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.”
1 Timothy 5:8 – “…But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household…”
The Bible has a lot to say about the husband’s role in marriage. Here are some of the best verses to help guide you as you serve your wife, and your family.
Husbands should love their wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. Ephesians 5:25
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as you do to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife as Christ is head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Ephesians 5:22-24
Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways! You will eat what your desire; when your thirst comes, you will be filled with good things! Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. This is the LORD’s promise to those who fear him; this is what he gives them.’ Psalm 128:1-5
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church—for we are members of his body. Scripture says: “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and they become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”
1 Peter 3:1-7
Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.”
Ruth 3:11-18
“May my lord accept an offering from one who was once his shepherd?” Boaz replied to Naomi: “All that you have brought back belongs to you; I insist only on redeeming it for myself.” “On one condition,” said Naomi: “That you become guardian over my son until he marries into another family.”
Characteristics Of A Good Husband According To The Bible
1 Peter 3:7 ESV / 934 helpful votes
Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
Colossians 3:19 ESV / 914 helpful votes
Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.
Ephesians 5:25 ESV / 827 helpful votes
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
1 Timothy 5:8 ESV / 786 helpful votes
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Ephesians 5:23 ESV / 743 helpful votes
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.
Ephesians 5:33 ESV / 675 helpful votes
However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Ephesians 5:28 ESV / 592 helpful votes
In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
1 Peter 3:1 ESV / 570 helpful votes
Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives,
Genesis 3:16 ESV / 562 helpful votes
To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.”
Ephesians 5:22 ESV / 547 helpful votes
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
1 Timothy 3:2 ESV / 538 helpful votes
Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
Matthew 5:28 ESV / 531 helpful votes
But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matthew 5:32 ESV / 525 helpful votes
But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Titus 2:4-5 ESV / 514 helpful votes
And so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
Ephesians 6:4 ESV / 506 helpful votes
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 11:3 ESV / 479 helpful votes
But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.
1 Corinthians 7:1-40 ESV / 469 helpful votes
Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. …
Ephesians 5:24 ESV / 453 helpful votes
Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
Ephesians 5:22-23 ESV / 445 helpful votes
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 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.
Titus 2:4 ESV / 444 helpful votes
And so train the young women to love their husbands and children,
Ephesians 5:22-24 ESV / 424 helpful votes
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 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. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
Revelation 1:1 ESV / 414 helpful votes
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
Proverbs 31:28 ESV / 374 helpful votes
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
Ephesians 5:31 ESV / 351 helpful votes
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”
Galatians 3:28 ESV / 345 helpful votes
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Mark 10:11 ESV / 341 helpful votes
And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her,
Genesis 2:24 ESV / 334 helpful votes
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Hebrews 13:4 ESV / 325 helpful votes
Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
Mark 10:1-52 ESV / 316 helpful votes
And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them. And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. …
Ephesians 5:21 ESV / 304 helpful votes
Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Ephesians 5:22-33 ESV / 291 helpful votes
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 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. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, …
1 Corinthians 7:3 ESV / 291 helpful votes
The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.
Genesis 2:18 ESV / 285 helpful votes
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”
Colossians 3:18 ESV / 284 helpful votes
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Proverbs 18:22 ESV / 276 helpful votes
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.
Colossians 3:18-19 ESV / 274 helpful votes
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.
Genesis 2:20-24 ESV / 268 helpful votes
The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
1 Peter 3:1-6 ESV / 267 helpful votes
Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, …
Ephesians 5:25-33 ESV / 266 helpful votes
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, …
Ephesians 5:1-33 ESV / 265 helpful votes
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. …
Titus 2:5 ESV / 260 helpful votes
To be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
Matthew 19:5 ESV / 258 helpful votes
And said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?
1 Timothy 3:12 ESV / 247 helpful votes
Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well.
1 Corinthians 7:2 ESV / 245 helpful votes
But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.
1 Peter 4:8 ESV / 240 helpful votes
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
Ephesians 5:25-29 ESV / 232 helpful votes
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,
Proverbs 19:14 ESV / 228 helpful votes
House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.
Proverbs 12:4 ESV / 223 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful
An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.
5 Marks Of A Biblical Husband
1. Husbands don’t ever try to make their wives’ lives miserable
Colossians 3:19 urges husbands to “love your wives and never treat them harshly.” The verb “to love” is in the present tense, indicating that it is a constant and continuous action, while the verb “to treat your wife harshly” is in the aorist tense, indicating that it was an isolated incident. This means that Paul does not support harsh treatment of a wife by a husband. Even. Once. Because you’re exhausted, frustrated, or just plain worn out from a long day doesn’t give you permission to treat your wife badly. Paul’s advice to husbands can be summed up as “always love, never be harsh.”
One alternative definition of harsh is something that “makes her life bitter.” The Bible tells me not to make my wife’s life difficult in any way. I should probably pick up my socks if it bothers her when I leave them on the floor. If my tone of voice makes her feel patronized, I need to change it. Obviously, the idea of harm, whether physical, verbal, or even threatening, is rejected entirely in this verse.
A godly husband shows his wife unconditional love and is never harsh.
2. Men are expected to be the primary breadwinners in their households
To deny the faith and be worse than an unbeliever is, according to 1 Timothy 5:8, to fail to provide for one’s own family. The men whose wives have two jobs in order to support them while they play video games at home. These men are not examples of “biblical husbands.”
I can relate to a man’s longing to do meaningful work that he enjoys. Working full-time while a husband is in school is preparing to provide, so I don’t see any problem with that in light of this verse (even though you may not be getting paid for it). This counsel does not preclude the wife from working outside the home, especially since Proverbs 31 emphasizes the importance of a financially independent spouse. In fact, it disproves the idea that a husband who is able to work but chooses not to do so out of selfishness or laziness.
When I was young and married a woman who wanted to be a stay-at-home mom but I wanted to be a writer, this verse was a challenge. Before I could write full-time, I worked a full-time job (and for a while, an additional part-time job) and wrote on the side for fifteen years. This is what made me an early riser (it was the only time I could pursue my dream). Yes, I can understand the male desire to follow one’s passion. The events depicted here are true to my own life. I don’t get why you’d put your family through hell so you can follow your passion. As someone who aspires to be a “biblical” husband, that was never an option for me.
The husband in the Bible is depicted as the breadwinner of the family.
3. Men show their wives respect
God won’t listen to my prayers if I don’t treat my wife with respect, according to 1 Peter 3:7: “Husbands, in the same way, be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect…so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” Therefore, I cannot conceive of myself as a good Christian if I treat my wife disrespectfully. My tone and word choice should always be respectful; I should never be condescending, hurtful, or threatening. For me, showing my wife respect means prioritizing her happiness in all of my actions and decisions. To show her respect, I must pay attention when she speaks, consider what she has to say, and refrain from demeanor toward her in front of others. Not only do I not expect her to always agree with me or do what I want her to do, but I also do not expect her to always respect me.
The husband in the Bible treats his wife with honor.
4. Displays initiative
Over the course of human history, male chauvinism and authoritarian control have been a problem, but in the effort to eradicate these vices, the opposite sin of male passivity is often overlooked. That’s the devil’s trick; if he’s failing to tempt the church into one sin, he’ll try to lure them into the other. Finding the truth does not require taking action in response to wrongdoing, but rather, it requires a response to Christ and His Word.
The love of a husband, according to the Bible, is an initiation of love. To love one’s wife as Christ loves the church (Eph. 5:22ff) is a call to a loving action on one’s part. Christ’s decision to take on human form was a radical, audacious, and unilateral strategy for communicating with humanity. In spite of the fact that we deserved death, He gave His life so that our sins could be dealt with. When He declares, “I will build my church,” He remains the most dynamic person in history (Matt. 16:18). He is in the process of constructing His church rather than having already completed it. The biblical model of a husband is one who works hard to strengthen his family. His main concern is not whether or not she is serving God, but rather what He can do for her.
A husband in the Bible takes the lead in his household.
5. Gives his wife encouraging words
One’s words can bring about one’s own life or death, as the Bible says in Proverbs 18:21. As such, we husbands are urged to pick our words very, very carefully: “I tell you, on the Day of Judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matt. 12:36-37)
That includes the words we use when we’re worn out, frustrated, angry, hurt, or disappointed. Every word of the Bible has the power to reanimate our wives and our unions.
