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.

EPHESIANS 5:23KJV
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Ephesians 5:23 (KJV)

What does Ephesians 5:23 mean?

Ephesians 5:23 says that the husband is the "head" of the wife in a marriage, just as Christ is the "head" of the church, and that Christ is the savior of the church, described here as "the body." The verse draws a parallel between the relationship of a husband and wife and the relationship between Christ and the church.

Paul, the author of Ephesians, is writing to Christians in Ephesus about how believers should live together, especially in families and marriages. In this verse, Paul uses the language of "head" to describe a kind of leadership or responsibility, not just authority. He connects this idea to Christ’s care and sacrificial role for the church, suggesting that the husband's role is meant to reflect Christ’s loving and self-giving leadership.

The Greek behind Ephesians 5:23

  • "head" (κεφαλή, kephalē): This Greek word can mean "head" as a body part, but also carries the sense of leadership or source. Here, it suggests a guiding or caring responsibility, not just command.
  • "church" (ἐκκλησία, ekklēsia): This word means "assembly" or "gathering," and in the New Testament refers to the community of believers. The comparison highlights the close, caring relationship intended between husband and wife.
  • "saviour" (σωτήρ, sōtēr): This word means "rescuer" or "deliverer." Paul uses it to show that Christ’s leadership is defined by saving and caring for the church, not by domination.

Why Ephesians 5:23 matters

  • This verse is often misunderstood as giving husbands unlimited authority, but the Greek words and the context show that the focus is on responsibility, care, and self-giving leadership.
  • The verse is part of a larger passage about mutual relationships in Christian households, setting up the call for husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church (which comes in the following verses).
  • Understanding the original terms helps clarify that Paul is describing a relationship shaped by Christ’s example of sacrificial love, not by power or control.