Ephesians 5:28 (KJV)

What does Ephesians 5:28 mean?

Ephesians 5:28 says that husbands should love their wives in the same way they love their own bodies, making the point that loving one’s wife is actually loving oneself. The verse highlights a deep unity in marriage, where care for a spouse is seen as care for oneself.

Paul is writing this letter to Christians in Ephesus, giving practical instructions for how believers should live. In this part of the letter, Paul is specifically addressing husbands, urging them to treat their wives with the same concern and attention they naturally give to themselves. The verse builds on the earlier comparison of marriage to the relationship between Christ and the church, emphasizing selfless, nurturing love.

The Greek behind Ephesians 5:28

• ἀγαπάω (agapaō, "love"): This Greek word for "love" means a self-giving, committed kind of love, not just affection or attraction. Paul uses it to describe the quality of love husbands should show, which is active and sacrificial.
• ἑαυτοῦ (heautou, "his own"/"himself"): This word stresses the idea of personal identity and unity. By using it repeatedly, Paul underscores that in marriage, caring for one's spouse is inseparable from caring for oneself.
• σῶμα (sōma, "body"): The word for "body" here points to the physical, everyday reality of self-care, making the command very practical and down-to-earth. Paul is not speaking in abstract terms but about real, tangible actions.

Why Ephesians 5:28 matters

• Ephesians 5:28 clears up the idea that love in marriage is only about feelings or romance; it shows that love is also about practical care and unity.
• The verse emphasizes the deep connection between husband and wife, echoing the earlier teaching that the two become "one flesh" (from Genesis), so that what affects one affects the other.
• This teaching fits into Paul’s larger message in Ephesians 5, where he calls all Christians to live out love and mutual respect in their relationships, using marriage as a vivid example.