Ephesians 5:29 (KJV)

What does Ephesians 5:29 mean?

Ephesians 5:29 says that no one ever hates their own body, but instead takes care of it and treats it with affection, just as the Lord cares for the church. The verse uses this everyday truth to illustrate how Christ lovingly provides for and values the church.

Paul is writing to Christians in Ephesus, using the relationship between a person and their own body as a comparison for how Christ relates to the church. The point is to show the natural instinct to care for oneself, and then to explain that Jesus’s care for the church is even greater and more intentional.

The Greek behind Ephesians 5:29

• "Hated" (ἐμίσησεν, transliteration: emisēsen) means to detest or abhor. The Greek here carries the sense of strong rejection, highlighting that it is unnatural for someone to despise their own body.
• "Nourisheth" (ἐκτρέφει, ektrephei) means to feed, nurture, or provide for. This word paints a picture of ongoing, attentive care, not just a one-time act.
• "Cherisheth" (θάλπει, thalpei) means to keep warm, comfort, or tenderly care for. The Greek word emphasizes warmth and gentle protection, suggesting both physical and emotional care.

Why Ephesians 5:29 matters

• Ephesians 5:29 clarifies that the care Christ gives to the church is not distant or cold, but nurturing and affectionate, like the way people naturally care for their own bodies.
• The verse helps explain the broader teaching in Ephesians 5 about the relationship between Christ and the church, especially as a model for how husbands should love their wives.
• This verse corrects any idea that God’s care for believers is merely functional or impersonal; instead, it is deeply invested and loving.