Ephesians 5:29

Ephesians 5:29 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
• New International Version (NIV)After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—
• English Standard Version (ESV)For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,
• New King James Version (NKJV)For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.

Context of Ephesians 5:29

27Then he could present it to himself as a glorious church, without any kind of stain or wrinkle—holy and without faults. 28So husbands must love their wives as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself. No one ever hated his own body. Instead, he feeds and takes care of it, as Christ takes care of the church. 30We are parts of his body. 31That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will be one.

Ephesians 5:29 word by word

οὐδεὶς γάρ ποτε τὴν ἑαυτοῦ σάρκα ἐμίσησεν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐκτρέφει καὶ θάλπει αὐτὴν καθὼς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• no manοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
• ever yetποτέpote · once/whenG4218
• hatedμισέωmiseō · to hateG3404
• his ownἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• nourishethἐκτρέφωektrephō · to nourish/rearG1625
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• cherishethθάλπωthalpō · to care forG2282
• itαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• the churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577

Cross-references for Ephesians 5:29

• Ephesians 5:31That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will be one.
• Proverbs 11:17A merciful person helps himself, but a cruel person hurts himself.
• Ecclesiastes 4:5A fool folds his hands and wastes away.
• Romans 1:31don’t have any sense, don’t keep promises, and don’t show love to their own families or mercy to others.
• Isaiah 40:11Like a shepherd he takes care of his flock. He gathers the lambs in his arms. He carries them in his arms. He gently helps the sheep and their lambs.
• Ezekiel 34:14I will feed them in good pasture, and they will graze on the mountains of Israel. They will rest on the good land where they graze, and they will feed on the best pastures in the mountains of Israel.
• Matthew 23:37“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you kill the prophets and stone to death those sent to you! How often I wanted to gather your children together the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings! But you were not willing!
• John 6:50This is the bread that comes from heaven so that whoever eats it won’t die.

Commentaries on Ephesians 5:29

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 29No man ever yet hated his own flesh - And this is a natural reason why he should love his wife, and nourish and cherish her.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh - This is urged as an argument why a man should love his wife and show kindness to her. As no man disregards the happiness of his own body, or himself, so he should show equal care to promote the happiness of his wife. A sentiment similar to this is found in the classic writers. Thus, Curtius (lib. vii.) says, “Corporibus nostris quoe utique non odimus” - “We do not hate those things that pertain to our own bodies.”…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-33Verses 22-33 The duty of wives is, submission to their husbands in the Lord, which includes honouring and obeying them, from a principle of love to them. The duty of husbands is to love their wives. The love of Christ to the church is an example, which is sincere, pure, and constant, notwithstanding her failures. Christ gave himself for the church, that he might sanctify it in this world, and glorify it in the next, that he might bestow on all his members…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 28-29Husbands should value and care for their wives as they do themselves. In marriage, the two become one (see 5:31). This means that caring for one’s wife is like caring for one’s own body.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2929. For--Supply, and we all love ourselves: "For no man," &c. his own flesh--(Ep 5:31, end). nourisheth--Greek, "nourisheth it up," namely, to maturity. "Nourisheth," refers to food and internal sustenance; "cherisheth," to clothing and external fostering. even as--Translate, "even as also." the Lord--The oldest manuscripts read, "Christ." Ex 21:10 prescribes three duties to the husband. The two former (food and raiment) are here alluded to in a spiritual…Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 5:29

• Church
• Husband
• Jesus, the Christ

In the dictionaries

• Arise
• Awake
• Church
• Dear
• Ephesians, Epistle to
• Fellowship
• Flesh
• Fruit
• Light
• Marriage

Commentaries on Ephesians 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings