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

27He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. 28In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. 30And we are members of his body. 31As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into 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 5:31As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”
• Proverbs 11:17Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you.
• Ecclesiastes 4:5“Fools fold their idle hands, leading them to ruin.”
• Romans 1:31They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy.
• Isaiah 40:11He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.
• Ezekiel 34:14Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in the lush pastures of the hills.
• Matthew 23:37“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.
• John 6:50Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never 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