Ephesians 5:33
Nevertheless let every one of you in particular love his wife as himself: and let the wife fear her husband.
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- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Verumtamen et vos singuli, unusquisque uxorem suam sicut seipsum diligat : uxor autem timeat virum suum.
- Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)
- πλὴν καὶ ὑμεῖς οἱ καθʼ ἕνα ἕκαστος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ γυναῖκα οὕτως ἀγαπάτω ὡς ἑαυτόν, ἡ δὲ γυνὴ ἵνα φοβῆται τὸν ἄνδρα.
The Fathers on this verse
St Augustine Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount, Chapter XII
42. It is usual, therefore, to ask what He means, when He says: “But ye, when ye fast, anoint your head, and wash your faces, that ye appear not unto men to fast.” For it would not be right in any one to teach (although we may wash our face according to daily custom) that we ought also to have our heads anointed when we fast. If, then, all admit this to be most unseemly, we must understand this precept with respect to anointing the head and washing the face as referring to the inner man. Hence, to anoint the head refers to joy; to wash the face, on the other hand, refers to purity: and therefore that man anoints his head who rejoices inwardly in his mind and reason. For we rightly understand that as being the head which has the pre-eminence in the soul, and by which it is evident that the other parts of man are ruled and governed. …
St John Chrysostom Homilies on First Corinthians, Homily XIX
Elsewhere I grant He gives to the husband abundant precedence, both in the New Testament, and the Old saying, ( ἡ ἀποστρόφή σου , LXX. Gen. iii. 16 .) “Thy turning shall be towards thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” Paul doth so too by making a distinction thus, and writing, ( Ephes. v. 25, 33 .) “Husbands, love your wives; and let the wife see that she reverence her husband.” But in this place we hear no more of greater and less, but it is one and the same right. Now why is this? Because his speech was about chastity. “In all other things,” says he, “let the husband have the prerogative; but not so where the question is about chastity.” “The husband hath no power over his own body, neither the wife.” There is great equality of honor, and no prerogative.
St John Chrysostom The Commentary and Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Galatians and Ephesians, Ephesians 5:22-24
Ver. 33 . “Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she fear her husband.” For indeed, in very deed, a mystery it is, yea, a great mystery, that a man should leave him that gave him being, him that begat him, and that brought him up, and her that travailed with him and had sorrow, those that have bestowed upon him so many and great benefits, those with whom he has been in familiar intercourse, and be joined to one who was never even seen by him and who has nothing in common with him, and should honor her before all others. A mystery it is indeed. And yet are parents not distressed when these events take place, but rather, when they do not take place; and are delighted when their wealth is spent and lavished upon it. A great mystery indeed! and one that contains some hidden wisdom. …