Should Wives Submit to Their Husbands? Ephesians 5:22 Explained

Ephesians 5:22 commands wives to submit to their own husbands, as to the Lord. 1 Peter 3:1 applies it even to the wife of a husband who does not obey the word — so that he may be won without a word.

Wives submit to your husbands even if they don’t obey the Word. As Ephesians 5:22 states, “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:22 KJV) People often manipulate this passage because they simply do not want to submit. They will argue, “Well, I don’t agree with what he’s doing or how he’s leading. I don’t think it’s the way of God.” But Scripture doesn’t ask for your opinion or your permission. Even if you are right, and even if he is objectively failing in his walk, the command stands. 1 Peter 3:1 addresses this exact scenario—the wife with a husband who does not believe or obey the word—and tells her to submit so that he might be won over by her behavior: “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;” (1 Peter 3:1 KJV)

People will fight this because they are terrified of suffering for righteousness’ sake. They would rather cling to the control of the situation than trust God’s design. If you think your discernment exempts you from the command, you are only proving that you are doing what is right in your own eyes rather than what is right in God’s.

Scriptures Referenced (KJV)

Ephesians 5:22 KJV

“Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?”

Read Ephesians 5 →

1 Peter 3:1 KJV

“This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:”

Read 1 Peter 3 →