The role of a wife is important in the Bible, filled with love and respect. Today, we’ll explore what scripture says about a wife’s responsibilities and how she can honor her family and God. By following these teachings, wives can grow in their faith and love.
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What Does The Bible Say About A Wife’S Role
Genesis 2:18
“Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.””
This verse emphasizes the importance of a wife as a suitable helper for her husband. It implies that God created women to complement and support their husbands in various aspects of life.
A wife’s role involves providing emotional support, assisting her husband in making decisions, and helping him fulfill his God-given responsibilities. This verse highlights the significance of a wife’s role in creating a balanced partnership within a marriage.
Proverbs 31:10
“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.”
This verse acknowledges the value and worth of a wife of noble character. It emphasizes that a virtuous wife is a precious and priceless asset in a marriage.
A wife’s role includes displaying noble qualities such as trustworthiness, kindness, diligence, and wisdom. This verse encourages husbands to appreciate and honor the exceptional qualities and contributions of their wives.
Ephesians 5:22
“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.”
This verse highlights the concept of submission in a marriage. It instructs wives to willingly submit to their husbands as an act of respect and reverence, mirroring their submission to the Lord.
Submission in this context does not imply inferiority, but rather a willingness to align with the leadership and authority of the husband within the framework of love and mutual submission described in the subsequent verses.
Ephesians 5:25
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
This verse emphasizes the sacrificial love that husbands are called to demonstrate towards their wives. It draws a parallel between Christ’s love for the church and a husband’s love for his wife.
A husband’s role includes selflessly giving himself up for the well-being, protection, and growth of his wife. This verse sets a high standard for husbands to love their wives unconditionally and sacrificially, mirroring Christ’s love for the church.
Proverbs 12:4
“A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.”
This verse reinforces the idea that a wife of noble character brings honor and joy to her husband. It compares a virtuous wife to a crown, symbolizing her husband’s pride and happiness.
Conversely, it warns against the negative impact of a wife who brings shame or dishonor to her husband. This verse highlights the significant role a wife plays in the reputation and well-being of her husband.
1 Peter 3:1
“Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives.”
This verse speaks to wives in marriages where the husband may not believe in the gospel or have a relationship with Christ. It encourages wives to lead by example through their actions and behavior.
A wife’s role in this situation is to demonstrate godly character, love, and respect towards her husband. Her conduct can serve as a powerful testimony and influence, potentially leading her husband to faith in Christ.
Proverbs 31:26
“She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.”
This verse highlights the importance of a wife’s role in speaking with wisdom and providing faithful instruction. It emphasizes the influence of a wife’s words and the power they hold within a marriage.
A wife’s role involves offering wise counsel, guidance, and support to her husband. This verse encourages wives to use their words to uplift, encourage, and contribute to the growth and well-being of their relationship.
1 Corinthians 7:3-4
“The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.”
This verse highlights the concept of mutual sexual intimacy within a marriage. It emphasizes the importance of both husband and wife fulfilling their spousal duties towards one another.
A wife’s role includes willingly and lovingly engaging in marital intimacy, meeting her husband’s needs, and embracing the physical aspect of the marital relationship as an expression of love and unity.
Proverbs 19:14
“Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.”
This verse acknowledges that a prudent wife is a blessing from the Lord. It contrasts material possessions and inheritance with the invaluable gift of a wise and discerning wife.
A wife’s role involves being prudent, wise, and discerning in decision-making, stewardship, and overall management of the household. This verse highlights the divine origin and significance of a wife’s wisdom and understanding.
Colossians 3:18
“Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.”
This verse reiterates the call for wives to submit to their husbands, emphasizing the suitability of such submission in the context of the Lord.
Submission is not about being oppressed or controlled but rather choosing to respect the God-given authority structure within marriage. A wife’s role involves honoring and submitting to her husband’s leadership, recognizing that it aligns with God’s design for the family dynamics.
Ruth 1:16-17
“But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.’”
This verse is a testament to the loyalty, devotion, and commitment that a wife can demonstrate towards her husband. It illustrates the deep bond and sacrificial love between Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi.
A wife’s role includes standing by her husband’s side through various circumstances, supporting and loving him unconditionally. This verse reflects the selfless devotion that characterizes a strong and faithful wife.
1 Timothy 2:11-12
“A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.”
This verse addresses the role of women in the context of church leadership and the instruction for them to be in a position of quietness, submission, and not assuming authority over men.
While this verse specifically pertains to the context of church leadership and teaching, it does not diminish the significance or value of a wife’s role outside of these specific situations.
1 Corinthians 7:10-11
“To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.”
This verse emphasizes the commitment and lifelong bond within marriage. It instructs wives not to separate from their husbands and emphasizes the importance of working towards reconciliation in the face of marital challenges.
A wife’s role involves striving to maintain a strong and enduring marriage, seeking resolution and healing through open communication, forgiveness, and a commitment to the covenant of marriage.
Titus 2:4-5
“Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of older women teaching and guiding younger women in their roles as wives and mothers.
A wife’s role involves cultivating love for her husband and children, practicing self-control and purity, managing the household responsibilities, and exemplifying kindness and submission. This verse highlights the impact of a wife’s behavior in upholding the integrity of the gospel.
1 Corinthians 11:3
“But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.”
This verse addresses the structure of authority within the family and emphasizes the headship of the husband in the context of marriage.
A wife’s role involves recognizing and respecting her husband’s position as the head of the household, while both husband and wife submit to the ultimate authority of Christ. This verse underscores the importance of order and authority within the marital relationship.
1 Peter 3:7
“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”
This verse addresses husbands, emphasizing the importance of treating their wives with consideration, respect, and honor.
A wife’s role involves being a partner and co-heir with her husband in God’s kingdom. This verse underscores the call for husbands to value and appreciate their wives, recognizing their shared inheritance and the impact their treatment has on their relationship with God.
Proverbs 14:1
“The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands, the foolish one tears hers down.”
This verse highlights the impact a wife has on the building and maintaining of her household. It contrasts the wise woman, who contributes to the growth and stability of her home, with the foolish woman, whose actions lead to destruction.
A wife’s role involves actively participating in nurturing a loving, harmonious, and godly environment within her home. This verse emphasizes the importance of a wife’s role in shaping the atmosphere and overall success of her household.
1 Peter 3:9
“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”
This verse addresses the way a wife should respond to difficult or challenging situations within her marriage.
A wife’s role involves responding to conflict or mistreatment with grace, forgiveness, and love. This verse encourages wives to overcome evil with good and bless others, understanding that their response can lead to personal growth and the inheritance of blessings.
Proverbs 31:15
“She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.”
This verse highlights the proactive nature of a wife’s role in providing for her family and managing the household.
A wife’s role includes attending to the physical needs of her household, ensuring that there is nourishment and care. This verse emphasizes the industriousness, efficiency, and dedication of a virtuous wife in meeting the needs of her family.
Proverbs 31:28
“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.”
This verse describes the recognition and appreciation that a wife receives from her children and husband.
A wife’s role involves nurturing and raising children, as well as contributing to the well-being and happiness of her husband. This verse highlights the joy and admiration that comes from fulfilling these roles with love and excellence.
1 Corinthians 7:12-13
“To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.”
This verse addresses marriages where one spouse is a believer and the other is not.
A wife’s role in such circumstances involves extending grace, love, and understanding to her husband, even if he does not share her faith. This verse emphasizes the importance of maintaining the marital bond and seeking to live in harmony, trusting in the transformative power of God’s grace.
1 Peter 3:8
“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”
This verse addresses the general attitudes and behaviors that should characterize all individuals, including wives, within their relationships.
A wife’s role involves cultivating like-mindedness, sympathy, love, compassion, and humility towards her husband and others. This verse encourages wives to exemplify these virtues in their interactions and relationships within their families and communities.
Proverbs 21:9
“Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.”
This verse emphasizes the negative impact of constant quarreling or contentious behavior within a marriage.
A wife’s role involves fostering an environment of peace, understanding, and unity within her home. This verse serves as a reminder of the importance of cultivating harmony and avoiding unnecessary conflicts that can strain relationships.
1 Corinthians 11:11
“Nevertheless, in the Lord, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.”
This verse highlights the interdependence and mutual reliance between men and women within the context of marriage.
A wife’s role involves recognizing and appreciating the importance of her husband’s role and contributions, as well as understanding her own significance and impact within the marital relationship. This verse underscores the need for cooperation, respect, and unity between husbands and wives.
Proverbs 18:22
“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.”
This verse reflects the blessing and favor that comes from having a wife.
A wife’s role involves being a source of goodness, companionship, and favor to her husband. This verse highlights the significance of a wife as a gift from God, bringing joy, fulfillment, and divine favor to her husband’s life.