Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5650 Human relationships  »  5702 husband

The male partner in a marriage relationship. The origin of this God-ordained institution is traced back in the Bible to the Garden of Eden. Scripture stresses that marriage is a God-ordained institution, within which the husband is pledged to love and care for his wife. Scripture contains many examples, both good and bad, of how husbands behaved. The ultimate examples of a good husband in Scripture are God as the husband of Israel and Jesus Christ as the bridegroom of the church.

God's pattern for marriage

Husband and wife are one flesh

Genesis 1:27 See also Genesis 2:23-24; Malachi 2:15; Matthew 19:4-6 pp Mark 10:6-9

The husband is head of the wife

Ephesians 5:23 See also 1 Corinthians 11:3

Duties of a husband

To leave his parents and be united to his wife

Matthew 19:5 pp Mark 10:7-8 See also Genesis 2:24

To love his wife

Ephesians 5:25 See also Deuteronomy 24:5; Proverbs 5:18; Ecclesiastes 9:9; Ephesians 5:28-33; Colossians 3:19; 1 Peter 3:7

To fulfil his marital duty

1 Corinthians 7:3-5 See also Exodus 21:10-11

To be faithful to his wife

Exodus 20:14 pp Deuteronomy 5:18 See also Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22; Malachi 2:14; Matthew 5:27-28; 1 Corinthians 7:14-16

Adam, the first husband

Genesis 2:20-24

Behaviour which is commended in husbands

1 Samuel 1:3-8 See also Genesis 24:67; Genesis 29:20; Ruth 3:7-4:11; Esther 5:1-3; Hosea 3:1-3; Matthew 1:18-25

Behaviour which is condemned in husbands

2 Samuel 12:7-10 See also Genesis 29:30-31; Genesis 38:8-10; Judges 19:16-29; Malachi 2:13-16

God as a husband

Isaiah 54:5 See also Jeremiah 3:14; Jeremiah 31:32; Ezekiel 16:8

Jesus Christ as a bridegroom

Ephesians 5:25-27 See also Matthew 9:14-15 pp Mark 2:18-20 pp Luke 5:33-35; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 21:2

See also

5660  bridegroom
5675  divorce
5708  marriage
5729  one flesh
5732  polygamy
5744  wife
6242  adultery
6243  adultery, spiritual
7020  church, the
7135  Israel, people of God
8299  love in relationships