Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Ephesians 5:22

"Wives, [be in subjection] unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord." — Ephesians 5:22 (ASV)

“Submit” is assumed here from the previous verse, since no verb appears. The fact confirms that v.21 fits more with what follows than with what precedes. It is to their own husbands that wives are to be subject (Colossians 3:18). The legally binding exclusiveness of the marriage relationship is thus underlined. “As to the Lord” suggests that in obeying her husband, the Christian wife is obeying the Lord who has sanctioned the marriage contract. It should be noted that Paul is speaking here about Christian marriage. He is not implying that women are inferior to men or that all women should be subject to men. The subjection, moreover, is voluntary, not forced. The Christian wife who promises to submit does so because her vow is “as to the Lord.”