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For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ also the assembly;
Verse Takeaways
1
Love as Natural Self-Care
Paul uses a simple, universal truth: no one hates their own body. Instead, we instinctively 'nourish' (feed, provide for) and 'cherish' (protect, keep warm) it. Commentators explain this is the baseline model for a husband's love for his wife. It should be a practical, tender, and instinctual form of care for her well-being, just as he cares for himself.
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Book Overview
Ephesians
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8
18th Century
Presbyterian
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh. This is urged as an argument for why a man should love his wife and show kindness to her. Just as…
Nourisheth (εκτρεφε). Old compound with perfective sense of εκ (to nourish up to maturity and on). In N.T. only here and 6:4.
19th Century
Anglican
His own flesh—i.e., as above (Ephesians 5:28), his own body. There are two parts of the natural care…
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Baptist
What a wonderful expression! To think that we, poor creatures that we are, should be in this way joined to Christ by a marriage union, even by a vi…
The apostle appeals to a self-evident fact. It will hardly be denied that no one ever hates his or her own body (Genesis 2:23; [Referen…
16th Century
Protestant
Even as Christ the church. He proceeds to enforce the obligations of marriage by representing to us Christ and his Church; for a more powe…
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh This is unnatural, contrary to the first principles of nature; see ([Referen…
The duty of wives is submission to their husbands in the Lord, which includes honouring and obeying them, from a principle of love to them. The dut…