EPHESIANS 5:28-31 DO NOT NEGLECT YOUR WIFE

 

EPHESIANS 5:28-31So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

Love; Dodson denotes the definition - I love, I love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Strong's give a simpler statement - to love (in a social or moral sense). LSJ Gloss denotes - to treat with affection, to caress, love, be fond of. The Greek word is ἀγαπάω agapao. Strong's G25. 

Wives; See this study. 

Bodies; is the body as a whole, the instrument of life," whether of man living, e.g., Matthew 6:22, or dead, Matthew 27:52; or in resurrection, 1 Corinthians 15:44; or beasts, Hebrews 13:11; of grain, 1 Corinthians 15:37-38; of the heavenly hosts, 1 Corinthians 15:40. In Revelation 18:13 it is translated "slaves." In its figurative uses the essential idea is preserved. Strong's breaks it down as such - the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively. The Greek word used here is σῶμα soma. Strong's G4983. 

Moving to Verse 29.

His Own Flesh; Flesh has the idea of "the substance of the body", but the King James version translates this as "himself". The word for "himself" is ἑαυτοῦ heautou in the Greek. Strongs G1438 defines "himself" as - him- (her-, it-, them-, also (in conjunction with the personal pronoun of the other persons) my-, thy-, our-, your-) self (selves), etc. KJV Usage: alone, her (own, -self), (he) himself, his (own), itself, one (to) another, our (thine) own(-selves), + that she had, their (own, own selves), (of) them(-selves), they, thyself, you, your (own, own conceits, own selves, -selves).

Nourishes And Cherishes; ek, "from, out of," and No. 1, primarily used of children, "to nurture, rear," is translated "nurture" of the care of one's own flesh. This definition lends to the nature of treatment regarding "bodies" and "his own flesh". The Greek word is ἐκτρέφω ektrepho. Vine's (def 3), Strong's G1625.

Cherish here has the idea of fostering with tender care. 

Moving to Verse 30. 

Cross Reference: Genesis 2:23  And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.”

Members; a limb or part of the body Derivation: of uncertain affinity; The Greek word is μέλος melos. Strong's G3196. Vine's doesn't mention Ephesians 5:30, but the definition matches 1a. 

And Of His Bones; Bones - probably from a word signifying strength, or firmness, sometimes denotes hard substances other than bones," e.g., the stone or kernel of fruit. In the NT it always denotes "bones,". Note: As to Ephesians 5:30, RV, "We are members of His body" (in contrast to the AV), "the words that follow in the common text are an unintelligent gloss, in which unsuccessful endeavor is made to give greater distinctness to the Apostle's statement" (Westcott). Vine's (def prime), Strong's G3747. 

My notes: I chose not to draw a conclusion against Wescott's theology, what I can say is that the thrust of God's message here is that we care for our wives as He cares for us and cherishes us. We are of great importance to our Father. 

Verse 31.

Man Shall Leave; My notes: In this verse, the man leaving is most likely "bidding farewell" or "leaving" his parent's home to be married. Strong's denotes - to leave down, i.e. behind; by implication, to abandon, have remaining. The Greek word for leave is καταλείπω kataleipō. Vine's (def 3) Strong's G2641. 

Father And Mother; Father - from a root signifying a nourisher, protector, upholder" (Lat., pater, Eng., "father," are akin). The Greek word is πατήρ patēr. Vine's (def A1), Strong's G3962

Mother - a "mother" (literally or figuratively, immediate or remote). The Greek word is μήτηρ meter. Vine's (def 1a), Strong's G3384. 

Joined To His Wife; To cleave to, of the husband with regard to his wife. Rv. "shall cleave to".  The Greek word is προσκολλάω proskollao. Vine's (def 2b), Strong's G4347 . My notes: also has the idea of "glue" so that means the husband and wife should be "close" in every way. 

Cross Reference: Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Become On Flesh; Paul quotes Genesis 2:24 which teaches that the special union between husband and wife supersedes the original family ties. *NSB. 

Cross References: 1 Corinthians 6:16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.”

*Nelson Study Bible. 

Takeaways

1. Husbands need to love their wives in a nourishing and cherishing way. This is a far cry from the cruelty of some modern anti-biblical alpha male approaches like the "red-pilled" movement.

2. Joining or cleaving to your wife doesn't mean you come home from a long day at work and suddenly get on the internet or find some other way to ignore them. Men must provide for their wives emotionally, physically, and spiritually.