The Bible is relevant for every aspect of our lives-including us wives. Sometimes it can be hard to be married. It can be hard to please God as a wife. But thankfully, God gives us grace when we fail. He also provides His word that is a great guide for this season of your life as a wife. So, let’s take a look at some bible verses for wives to know.
Wives Desire Your Husband
“Unto the woman he said… thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” Genesis 3:16, KJV.
God gave us women a strong desire or longing for our husbands. This ties to 1 Corinthians 7:34 where Paul explains,
“There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.” 1 Corinthians 7:34, KJV.
I know the last part of Genesis 3:16 can leave a bad taste in some women’s mouths: “he shall rule over thee.” But God didn’t intend marriage to be a dictatorship where the man barks out orders to his wife for her to blindly follow in fear.
Wives, Submit to Hubby
Men and women are equal in God’s eyes, as Paul states,
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for “you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28, KJV).”
So we are all equal in God’s eyes, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have the same roles. Men were called by God to lead the homes, and the marriage relationship. But that doesn’t mean wives have no say.
When we submit to our husbands we please God. Submission, as I explain in my post about submission in marriage, is about respecting your husband as the head of the home, accountable to God as the leader of the family.
“Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting to the Lord.” Colossians 3:18, KJV.
Wives, Be Kind
It’s also important to be kind, speak and act in love toward everyone, and be faithful at all times which can prove hard but we please God when we do so as 1 Timothy 3: 11 says,
“their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things (ESV).”
The way we speak is super important as well. We as wives need to learn to be prudent: to think before we speak and use our words with wisdom. Titus 3:4-5 provides some good insight into this as well.
“And so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled (ESV).”
When we love our husbands and children, are self-controlled, pure, take care of our homes, are kind and submissive to our husbands we ensure the word of God isn’t blasphemed.
Why? Because we are living out what the word says and others around us see the good fruit that comes when we do what the word says.
The Example of the Proverbs 31 Wife
Finally, take the example and testimony of the Proverbs 31 wife:
“An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
She dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night
She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.”
This woman is a force! She has her own business, she takes care of the needs of her household, she gets up early to work, she takes care of herself by eating well and strengthening her arms, she opens her mouth with wisdom, and she is a giver.
Her children, and those around her call her blessed because of the woman she is. A few things I noticed about this passage is that the first things spoken about her is her husband trusts her-this is a biggie. It’s so important to have the trusts of our husbands. Her character: her selflessness, kindness, hard work, chastity, and prudence enabled her husband to trust her.
Another thing to take notice: the passage doesn’t mention her beauty. Perhaps because her inner beauty of character far exceeds her outward beauty. The only physical description we get of her is her strong arms. Perhaps because the Lord is more concerned with our beauty within, as 1 Peter 3: 3 says,
“Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious (ESV).”
Conclusion
Now, I’m not saying how you present yourself doesn’t matter. I’m saying to take care of your attitude and inner man just as much as you take care of your outer man. I talk more about beauty in this post. These bible verses for wives are definitely some to commit to memory: write them down, put them on pot-it notes, read them daily. I am sure they will change your life as they have mine.
Blessings,
M/M
The Mustard Seed Wife 