Ephesians 5 · Verse 29

Ephesians 5:29

For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Ephesians 5:29, King James Version

Ephesians 5:29 in other translations

BSBIndeed, no one ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church.
WEBFor no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly,
ASVfor no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church;
YLTfor no one ever his own flesh did hate, but doth nourish and cherish it, as also the Lord--the assembly,
DARBYFor no one has ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as also the Christ the assembly:
BBEFor no man ever had hate for his flesh; but he gives it food and takes care of it, even as Christ does for the church;
WebsterFor no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

What does Ephesians 5:29 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
29. For--Supply, and we all love ourselves: "For no man," &c. his own flesh--(Ep 5:31, end). nourisheth--Greek, "nourisheth it up," namely, to maturity. "Nourisheth," refers to food and internal sustenance; "cherisheth," to clothing and external fostering. even as--Translate, "even as also." the Lord--The oldest manuscripts read, "Christ." Ex 21:10 prescribes three duties to the husband. The two former (food and raiment) are here alluded to in a spiritual sense, by "nourisheth and cherisheth"; the third "duty of marriage" is not added in consonance with the holy propriety of Scripture language: its antitype is, "know the Lord" (Ho 2:19, 20) [Bengel].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 29. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh. This is urged as an argument why a man should love his wife, and show kindness to her. As no man disregards the happiness of his own body, or himself, so he should show equal care to promote the happiness of his wife. A sentiment similar to this is found in the classic writers. Thus Curtius (lib. vii ) says, Corporibus nostris quea utique non odimus--" We do not hate those things that pertain to our own bodies." So Seneca, (Epis. 14,) Fateor insitam nobis esse corporia nostri charitatem--" I confess that there is implanted in us the love of our own body." The word nourishment here means, properly, to bring up, as, e.g., children. The sense here is, that he provides for it, and guards it from exposure and want. The word cherisheth θαλπει means, properly, to warm; and may mean here that he defends it from cold by clothing--and the two expressions denote mat he provides food and raiment for the body. So he is to do for his wife; and in like manner the Lord Jesus regards the church, and ministers to its spiritual necessities. But this should not be spiritualized too far. The general idea is all that we want--that Christ has a tender concern for the wants of the church, as a man has for his own body, and that the husband should show a similar regard for his wife.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 29 No man ever yet hated his own flesh - And this is a natural reason why he should love his wife, and nourish and cherish her.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ephesians 5:22-33

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 duty of husbands is to love their wives. The love of Christ to the church is an example, which is sincere, pure, and constant, notwithstanding her failures. Christ gave himself for the church, that he might sanctify it in this world, and glorify it in the next, that he…

Read the full comment on Ephesians 5:22-33 →

Ephesians 5:29 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οὐδεὶςoudeisno [one]G3762
γάρgarforG1063
ποτεpoteat any timeG4218
τὴνtēntheG3588
ἑαυτοῦhe'autouhis ownG1438
σάρκαsarkafleshG4561
ἐμίσησεν,emisēsenhated,G3404
ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235
ἐκτρέφειektrepheihe nourishesG1625
καὶkaiandG2532
θάλπειthalpeihe cherishesG2282
αὐτὴνautēnitG846
καθὼςkathōseven asG2531
καὶkaialso [does]G2532
ὁho<the>G3588
ΧριστὸςChristosChristG5547
τὴνtēntheG3588
ἐκκλησίαν,ekklēsianchurch,G1577

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ephesians 5:29

  • Ephesians 5:31

    For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

  • Ezekiel 34:14-15

    I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God.

  • Proverbs 11:17

    The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

  • John 6:50-58

    This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. …

  • Ecclesiastes 4:5

    The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

  • Isaiah 40:11

    He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

  • Matthew 23:37

    O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

  • Ezekiel 34:27

    And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.

  • Romans 1:31

    Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
hated.
31; Pr 11:17; Ec 4:5; Ro 1:31
nourisheth.
Isa 40:11; Eze 34:14,15,27; Mt 23:37; Joh 6:50-58

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ephesians 5:28

    So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

  • Ephesians 5:29

    For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

  • Ephesians 5:30

    For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

Read all of Ephesians 5

Ephesians 5:29 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque ninguno aborreció jamás á su propia carne, antes la sustenta y regala, como también Cristo á la iglesia;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car personne n’a jamais haï sa propre chair, mais il la nourrit et la chérit, comme aussi le Christ l’assemblée:
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn niemand hat jemals sein eigenes Fleisch gehaßt, sondern er nährt und pflegt es, gleichwie auch der Christus die Versammlung.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nemo enim umquam carnem suam odio habuit: sed nutrit et fovet eam, sicut et Christus Ecclesiam: