Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
Parallel translations
- WEB You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as being also joint heirs of the grace of life; that your prayers may not be hindered.
- KJV Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
- NKJV Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
- NASB You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
- NLT In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Husbands are to live considerately with their wives, honoring them as fellow heirs of grace, so their prayers are not hindered. Husbands must treat their wives with understanding and honor before God.
Overview
Peter now addresses husbands, calling them to live 'according to knowledge'—with understanding and thoughtful care. Though the wife is called 'the weaker vessel' (likely a reference to physical strength or social vulnerability), she is fully an equal 'joint heir of the grace of life.' Failure to honor her actually hinders a husband's prayers, showing that how he treats his wife affects his relationship with God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Col 3:19Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
- Gen 2:23–24And the man said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of man she was taken.”
- Matt 19:3–9Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”
- Eph 5:25–28Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her
- Eph 5:33Nevertheless, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
- Mal 2:14–16Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.
- 1 Cor 7:3The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
- Matt 18:19Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.
- 1 Th 4:4each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,
- Prov 5:15–19Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well.
- Matt 5:23–24So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
- Rom 8:26–27In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.
- Eph 6:18Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
- Eph 3:6This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.
- Job 42:8So now, take seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. Then My servant Job will pray for you, for I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken accurately about Me, as My servant Job has.”
- Titus 3:7so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
- Eph 4:30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
- 1 Cor 12:22–24On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
- Heb 1:14Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
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The lamb without blemish foreknown before the world, who bore our sins in his body on the tree, by whose wounds we are healed — the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.
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