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.
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.
- BSB 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.
- 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 be not bitter against them.
- Gen 2:23–24And 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.
- Matt 19:3–9The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
- Eph 5:25–28Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
- Eph 5:33Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
- Mal 2:14–16Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
- 1 Cor 7:3Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
- Matt 18:19Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
- 1 Th 4:4That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
- Prov 5:15–19Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.
- Matt 5:23–24Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
- Rom 8:26–27Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
- Eph 6:18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
- Eph 3:6That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
- Job 42:8Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.
- Titus 3:7That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
- Eph 4:30And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
- 1 Cor 12:22–24Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
- Heb 1:14Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
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