Ephesians 5:29

Indeed, no one ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The apostle Paul writes to the Ephesian church, concluding his marital instructions by comparing a husband’s treatment of his wife to Christ’s treatment of the church.

The words — The Greek οὐδεὶς (oudeis) means “no one,” and ἐμισήσεν (emisēsen) translates literally as “hated.”

The thread — The text states that no one hates his own body but nourishes and cherishes it, a principle echoed in Proverbs 11:17 regarding self-benefit, while the Christ-church analogy parallels Ezekiel 34:14’s promise to feed God’s flock.

Why it lands — The passage requires husbands to actively sustain and value their wives, establishing that marital care operates on the same principle as Christ’s relationship with the church.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

οὐδεὶςoudeisno [one]γάρgarfor ποτεpoteat any time τὴνtēnthe ἑαυτοῦhe'autouhis own σάρκαsarkaflesh ἐμίσησεν,emisēsenhated,ἀλλ᾽all᾽but ἐκτρέφειektrepheihe nourishes καὶkaiand θάλπειthalpeihe cherishes αὐτὴνautēnit καθὼςkathōseven as καὶkaialso [does]ὁho<the>ΧριστὸςChristosChrist τὴνtēnthe ἐκκλησίαν,ekklēsianchurch,

King James Version

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

Cross-references

Ezekiel 34:14 I will feed them in good pasture, and the lofty mountains of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in a good grazing land; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.
Ephesians 5:31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”
Proverbs 11:17 A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.
Ecclesiastes 4:5 The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
John 6:50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die.
Isaiah 40:11 He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.
Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!
Ezekiel 34:27 The trees of the field will give their fruit, and the land will yield its produce; My flock will be secure in their land. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bars of their yoke and delivered them from the hands that enslaved them.
Romans 1:31 They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless.