From the beginning of time, the woman has tried to take leadership from the man- and man has often gladly given it away (Genesis 3). When a wife submits to her husband, she does not try to take leadership from him. She can also know that nothing escapes God’s notice, and a wicked man will be held accountable for his actions. But by divine right, God set the man as the leader and a woman can trust that God is good. There will be times when a woman needs to submit, and her husband does not deserve it from a human perspective. A woman, therefore, does not submit because her husband deserves it in his own merit- she submits because she knows it is pleasing to her Lord. When a woman submits unto her husband, she is actually submitting unto God (Ephesians 5:22).

Women are not commanded to submit to their husbands because God ensures that men will be just or loving. Submission should not be confused with a person being weak. Peter notes that she was not afraid in life. Sarah has never been confused with being a woman who was a frail doormat. Abraham’s wife, Sarah, is an example of a woman following her husband’s lead (1 Peter 3:6). His position as leader is biblical (1 Corinthians 11:3). Biblical submission is chosen, no coerced.Ī wife shows biblical submission to her husband when she allows him to take leadership in the relationship. This is not forced upon her by the recipient. A woman is actively doing this– choosing to put herself under leadership, choosing to be subordinate in a circumstance or relationship.

The Greek word for submission is hupotasso, “to subordinate…put under…” God exhorts women to voluntarily follow their husband’s leadership (Ephesians 5:22, 1 Peter 3:1). Instead, it is viewed as service unto God. Submission is never glossed over to be seen as easy or always convenient. Self-sacrifice is required in each circumstance. For example, Christians are to submit themselves to each other (Ephesians 5:21), to government (Romans 13:1), and unto God (James 4:7). The word submission is not limited to wives alone. Today, one of the most difficult concepts in God’s Word is biblical submission.

What does it mean to be submissive