Bible/Ephesians/5

Ephesians 5:31

5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
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.

KJV

Save image

“For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh.”

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.

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

5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

What does Ephesians 5:31 mean?

Ephesians 5:31 is a verse in the book of Ephesians, in the New Testament. In the original Greek, key words include ἀντί (anti), οὗτος (toutou), καταλείπω (kataleipo).

Greek interlinear

Full chapter interlinear →
Forἀντίanti/an-tee'/G473a primary particle; opposite, i.e. instead or because of (rarely in addition to):--for, in the room of. Often used in composition to denote contrast, requital, substitution, correspondence, etc.
this
causeοὗτοςtoutou/too'-too/G5127genitive case singular masculine or neuter of 3778; of (from or concerning) this (person or thing):--here(-by), him, it, + such manner of, that, thence(-forth), thereabout, this, thus.
shallκαταλείπωkataleipo/kat-al-i'-po/G2641from 2596 and 3007; to leave down, i.e. behind; by implication, to abandon, have remaining:--forsake, leave, reserve.
a
manἄνθρωποςanthropos/anth'-ro-pos/G444from 435 and ops (the countenance; from 3700); man-faced, i.e. a human being:--certain, man.
leaveκαταλείπωkataleipo/kat-al-i'-po/G2641from 2596 and 3007; to leave down, i.e. behind; by implication, to abandon, have remaining:--forsake, leave, reserve.
hisαὐτόςautos/ow-tos'/G846from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.
fatherπατήρpater/pat-ayr'/G3962apparently a primary word; a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote):--father, parent.
andκαίkai/kahee/G2532apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
mother,μήτηρmeter/may'-tare/G3384apparently a primary word; a "mother" (literally or figuratively, immediate or remote):--mother.
andκαίkai/kahee/G2532apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
shall
be
joinedπροσκολλάωproskollao/pros-kol-lah'-o/G4347from 4314 and 2853; to glue to, i.e. (figuratively) to adhere:--cleave, join (self).
untoπρόςpros/pros/G4314a strengthened form of 4253; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated):--about, according to , against, among, at, because of, before, between, (where-)by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), X together, to (you) -ward, unto, with(-in). In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at.
hisαὐτόςautos/ow-tos'/G846from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.
wife,γυνήgune/goo-nay'/G1135probably from the base of 1096; a woman; specially, a wife:--wife, woman.
andκαίkai/kahee/G2532apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
they
twoδύοduo/doo'-o/G1417a primary numeral; "two":--both, twain, two.
shall
beεἰμίesomai/es'-om-ahee/G2071future of 1510; will be:--shall (should) be (have), (shall) come (to pass), X may have, X fall, what would follow, X live long, X sojourn.
oneεἰςeis/ice/G1519a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).
flesh.σάρξsarx/sarx/G4561probably from the base of 4563; flesh (as stripped of the skin), i.e. (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred), or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions), or (specially), a human being (as such):--carnal(-ly, + -ly minded), flesh(-ly).

Topics

Christ is GodHusbandHusbandsQuotations and AllusionsUnion With ChristWife

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Ephesians 5:31.

Matthew 10:35

For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

Matthew 19:5

And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

Matthew 2:11

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. presented: or, offered

Matthew 2:13

And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

Matthew 2:14

When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

Matthew 2:20

Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.

Matthew 2:21

And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

Matthew 2:22

But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

Frequently asked questions

What does Ephesians 5:31 say?

Ephesians 5:31 (King James Version) reads: "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."

Is Ephesians 5:31 in the Old or New Testament?

Ephesians 5:31 is in the New Testament of the Bible, in the book of Ephesians.

Reflect

As you read Ephesians 5:31, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Ephesians 5:31 →
← 5:30Read all of Ephesians 55:32 →