Grammatical Analysis of Ephesians 5:22
Αἱ γυναῖκες τοῖς ἰδίοις ἀνδράσιν ὑποτάσσεσθε ὡς τῷ Κυρίῳ
Word Breakdown
| Greek Word | Gloss | Grammatical Analysis |
|---|---|---|
| Αἱ | the | Article, Nominative Plural Feminine — agrees with γυναῖκες |
| γυναῖκες | wives | Noun, Nominative Plural Feminine — subject of the verb |
| τοῖς | to the | Article, Dative Plural Masculine — agrees with ἀνδράσιν |
| ἰδίοις | own | Adjective, Dative Plural Masculine — emphasizes personal relationship |
| ἀνδράσιν | husbands | Noun, Dative Plural Masculine — indirect object of the verb |
| ὑποτάσσεσθε | submit yourselves | Verb, Present Middle/Passive Imperative, 2nd Person Plural — exhortation directed at the subject |
| ὡς | as | Conjunction — introduces the comparison clause |
| τῷ Κυρίῳ | to the Lord | Article + Noun, Dative Singular Masculine — standard or model for the submission |
Syntactical Analysis
- Αἱ γυναῖκες — nominative subject of the verb ὑποτάσσεσθε.
- ὑποτάσσεσθε — imperative verb in the middle/passive voice. It calls for voluntary, willing subordination, not enforced obedience.
- τοῖς ἰδίοις ἀνδράσιν — dative complement indicating the recipients of the submission: “to their own husbands.” The use of ἰδίοις adds warmth, ownership, and covenantal emphasis.
- ὡς τῷ Κυρίῳ — comparative phrase. The act of submission is modeled after and anchored in the relationship to the Lord.
Focus on Voice
The verb ὑποτάσσεσθε carries a powerful nuance in the middle/passive voice. It reflects inward, conscious alignment — the kind of submission that is neither reluctant nor imposed, but chosen. The middle voice points to mutuality, dignity, and participation in an ordered design.
Lexical Insight
ἰδίοις (from ἴδιος) goes beyond the generic possessive. It evokes what is deeply personal — one’s own house, one’s own people, even one’s own Lord. Here, it reinforces the exclusivity and intimacy of the marriage bond. The command is not general; it is relational and rooted in sacred familiarity.
