We now look at the role of wives.
Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. Proverbs 14:1
Women have tremendous power in their marriages. They can produce great marriages, or they can destroy their marriage. The interesting point to me of Proverbs 14:1 is that the woman can do this entirely by herself. She does not need any help to build or destroy her home.
And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And 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. Genesis 2:20-23
Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. Genesis 3:16
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. 1 Corinthians 11:3
For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. 1 Corinthians 11:7-12
But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. 1 Timothy 2:12-15
God created the woman to help her husband in his God-given role of dominion. However, Eve left her place of helper and sought to become the leader. She was deceived and brought ruin into this world. In the midst of the curse, God tells the woman to submit her desires to her husband and let him make the decisions. He is the responsible party. She is to continue on in following Christ in the task that He has given her, helping her husband take dominion. This does not mean that women are “second class.” No, the entire gender is saved because all humanity comes from the woman, and ultimately our deliverance comes through the Seed of the woman.
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Ephesians 5:22-24
Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. Ephesians 5:33
Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. 1 Peter 3:1-6
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Titus 2:1-5
Wives are to submit to, obey, and respect their husbands. They are to help them in the task that God has given them to perform. Many men are poor husbands. The wife must seek to build her husband up, not tear him down. She must trust God to change her husband, and she must model the obedient spirit that she desires to see in her husband.
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. Proverbs 21:9
A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself. Proverbs 27:15-16
As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion. Proverbs 11:22
It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman. Proverbs 21:19
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. Proverbs 31:10-12
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. Proverbs 31:23
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. Proverbs 31:30-31
Men will run from an obnoxious woman no matter how beautiful she may be. However, a wise woman can have such influence on her husband that she can make him into a leader. She can have such an influence on him that he desires to be home with her as opposed to chasing the things of this world.
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