The Christian union of marriage has been under attack, and the husband has been under particular attack. Today, I want to simply share some Scriptures that will help husbands fulfill their godly call as husbands and fathers. The family is to be structured according to God’s divine order, with the husband leading. The wife is to be what we might call the co-leader, but she is to defer to the husband as being the one God has designated as the head of the family unit. This works only as long as the husband is a godly man seeking the Lord in all decisions and one who seeks and values his wife’s input. The following Scriptures will help husbands be the godly leader and act according to God’s will in their marriage and family relationships. I have noted some passages that may have special impact in other versions or translations besides the King James Version.

• Love your wife. Ephesians 5:25, I Corinthians 13

• Rejoice with your wife. Proverbs 5:18

• Live with your wife according to knowledge. I Peter 3:7

• Listen to your wife. Proverbs 31:26 (I recommend this in the NLT)

• Edify and build up your wife. I Corinthians 8:1, I Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT)

• Honor your wife. I Peter 3:7

• Respect your wife. Romans 12:10

• Trust your wife. Proverbs 31:11-12

• Bless your wife. Proverbs 31:28

• Praise your wife. Proverbs 31:28

• Reward your wife. Proverbs 31:31 (NLT)

• Share life together with your wife. I Peter 3:7

• Pray with and for your wife. I Peter 3:7

• Be a leader to your wife. Ephesians 5:23

• Prefer your wife. Romans 12:10, Philippians 2:3

• Be patient with your wife. I Corinthians 13:4-8

• Share God’s Word together. II Timothy 2:15

• Visit God’s house together. Hebrews 10:25

• Raise your children in God. Ephesians 6:1-4

• Provide for your family. I Thessalonians 4:11-12, II Thessalonians 3:10, I Timothy 5:8

• Give as a family, and to your family. Luke 6:38

• Encourage your wife and children. I Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT)

• Speak God’s Word to your wife and children. Proverbs 18:21, Colossians 4:6

• Communicate. James 3:1-12

• Protect your wife and children. I Corinthains 13:7 (bears means to protect in the Greek)

• Accept your wife as she is. I Corinthians 15:7 (KJV and NIV)

• Be your wife’s friend, not her enemy. Proverbs 17:17

• Think good thoughts towards your wife. Proverbs 23:7, Philippians 2:1

• Grow together, not apart. Ephesians 4:15, I Peter 2:2, II Peter 3:18