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Selected Verse: Ephesians 5:29 - Darby

Verse	Translation	Text
Eph 5:29	Darby	For no one has ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as also the Christ the assembly:
	King James	For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
For--Supply, and we all love ourselves: "For no man," &c. his own flesh-- (Eph 5:31, end). nourisheth--Greek, "nourisheth it up," namely, to maturity. "Nourisheth," refers to food and internal sustenance; "cherisheth," to clothing and external fostering. even as--Translate, "even as also." the Lord--The oldest manuscripts read, "Christ." Exo 21:10 prescribes three duties to the husband. The two former (food and raiment) are here alluded to in a spiritual sense, by "nourisheth and cherisheth"; the third "duty of marriage" is not added in consonance with the holy propriety of Scripture language: its antitype is, "know the Lord" (Hos 2:19-20) [BENGEL].

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

For--Supply, and we all love ourselves: "For no man," &c.

his own flesh-- (Eph 5:31, end).

nourisheth--Greek, "nourisheth it up," namely, to maturity. "Nourisheth," refers to food and internal sustenance; "cherisheth," to clothing and external fostering.

even as--Translate, "even as also."

the Lord--The oldest manuscripts read, "Christ." Exo 21:10 prescribes three duties to the husband. The two former (food and raiment) are here alluded to in a spiritual sense, by "nourisheth and cherisheth"; the third "duty of marriage" is not added in consonance with the holy propriety of Scripture language: its antitype is, "know the Lord" (Hos 2:19-20) [BENGEL].

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh - This is urged as an argument why a man should love his wife and show kindness to her. As no man disregards the happiness of his own body, or himself, so he should show equal care to promote the happiness of his wife. A sentiment similar to this is found in the classic writers. Thus, Curtius (lib. vii.) says, "Corporibus nostris quoe utique non odimus" - "We do not hate those things that pertain to our own bodies." So Seneca (Epis. 14), "Fateor insitam nobis esse corporis nostri charitatem" - "I confess that there is implanted in us the love of our own body." The word nourisheth here means properly to bring up, as e. g., children. The sense here is, that he provides for it, and guards it from exposure and want. The word "cherisheth" - θάλπει thalpei - means properly to "warm;" and may mean here that he defends it from cold by clothing - and the two expressions denote that he provides food and raiment for the body. So he is to do for his wife; and in like manner the Lord Jesus regards the church, and ministers to its spiritual necessities. But this should not be spiritualized too far. The "general" idea is all that we want - that Christ has a tender concern for the needs of the church, as a man has for his own body, and that the husband should show a similar regard for his wife.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

For no man ever yet hated his own flesh - This is urged as an argument why a man should love his wife and show kindness to her. As no man disregards the happiness of his own body, or himself, so he should show equal care to promote the happiness of his wife. A sentiment similar to this is found in the classic writers. Thus, Curtius (lib. vii.) says, "Corporibus nostris quoe utique non odimus" - "We do not hate those things that pertain to our own bodies." So Seneca (Epis. 14), "Fateor insitam nobis esse corporis nostri charitatem" - "I confess that there is implanted in us the love of our own body." The word nourisheth here means properly to bring up, as e. g., children. The sense here is, that he provides for it, and guards it from exposure and want. The word "cherisheth" - θάλπει thalpei - means properly to "warm;" and may mean here that he defends it from cold by clothing - and the two expressions denote that he provides food and raiment for the body. So he is to do for his wife; and in like manner the Lord Jesus regards the church, and ministers to its spiritual necessities. But this should not be spiritualized too far. The "general" idea is all that we want - that Christ has a tender concern for the needs of the church, as a man has for his own body, and that the husband should show a similar regard for his wife.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Flesh Instead of body, with reference to Gen 2:23. Cherisheth (θάλπει) Only here and Th1 2:7. Originally, to warm.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]

Flesh

Instead of body, with reference to Gen 2:23.

Cherisheth (θάλπει)

Only here and Th1 2:7. Originally, to warm.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
His own flesh - That is, himself. Nourisheth and cherisheth - That is, feeds and clothes it.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]

His own flesh - That is, himself. Nourisheth and cherisheth - That is, feeds and clothes it.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
No man ever yet hated his own flesh - And this is a natural reason why he should love his wife, and nourish and cherish her.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

No man ever yet hated his own flesh - And this is a natural reason why he should love his wife, and nourish and cherish her.

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