Respect is the foundation of every strong marriage. Without it, love struggles to survive and intimacy fades away. The Bible speaks clearly about how husbands and wives should honor each other.
God commands husbands to love sacrificially and wives to respect deeply. When couples treat each other with dignity, their marriage thrives. These 90 verses will show you how to build lasting respect in your relationship.
90 Bible Verses About Respect In Marriage
1. Ephesians 5:33 – Love and Respect Husbands must love their wives, and wives must respect their husbands.
2. 1 Peter 3:7 – Treat With Respect Husbands should be considerate and treat wives with respect as equal heirs.
3. Romans 12:10 – Honor One Another Be devoted to each other and honor one another above yourselves.
4. Ephesians 5:21 – Mutual Submission Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
5. Philippians 2:3-4 – Value Others Value your spouse above yourself and look to their interests.
6. 1 Corinthians 7:3-4 – Marital Duties Both husband and wife should fulfill their duties to each other.
7. Colossians 3:19 – Not Harsh Husbands, love your wives and don’t be harsh with them.
8. Hebrews 13:4 – Honor Marriage Marriage should be honored by all and kept pure.
9. 1 Peter 4:8 – Love Deeply Love each other deeply because love covers many sins.
10. Ephesians 4:2-3 – Be Patient Be humble, gentle, and patient with each other in love.
Sacrificial Love
11. Ephesians 5:25 – Christ-Like Love Husbands should love wives as Christ loved the church.
12. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 – Love’s Character Love is patient and kind, and it doesn’t dishonor others.
13. Colossians 3:12-14 – Clothe Yourselves Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, and love.
14. 1 John 4:7-8 – God Is Love Love one another because love comes from God.
15. John 15:13 – Greatest Love The greatest love is laying down your life for others.
16. 1 John 3:18 – Love in Action Let us love with actions and truth, not just words.
17. Song of Solomon 8:7 – Love Cannot Be Quenched Many waters cannot quench love; it’s priceless.
18. Ephesians 5:28-29 – Love as Yourself Husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.
19. 1 Corinthians 16:14 – Do Everything in Love Let all that you do be done in love.
20. Romans 13:8 – Debt of Love Let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love.
Kind Communication
21. Proverbs 15:1 – Gentle Answer A gentle answer turns away anger; harsh words stir it up.
22. Proverbs 16:24 – Gracious Words Gracious words are sweet to the soul and healing.
23. Ephesians 4:29 – Build Up Speak only what is helpful for building others up.
24. Colossians 4:6 – Gracious Conversation Let your conversation be full of grace.
25. Proverbs 18:21 – Power of Words The tongue has power of life and death.
26. James 1:19 – Quick to Listen Be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.
27. Proverbs 25:11 – Timely Words A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold.
28. Proverbs 12:18 – Words That Heal Wise words bring healing, reckless words pierce like swords.
29. Proverbs 21:23 – Guard Your Mouth Those who guard their mouths keep themselves from trouble.
30. Ephesians 4:15 – Speak Truth in Love Speak the truth in love to build each other up.
Patience & Understanding
31. 1 Corinthians 13:4 – Love Is Patient Love is patient and does not envy or boast.
32. Galatians 5:22-23 – Fruit of Spirit The Spirit produces patience, kindness, and self-control.
33. Proverbs 14:29 – Patience Shows Understanding Whoever is patient has great understanding.
34. Proverbs 15:18 – Calm Strife A patient person calms a quarrel.
35. Proverbs 16:32 – Better Than Mighty Better to be patient than a warrior.
36. James 1:19-20 – Slow to Anger Be slow to become angry; human anger doesn’t produce righteousness.
37. Colossians 3:12 – Bear With Each Other As God’s chosen people, be patient and bear with each other.
38. Ecclesiastes 7:8-9 – Patience Is Better The end is better than the beginning; be patient in spirit.
39. Proverbs 19:11 – Overlook Offense A person’s wisdom yields patience; it’s honorable to overlook offense.
40. Romans 12:12 – Patient in Affliction Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Forgiveness & Grace
41. Ephesians 4:31-32 – Be Kind Get rid of bitterness and be kind, forgiving each other.
42. Colossians 3:13 – Forgive as the Lord Bear with each other and forgive as the Lord forgave you.
43. Matthew 6:14-15 – Forgive Others If you forgive others, your Father will forgive you.
44. Mark 11:25 – Forgive When You Pray When you pray, forgive anyone you have something against.
45. Luke 17:3-4 – Rebuke and Forgive If your spouse sins, rebuke them; if they repent, forgive.
46. Proverbs 17:9 – Love Covers Whoever covers an offense promotes love.
47. Proverbs 19:11 – Glory to Overlook It is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.
48. 1 Peter 4:8 – Love Covers Sins Love each other deeply; love covers a multitude of sins.
49. Matthew 18:21-22 – Seventy-Seven Times Forgive not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
50. Romans 12:17-18 – Live at Peace Don’t repay evil for evil; live at peace if possible.
Wisdom in Marriage
51. Proverbs 31:10-12 – Noble Wife A wife of noble character is worth far more than rubies.
52. Proverbs 31:26 – Speaks With Wisdom She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction.
53. James 3:13 – Wisdom Shown by Deeds Show your wisdom by good life and deeds done in humility.
54. Proverbs 11:2 – Humility Brings Wisdom With humility comes wisdom.
55. Proverbs 12:4 – Noble Wife Is a Crown An excellent wife is her husband’s crown.
56. Proverbs 14:1 – Wise Woman Builds The wise woman builds her house; the foolish tears it down.
57. Proverbs 18:22 – Finds What Is Good He who finds a wife finds what is good.
58. Proverbs 31:28 – Husband Praises Her children and husband rise up and call her blessed.
59. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 – Two Are Better Two are better than one; if one falls, the other helps.
60. Proverbs 24:3-4 – Built by Wisdom By wisdom a house is built and understanding established.
Faithfulness & Commitment
61. Malachi 2:14-15 – Wife of Your Youth Don’t be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.
62. Matthew 19:4-6 – What God Has Joined What God has joined together, let no one separate.
63. Genesis 2:24 – Become One Flesh A man leaves his parents and is united to his wife.
64. Proverbs 5:18 – Rejoice in Your Wife May you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
65. 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 – Do Not Separate A wife must not separate from her husband.
66. Proverbs 2:17 – Marriage Covenant She who ignores the partner of her youth breaks God’s covenant.
67. 1 Timothy 5:8 – Provide for Family Anyone who doesn’t provide for family has denied the faith.
68. Ruth 1:16-17 – Where You Go Where you go I will go; your people will be my people.
69. Ecclesiastes 9:9 – Enjoy Life Together Enjoy life with your wife all your days.
70. Proverbs 31:11-12 – Full Confidence Her husband has full confidence in her.
Humble Service
71. 1 Peter 5:5 – Clothe Yourselves With Humility All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.
72. Philippians 2:3 – Consider Others Better In humility, value others above yourselves.
73. Mark 10:45 – Serve Others Even the Son of Man came to serve, not be served.
74. Galatians 5:13 – Serve in Love Serve one another humbly in love.
75. 1 Peter 3:8 – Be Sympathetic, Be like-minded, sympathetic, loving, and humble.
76. Romans 12:16 – Associate With the Humble Live in harmony and don’t be proud.
77. Colossians 3:12 – Clothe With Compassion Clothe yourselves with humility and gentleness.
78. James 4:6 – God Gives Grace to Humble God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
79. Matthew 23:11-12 – Greatest Is Servant The greatest among you will be your servant.
80. Ephesians 5:21 – Submit to One Another Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Building Each Other Up
81. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Encourage One Another Encourage one another and build each other up.
82. Hebrews 10:24 – Spur Toward Love Consider how to spur one another toward love and good deeds.
83. Romans 14:19 – Make Every Effort Make every effort to do what leads to peace.
84. 1 Corinthians 8:1 – Love Builds Up Knowledge puffs up while love builds up.
85. Romans 15:2 – Please Your Neighbor Each should please their neighbor for their good.
86. Galatians 6:2 – Carry Each Other’s Burdens Carry each other’s burdens and fulfill Christ’s law.
87. Proverbs 27:17 – Iron Sharpens Iron As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
88. Ecclesiastes 4:12 – Cord of Three Strands A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
89. 1 Peter 3:3-4 – Inner Beauty Your beauty should be that of your inner self.
90. Proverbs 31:23 – Husband Respected Her husband is respected at the city gate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Bible say about respect in marriage?
The Bible commands wives to respect their husbands and husbands to love their wives sacrificially while both honor each other.
How can I show respect to my spouse daily?
Speak kindly, listen carefully, honor them in public, value their opinions, and build them up with your words.
What destroys respect in marriage?
Contempt, harsh words, public mockery, dismissing opinions, and treating your spouse worse than strangers destroys respect.
Can a marriage survive without respect?
No, marriages cannot survive chronic disrespect because it poisons love, intimacy, and partnership at the foundation.
How do I rebuild respect after it’s been damaged?
Apologize sincerely, change your words and actions, honor them consistently, and choose kindness even when you’re frustrated.
Conclusion
Respect is the foundation of every healthy marriage. Without it, love fades and the relationship crumbles. The Bible gives clear guidance on how husbands and wives should honor each other. Husbands must love sacrificially like Christ loved the church.
Wives must respect their husbands deeply. Both partners are called to speak kindly, forgive quickly, and build each other up daily. Contempt is the enemy of marriage while honor is its strength.
Say This Prayer
Heavenly Father, I have been disrespectful to my spouse. Forgive me for my harsh words and contempt. Help me see my spouse the way You see them. Teach me to speak words that build up. Give me patience when frustrated and kindness when angry.
Help me honor my spouse publicly and privately. Rebuild the foundation of respect in our marriage. Make us partners who encourage each other daily. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
David is the founder of devotionnest.com, a site dedicated to Bible Verses and clever wordplay. He loves turning language into laughter and making words wonderfully witty.