What Does the Bible Say About Women Obey?

1 Timothy 2:12 ESV / 7 helpful votes

I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.

Ephesians 5:22 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 11:9 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.

Genesis 3:16 ESV / 7 helpful votes

To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.”

1 Corinthians 14:1-40 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. ...

1 Corinthians 7:1-40 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. ...

1 Peter 3:1-22 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, ...

1 Timothy 2:1-15 ESV / 4 helpful votes

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ...

1 Peter 3:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

As Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

Titus 2:1-15 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. ...

1 Timothy 3:11 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.

1 Timothy 2:14 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.

1 Corinthians 11:7 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man.

1 Corinthians 11:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.

1 Corinthians 11:1-34 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. ...

Isaiah 20:1-6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

In the year that the commander in chief, who was sent by Sargon the king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and fought against it and captured it— at that time the Lord spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and loose the sackcloth from your waist and take off your sandals from your feet,” and he did so, walking naked and barefoot. Then the Lord said, “As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and a portent against Egypt and Cush, so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptian captives and the Cushite exiles, both the young and the old, naked and barefoot, with buttocks uncovered, the nakedness of Egypt. Then they shall be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and of Egypt their boast. ...

Isaiah 3:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes

My people—infants are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, your guides mislead you and they have swallowed up the course of your paths.

Proverbs 31:1-31 ESV / 3 helpful votes

The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him: What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows? Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. ...

1 John 5:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

1 Peter 3:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

1 Peter 3:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

James 3:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

James 1:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

James 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.

1 Timothy 3:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.

1 Timothy 2:9-12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.

Colossians 1:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf

Philippians 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

Ephesians 6:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes

So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything.

Ephesians 5:33 ESV / 2 helpful votes

However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Ephesians 5:22-24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Ephesians 5:1-33 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ...

Ephesians 2:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Galatians 3:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 14:34 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.

1 Corinthians 11:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.

1 Corinthians 11:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.

Romans 16:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae,

Romans 13:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Acts 18:26 ESV / 2 helpful votes

He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

Matthew 11:29 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Jeremiah 17:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Isaiah 3:1-26 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For behold, the Lord God of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply, all support of bread, and all support of water; the mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skillful magician and the expert in charms. And I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them. And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable. ...

Proverbs 31:10-31 ESV / 2 helpful votes

An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. ...

Proverbs 11:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.

Genesis 2:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him.

Genesis 2:1-3:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, ...

Genesis 1:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

49 Bible Verses about Women Obey

1 Timothy 2:12 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:22 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 11:9 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 3:16 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 14:1-40 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 7:1-40 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 3:1-22 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 2:1-15 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 3:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Titus 2:1-15 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 3:11 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 2:14 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 11:7 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 11:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 11:1-34 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 20:1-6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 3:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 31:1-31 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 5:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 3:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 3:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 3:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 3:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 2:9-12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 1:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 6:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:33 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:22-24 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:1-33 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 2:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 3:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 14:34 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 11:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 11:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 16:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 13:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 18:26 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 11:29 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jeremiah 17:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 3:1-26 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 31:10-31 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 11:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 2:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 2:1-3:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 1:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Suggest a Verse

Enter a Verse Reference (e.g., John 3:16-17)