τὴν ἑαυτοῦ σάρκα. The change from σῶμα marks the transition to the new aspect of the thought. Husband and wife, though not ‘one body’ as Christ and the Church, are as Genesis 2 witnesses ‘one flesh.’

ἀλλὰ ἐκτρέφει καὶ θάλπει αὐτήν. Both words are used in O.T. esp. of a mother’s care of her children. The love of Christ is generally (e.g. Ephesians 2:4; Ephesians 5:2; Ephesians 5:25; Galatians 2:20; Romans 8:37; cf. 1 John 4:10) expressed by an aorist with reference to its supreme manifestation on the Cross. The use of the present is rare (Revelation 1:5; Revelation 3:19; cf. Hebrews 12:6 only). The continued outflowing of the love in all its tender thoughtfulness is implied however in passages like 2 Corinthians 1:5; Philippians 1:8.

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Old Testament