Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Ver. 7. Likewise ye] Officium ascendit, amor descendit.
According to knowledge] Where should wisdom be but in the head? This must be showed Uxoris vitium aut tollendo, aut tolerando, said Varro, either by curing or at least covering his wife's weaknesses.
As unto the weaker vessel] Glasses are to be tenderly handled; a small knock soon breaks them. So here. Vipera virus ob venerationem nuptiarum evomit, saith Basil, The viper, for the honour of coupling with his mate, casts up his poison; et tu duritiem animi, tu feritatem, tu crudelitatem ob unionis reverentiam non deponis? and wilt not thou for the honour of marriage cast away thy harshness, roughness, cruelty to a consort?
As being heirs] Souls have no sexes, Galatians 3:28 .
That your prayers be not hindered] Isaac prayed in the presence of his wife. This course of praying together, apart from others, being taken up by married couples, will much increase and spiritualize their affection one to another. But jarring will make them leave praying, or praying leave jarring.