What Does It Mean That a Husband’s Prayers Will Be Hindered?

Question: Please explain what the bible says about husbands’ prayers being hindered.

Answer: The passage in question is 1 Peter 3:7, 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. (ESV)

There are many things that can hinder the prayers of both men and women. James talks about our prayers being hindered by wanting what we ask for to “spend it on our passions” (James 4:3). Sometimes our prayers are hindered by our lack of faith (James 1:5-8), and other times because we are actually using God to get what we want without really seeing Him as the true and only God and Sovereign (Ezekiel 14:1-8). And sometimes our prayers are hindered because we are dishonoring what God honors.  That is the case when husbands mistreat their wives, when they fail to see their wives as fellow heirs of eternal life and treat them disrespectfully. This, Peter says, will definitely put a barrier between them and God. They are treating someone He values and honors in a dishonorable way, and He will discipline them for that.

Of course, if a wife treats her husband in a dishonorable way her prayers would also be hindered. Peter is only focusing on the husband in this way, however, in this letter.