It means that as the Lord Jesus Christ is the head or governor of the church and the head of man; so is a man the head or governor of a woman. This, however, should not give a husband the license to exercise tyranny nor a woman manipulation. Wives should act under the authority of their husbands as the church acts under the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, her protector and savior. As the church submits to the Lord, so should wives submit to their husbands whose role is to protect and comfort them and provide for all their needs within their capacity of doing so.