“Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered” (1 Peter 3:7 KJV). The English Version uses the word understanding instead of knowledge.
Some interpret this passage as women are inferior to men because Peter writes the woman is “the weaker vessel”. I believe Peter is referring to the woman’s physical strength. Normally, if you compare the strength of a woman and a man who are of the same height, have similar exercise, and are healthy, the man will still be twice as strong as the woman. Women’s healthy bodies have more fat than men’s bodies. Their internal organs were not designed to lift as heavy a load as a man’s. A woman will tend to tire more easily.
There may be exceptions, but as a rule this comparison holds true. Men are admonished to remember their wives have needs that they may not experience, but are of equal value as their own. The wise man will take his wife’s needs into consideration as equally as his own.
