In biblical literature, the term "bridegroom" holds significant theological and symbolic meaning, often representing Christ in His relationship with the Church. The imagery of the bridegroom is woven throughout both the Old and New Testaments, illustrating themes of covenant, love, and eschatological fulfillment.

Old Testament Context

The concept of the bridegroom is first introduced in the Old Testament, where marriage serves as a metaphor for the covenant relationship between God and Israel. In Isaiah 62:5 , the prophet declares, "For as a young man marries a young woman, so your sons will marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you." This passage highlights the joy and commitment inherent in the divine-human relationship, portraying God as a loving and faithful bridegroom.

The Song of Solomon, a poetic book celebrating love and marriage, also employs the bridegroom imagery. While primarily a celebration of human love, it has been traditionally interpreted as an allegory of God's love for His people. The bridegroom in this context is seen as a figure of divine love and desire for intimate relationship with His chosen ones.

New Testament Fulfillment

In the New Testament, the bridegroom imagery is explicitly applied to Jesus Christ. John the Baptist refers to Jesus as the bridegroom in John 3:29 : "The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is now complete." Here, John acknowledges Jesus as the long-awaited bridegroom, whose presence brings joy and fulfillment.

Jesus Himself uses the bridegroom metaphor in His teachings. In the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), the bridegroom's arrival signifies the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven. The wise virgins, who are prepared for the bridegroom's arrival, represent those who are ready for Christ's return. This parable underscores the importance of vigilance and readiness in anticipation of the eschatological wedding feast.

The Apostle Paul further develops this imagery in his epistles. In Ephesians 5:25-27 , Paul instructs husbands to love their wives "just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless." Here, Christ is depicted as the bridegroom who sacrificially loves and purifies His bride, the Church.

Eschatological Significance

The culmination of the bridegroom imagery is found in the book of Revelation, where the marriage supper of the Lamb is described. Revelation 19:7-9 proclaims, "Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure." This eschatological vision portrays the ultimate union between Christ and His Church, a celebration of divine love and eternal communion.

Throughout Scripture, the bridegroom motif serves as a powerful symbol of God's covenantal love, Christ's redemptive work, and the anticipated consummation of the divine-human relationship. It calls believers to a life of faithfulness, readiness, and joyful expectation of the eternal union with their Savior.(n.) A man newly married, or just about to be married.BRIDEGROOM; BRIDEGROOM, FRIEND OF

brid'-groom;

See MARRIAGE.

3566. numphios -- a bridegroom
... a bridegroom. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: numphios Phonetic
Spelling: (noom-fee'-os) Short Definition: a bridegroom Definition: a bridegroom ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3566.htm - 6k

4352. proskuneo -- to do reverence to
... 4352 () has been (metaphorically) described as "the kissing-ground" between
believers (the Bride) and Christ (the heavenly Bridegroom). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4352.htm - 10k

3933. parthenos -- a maiden, a virgin
... a female (virgin), beyond puberty but not yet married; (figuratively) when they
are pure (chaste), ie faithful to Christ their heavenly Bridegroom (2 Cor 11:2 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3933.htm - 7k

3567. numphon -- the bridechamber
... chamber. Word Origin from numphe Definition the bridechamber NASB Word
Usage bridegroom (3), wedding hall (1). bridechamber. From ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3567.htm - 6k

2860a. chathan -- daughter's husband, bridegroom
... 2860, 2860a. chathan. 2860b . daughter's husband, bridegroom.
Transliteration: chathan Short Definition: bridegroom. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/2860a.htm - 5k

2860. chathan -- daughter's husband, bridegroom
... daughter's husband, bridegroom. Transliteration: chathan Phonetic Spelling:
(khaw-thawn') Short Definition: bridegroom. bridegroom, husband, son in law ...
/hebrew/2860.htm - 5k

1167. baal -- owner, lord
... Word Origin from baal Definition owner, lord NASB Word Usage allies* (1), archers*
(1), bird* (1), bound (1), bridegroom (1), captain (1), case* (1), charmer ...
/hebrew/1167.htm - 6k

Behold the Bridegroom Cometh
... Behold the Bridegroom cometh. tr., John Brownlie 7,7,7,7,8,6. ... (troparia). I.
Behold the Bridegroom cometh. At the hour of midnight drear,. ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the greek church/behold the bridegroom cometh.htm

Behold the Bridegroom! Hark the Cry,
... HYMNS FROM THE EARLY GREEK POETS NOT FOUND IN THE SERVICE-BOOKS OF THE GREEK CHURCHST.
METHODIUS Behold the Bridegroom! Hark the cry,. ... I. Behold the Bridegroom! ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the greek church/behold the bridegroom hark the.htm

July the Eleventh the Friend of the Bridegroom
... JULY The Eleventh THE FRIEND OF THE BRIDEGROOM. "He that hath the bride is the
bridegroom." "John 3:23-36. ... And this phrase tends to displace the Bridegroom. ...
/.../my daily meditation for the circling year/july the eleventh the friend.htm

The Bridegroom Comes! My Soul, Awake,
... JUDGMENT The Bridegroom comes! My soul, awake,. 8,8,8,8 tr., John Brownlie.
I. The Bridegroom comes! My soul, awake,. And slumber ...
/.../brownlie/hymns from the east/the bridegroom comes my soul.htm

Our Bridegroom and Our King Being Everywhere
... THE FIFTH CENTURY 10 Our Bridegroom and our King being everywhere. Our Bridegroom
and our King being everywhere, our Lover and Defender ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/10 our bridegroom and our.htm

That Christ is the Bridegroom, Having the Church as his Bride ...
... Second Book. 19. That Christ is the Bridegroom, having the Church as His
bride, from which spiritual children were to be born. In ...
/.../cyprian/three books of testimonies against the jews/19 that christ is the.htm

The Incomparable Bridegroom and his Bride
... The Incomparable Bridegroom and His Bride. A Sermon (No.2469). Intended for Reading
on Lord's-Day, June 14th, 1896,. Delivered by. CH SPURGEON,. ...
/.../spurgeons sermons volume 42 1896/the incomparable bridegroom and his.htm

The Call of Levi the Publican Christ in Relation to the Baptist. ...
... Chapter XI."The Call of Levi the Publican Christ in Relation to the Baptist. Christ
as the Bridegroom. The Parable of the Old Wine and the New. ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xi the call of levi.htm

O virgin-Youth that Art Become Bridegroom, Move to a Little ...
... O virgin-youth that art become bridegroom, move to a little jealousy thy mind, towards
her who is the wife of thy youth: cut off the attachments which she had ...
/.../hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn xx o virgin-youth that.htm

Of the Desire to Know the Bridegroom in his Nature
... THE ADORNMENT OF THE SPIRITUAL MARRIAGE: THE FIRST BOOK CHAPTER XXVI. OF
THE DESIRE TO KNOW THE BRIDEGROOM IN HIS NATURE. A Man who ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter xxvi of the desire.htm

Bridegroom (23 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BRIDEGROOM; BRIDEGROOM, FRIEND OF. brid'-groom;
See MARRIAGE. Multi-Version Concordance Bridegroom (23 Occurrences). ...
/b/bridegroom.htm - 14k

Bridegroom's (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Bridegroom's (2 Occurrences). Matthew 9:15 "Can the
bridegroom's party mourn," He replied, "as long as the bridegroom is with them? ...
/b/bridegroom's.htm - 7k

Wedding (24 Occurrences)
... Wedding (24 Occurrences). Matthew 9:15 Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of
the bridegroom mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? ...
/w/wedding.htm - 13k

Attendants (30 Occurrences)
... Attendants (30 Occurrences). Matthew 9:15 Jesus said to them, "Can the friends
of the bridegroom mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? ...
/a/attendants.htm - 15k

Guests (43 Occurrences)
... Guests (43 Occurrences). Matthew 9:15 Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of
the bridegroom mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? ...
/g/guests.htm - 18k

Bride (31 Occurrences)
... etc.). The relation between Christ and his church is set forth under the
figure of that between a bridegroom and bride (John 3:29). ...
/b/bride.htm - 17k

Bride-chamber (3 Occurrences)
... (hoi huioi tou numphonos): These were friends or companions of the bridegroom and
were usually very numerous (Matthew 9:15 Mark 2:19 Luke 5:34). ...
/b/bride-chamber.htm - 8k

Rejoices (30 Occurrences)
... John 3:29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom,
who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice ...
/r/rejoices.htm - 14k

Party (47 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Matthew 9:15 "Can the bridegroom's party mourn," He replied, "as
long as the bridegroom is with them? But other days will ...
/p/party.htm - 20k

Friends (152 Occurrences)
... (WEB). Matthew 9:15 Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom
mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the ...
/f/friends.htm - 38k

What is a bridegroom? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that the church is the bride of Christ? | GotQuestions.org

What is the marriage supper of the Lamb? | GotQuestions.org

Bridegroom: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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