Topical Bible: Marriage: The Bride: Adorned With Jewels For

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In the biblical context, the imagery of a bride adorned with jewels is a powerful symbol that reflects both the beauty and the sanctity of marriage. This imagery is used throughout Scripture to convey the splendor and purity associated with the marital union, as well as the relationship between God and His people.

Old Testament Imagery

The adornment of a bride with jewels is vividly depicted in the Old Testament, particularly in the prophetic literature. In Isaiah 61:10 , the prophet exclaims, "I will rejoice greatly in the LORD; my soul will exult in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom wears a priestly headdress, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." Here, the adornment of the bride symbolizes the righteousness and salvation bestowed by God, highlighting the divine favor and grace that accompany the covenant relationship.

Similarly, in Ezekiel 16:11-13 , God describes His relationship with Israel using the metaphor of a bride adorned with jewels: "I adorned you with jewelry, and I put bracelets on your wrists and a chain around your neck. I put a ring in your nose, earrings on your ears, and a beautiful crown upon your head. So you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You became very beautiful and rose to be a queen." This passage underscores the transformation and elevation of Israel through God's covenant, with the adornment symbolizing the nation's elevated status and divine blessing.

New Testament Fulfillment

In the New Testament, the imagery of the bride adorned with jewels finds its ultimate fulfillment in the relationship between Christ and the Church. Revelation 21:2 presents the vision of the New Jerusalem, "prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." This depiction emphasizes the purity, beauty, and readiness of the Church as the bride of Christ, adorned not with physical jewels but with the righteousness and glory imparted by the Savior.

The Apostle Paul also alludes to this imagery in Ephesians 5:25-27 , where he 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, the adornment is spiritual, reflecting the sanctification and holiness that Christ imparts to His Church.

Symbolism and Significance

The adornment of the bride with jewels in Scripture serves as a profound symbol of the covenant relationship between God and His people. It signifies beauty, purity, and divine favor, illustrating the transformative power of God's love and grace. In the context of marriage, it reflects the honor and dignity bestowed upon the marital union, as well as the spiritual adornment that believers receive through their relationship with Christ.

This imagery also serves as a reminder of the eschatological hope that believers hold, anticipating the ultimate union with Christ as His bride, adorned in righteousness and prepared for eternal communion with Him.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 49:18
Lift up your eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to you. As I live, said the LORD, you shall surely clothe you with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on you, as a bride does.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 61:10
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Whether any Gifts Should be Assigned as Dowry to the Blessed?
... But the spiritual marriage is more blissful than the carnal marriage. ... as a bride
adorned with her jewels." Therefore the saints in heaven have a dowry. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether any gifts should be.htm

Whether it is Fitting that Christ Should Receive a Dowry?
... Now there is a spiritual marriage in Christ, which is peculiar to Him ... a bridegroom
decked with a crown, and as a bride adorned with her jewels." Since then ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is fitting that 8.htm

Devout Customs and Usages
... It is often highly ornamented, and may be adorned on the ... equivalent, seems to have
been given at marriage by the ... ring upon the thumb of the bride, saying, "In ...
/.../regester/the worship of the church/devout customs and usages.htm

Treatise ii. On the Dress of virgins.
... is intended to appeal, who have adorned themselves with ... of lust is kindled, and the
bride is animated ... at weddings for her whose mind is not towards marriage? ...
/.../cyprian/the treatises of cyprian/treatise ii on the dress.htm

Ephesians v. 22-24
... 28:19.) And not simply hath He adorned her, but ... Take away from marriage all those
shameful, those Satanic, those ... will avail to chasten the spirit of thy bride. ...
/.../homily xx ephesians v 22-24.htm

Homilies on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians.
... Bride, with what ornaments she should be adorned, [885]320. ... Chastity, specially called
holiness, [912]342; blessing of keeping till marriage, [913]346 ...
/.../homilies on philippians colossians and.htm

The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
... book as little for thee as the goldsmith intendeth his jewels and rings ... city,' which
words are explained by these, 'prepared as a bride and adorned for her ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy city or the.htm

The Holy See and the Wandering of the Nations.
... After sixteen years of unwilling marriage Eudocia at last escaped ... to accept his daughter
as his bride, and we ... ceded to the Arians, and which he had adorned. ...
/.../allies/the formation of christendom volume vi/chapter i the holy see.htm

The Empress Eudoxia from the Story of Christian Womanhood in Old ...
... fostered the scheme of uniting Arcadius in marriage to his ... streets of the city, which
were adorned with garlands ... the ancient Greeks, in which the bride was, as ...
/.../brittain/women of early christianity/ix the empress eudoxia from.htm

Imperial Tombs.
... together from the day of our marriage." His death ... with which the sarcophagus is adorned
or disfigured ... casket with bas-reliefs representing the bride and groom ...
/.../lanciani/pagan and christian rome/chapter iv imperial tombs.htm