Marriage: The Bride: Stood on the Right of Bridegroom
Jump to: Torrey'sLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, marriage was a sacred covenant that symbolized the union between a man and a woman, reflecting the relationship between Christ and the Church. The positioning of the bride in relation to the bridegroom held significant cultural and spiritual symbolism. The bride standing on the right of the bridegroom is a practice rooted in ancient traditions and is reflected in various scriptural passages.

Biblical Context and Symbolism

The right side is often associated with favor, strength, and honor in biblical literature. This symbolism is evident in several passages where the right hand or side is mentioned as a place of prominence and blessing. For instance, in Psalm 45:9 , it is written, "The daughters of kings are among your honored women; at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir." This verse illustrates the esteemed position of the queen, symbolically representing the bride, standing at the right hand of the king, the bridegroom.

The imagery of the bride standing at the right of the bridegroom can also be seen as a reflection of the Church's relationship with Christ. In Ephesians 5:23-32 , the Apostle Paul draws a parallel between the marital relationship and the relationship between Christ and the Church, emphasizing the unity and mutual respect inherent in both. The Church, as the bride of Christ, is positioned in a place of honor and partnership, much like the bride standing at the right of the bridegroom.

Cultural and Historical Practices

In ancient Jewish wedding customs, the bride's position during the ceremony was not merely a matter of tradition but carried deep spiritual significance. The right side was considered a place of protection and authority, signifying the bridegroom's role as the protector and leader of the household. The bride, standing at his right, was seen as his partner and equal, sharing in his responsibilities and blessings.

This practice is further supported by the cultural understanding of the right hand as a symbol of power and authority. In biblical narratives, the right hand is often associated with God's power and deliverance, as seen in Exodus 15:6 : "Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has shattered the enemy." The bride's position at the right of the bridegroom thus signifies her participation in the strength and authority of her husband.

Theological Implications

Theologically, the bride standing on the right of the bridegroom can be interpreted as a representation of the Church's relationship with Christ. Just as the bride shares in the bridegroom's authority and blessings, the Church shares in the spiritual inheritance and authority of Christ. This is echoed in Revelation 19:7-8 , where the marriage of the Lamb is described, and the Church is depicted as the bride who has made herself ready, clothed in fine linen, representing the righteous acts of the saints.

In summary, the practice of the bride standing on the right of the bridegroom is rich with biblical symbolism and cultural significance. It reflects the honor, partnership, and unity inherent in the marital relationship, mirroring the divine relationship between Christ and the Church.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Psalm 45:9
Kings' daughters were among your honorable women: on your right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Marriage of the Lamb.
... These constitute the bride, the Lamb's wife; for as "the ... at an epoch synchronizing
with the marriage of the Lamb ... and people, and tongues," who "stood before the ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the marriage of the lamb.htm

"He must Increase"
... They stood ready to criticize His work, and it ... the betrothed parties, preparing the
way for the marriage. ... the bridegroom had received his bride, the mission of ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 18 he must increase.htm

At the Marriage Feast
... Beside the doorway stood six large stone water jars, and ... Redeemer shall sit down
to the marriage supper of ... As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 15 at the marriage.htm

Thekla Singing Decorously a Hymn, the Rest of the virgins Sing ...
... And when they had stood up, she said that Thekla ... who thus became suspected of having
betrayed the marriage-bed, she ... of God, we attendants of the Bride honour Thee ...
/.../chapter ii thekla singing decorously a.htm

HymnConcerning Our Lord and John
... The Bride thou betrothedst ... The time hastes on, and the marriage guests"look ... The heavenly
ranks were silent as they stood,"and the Bridegroom went down into ...
/.../hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn xiv hymn concerning our.htm

Acts of the Holy Apostle Thomas.
... And the apostle stood, and began to pray and speak thus ... since I have been joined
in a different marriage; and because ... And when the bride is saying yet more, the ...
/.../unknown/acts of the holy apostle thomas/acts of the holy apostle.htm

John i. 35-37
... Again," saith the Evangelist, "John stood, and saith ... His friend, John, who put into
His the bride's right hand, when ... As at a marriage the maiden goes not to the ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xviii john i 35-37.htm

John Chapter ii. 4-Jan
... would beget: had Jesus then come to the marriage in order ... belief, whereby the chastity
of the virgin bride may be ... but of that other He said, "He stood not in ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate viii john chapter ii.htm

The Service to a Female Martyr.
... Bridegroom, O Virgin, martyrdom as thy marriage portion ... Having manfully and wisely
stood in thy mind against ... betrothed thee unblemished as a bride unto Himself ...
/.../anonymous/the general menaion/chapter xx the service to.htm

The Ten virgins.
... and all countries, this position at a marriage feast is ... virgins, dressed in white,
who attend the bride on her ... the saints in heaven and earth stood weeping at ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/xiii the ten virgins.htm

Resources
What is the definition of marriage? | GotQuestions.org

What constitutes marriage according to the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is God's design for marriage? | GotQuestions.org

Marriage: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Biracial Marriage

Interracial Marriage

Marriage

Marriage After Death

Marriage After Divorce

Marriage and Divorce

Marriage and Finances

Marriage and Love

Marriage Covenant

Marriage in Heaven

Marriage Reconciliation

Marriage Relationship

Marriage Separation

Marriage Vows

Marriage: A Benediction Pronounced After

Marriage: A Covenant Relationship

Marriage: A Dowry Given to the Woman's Parents Before

Marriage: A Herald Preceded the Bridegroom

Marriage: Advised

Marriage: Betrothal a Quasi-Marriage

Marriage: Betrothal Made With the Spirit

Marriage: Bridal Ornaments

Marriage: Bridal Presents

Marriage: Celebrated for Seven Days

Marriage: Celebrated with Feasting

Marriage: Celebrated with Great Rejoicing

Marriage: Celibacy Deplored

Marriage: Ceremony Attested by Witnesses

Marriage: Christ's Union With his Church

Marriage: Consanguinous, Abraham and Sarah

Marriage: Consent of the Parties Necessary To

Marriage: Contracted at the Gate and Before Witnesses

Marriage: Contracted in Patriarchal Age With Near Relations

Marriage: Daughters Given In, As Rewards of Valor

Marriage: David Gave One Hundred Philistine Foreskins for a Wife

Marriage: Designed For: Increasing the Human Population

Marriage: Designed For: Preventing Fornication

Marriage: Designed For: Raising up Godly Seed

Marriage: Designed For: The Happiness of Man

Marriage: Divinely Instituted

Marriage: Early Introduction of Polygamy

Marriage: Elder Daughters Usually Given In, Before the Younger

Marriage: Expressed by Giving Daughters to Sons, and Sons to Daughters

Marriage: Expressed by Joining Together

Marriage: Expressed by Making Affinity

Marriage: Expressed by Taking to Wife

Marriage: Figurative

Marriage: Garments Provided for Guests At

Marriage: Given by Kings

Marriage: God's Union With the Jewish Nation

Marriage: Honorable for All

Marriage: Indissoluble During the Joint Lives of the Parties

Marriage: Infidelity of Those Contracted In, Punished As If Married

Marriage: Isaac and Rebekah

Marriage: Jacob and his Wives

Marriage: Jesus Present At

Marriage: Lawful in All

Marriage: Levirate (The Brother Required to Marry a Brother's Widow)

Marriage: Modes of Demanding Women In

Marriage: Not Binding After Death

Marriage: Nuptial Feasts

Marriage: Obligations Under, Inferior to Duty to God

Marriage: Often Contracted by Parents for Children

Marriage: Parables From

Marriage: Parents' Consent Requires in the Mosaic Law

Marriage: Parents Contract for Their Children: Abraham for Isaac

Marriage: Parents Contract for Their Children: Hagar Selects a Wife for Ishmael

Marriage: Parents Contract for Their Children: Laban Arranges for his Daughters' Marriage

Marriage: Parents Contract for Their Children: Samson Asks his Parents to Procure Him a Wife

Marriage: Parents Might Refuse to Give Their Children In

Marriage: Presents Given to Parents to Secure Their Favor

Marriage: Priest not to Contract, With Divorced or Improper Persons

Marriage: should be Only in the Lord

Marriage: should be With Consent of Parents

Marriage: The Bride: Adorned With Jewels For

Marriage: The Bride: Attended by Bridesmaids

Marriage: The Bride: Called to Forget Her Father's House

Marriage: The Bride: Given a Handmaid At

Marriage: The Bride: Gorgeously Apparelled

Marriage: The Bride: Received Presents Before

Marriage: The Bride: Stood on the Right of Bridegroom

Marriage: The Bridegroom: Adorned With Ornaments

Marriage: The Bridegroom: Attended by Many Friends

Marriage: The Bridegroom: Crowned With Garlands

Marriage: The Bridegroom: Presented With Gifts

Marriage: The Bridegroom: Rejoiced Over the Bride

Marriage: The Bridegroom: Returned With the Bride to his House at Night

Marriage: The Expectation of the Promised Seed of the Woman An

Marriage: The Groom Exempt One Year from Military Duty

Marriage: The High Priest not to Contract, With a Widow or a Divorced

Marriage: The Jews were Allowed Divorce From, Because of Hardness of Their

Marriage: The Jews: Betrothed Themselves some Time Before

Marriage: The Jews: Careful in Contracting for Their Children

Marriage: The Jews: Considered Being Debarred From, a Cause of Grief

Marriage: The Jews: Considered Being Debarred From, a Reproach

Marriage: The Jews: Contracted when Young

Marriage: The Jews: Exempted from Going to War Immediately After

Marriage: The Jews: Forbidden to Contract With Idolaters

Marriage: The Jews: Forbidden to Contract, With Their Near Relations

Marriage: The Jews: Obliged to Contract With a Brother's Wife Who Died Without

Marriage: The Jews: Often Contracted With Foreigners

Marriage: The Jews: Often Contracted, in Their own Tribe

Marriage: The Jews: Often Punished by Being Debarred From

Marriage: The Jews: Sometimes Guilty of Polygamy

Marriage: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To

Marriage: Wedding Robes Adorned With Jewels

Marriage: Wives Among the Israelites Must be Israelites

Marriage: Wives Obtained by Kidnapping

Marriage: Wives Obtained by Purchase

Marriage: Wives Taken by Edict

Matrimony

Remarriage

Related Terms

Marriage-feasts (6 Occurrences)

Marriage-feast (4 Occurrences)

Marriage-song (1 Occurrence)

Jezebel (20 Occurrences)

Espouse (2 Occurrences)

Samson (37 Occurrences)

Espousal

Marry (48 Occurrences)

Brother's (46 Occurrences)

Isaac (127 Occurrences)

Wedding (24 Occurrences)

Banquet (58 Occurrences)

Invited (49 Occurrences)

Marriagefeasts

Match (4 Occurrences)

Betroth (5 Occurrences)

Affinity (4 Occurrences)

Polygamy

Tobit

Brother (402 Occurrences)

Anaharath (1 Occurrence)

Brethren (528 Occurrences)

Dowry (5 Occurrences)

Betrothed (19 Occurrences)

Bidden (25 Occurrences)

Cana (4 Occurrences)

Ahab (85 Occurrences)

Feast (209 Occurrences)

Ruth (19 Occurrences)

Women (328 Occurrences)

Bride-chamber (3 Occurrences)

Sarah (38 Occurrences)

Divorce (18 Occurrences)

Lord (59401 Occurrences)

Join (70 Occurrences)

Abstinence (2 Occurrences)

Woman (4043 Occurrences)

Alliance (12 Occurrences)

Wife (437 Occurrences)

Yokefellow

Purity (16 Occurrences)

Virginity (12 Occurrences)

Keturah (4 Occurrences)

Kindred (41 Occurrences)

Nuptial (1 Occurrence)

Veil (67 Occurrences)

Noe (6 Occurrences)

Unpolluted (1 Occurrence)

Undefiled (7 Occurrences)

Laban (52 Occurrences)

Giveth (378 Occurrences)

Wedlock (1 Occurrence)

Intermarry (5 Occurrences)

Flood (70 Occurrences)

Father (11359 Occurrences)

Fornicators (8 Occurrences)

Totemism

Refrains (3 Occurrences)

Reclining (25 Occurrences)

Ready (451 Occurrences)

Dionysia

Marrying (7 Occurrences)

Messengers (182 Occurrences)

Prepared (246 Occurrences)

Bid (35 Occurrences)

Betrothal (1 Occurrence)

Clothes (208 Occurrences)

Abstain (13 Occurrences)

Achsah (5 Occurrences)

Allied (13 Occurrences)

Slaves (119 Occurrences)

Relationships (1 Occurrence)

Taste (46 Occurrences)

Code (6 Occurrences)

Choose (116 Occurrences)

Angels (99 Occurrences)

Chosen (197 Occurrences)

Sojourner (81 Occurrences)

Marriage: The Bride: Received Presents Before
Top of Page
Top of Page