Topical Bible: Marriage: The Bridegroom: Attended by Many Friends

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In biblical times, marriage was a significant covenantal event, deeply rooted in cultural and religious traditions. The role of the bridegroom, central to the marriage ceremony, was often accompanied by the presence of many friends, who played an important part in the celebration and the rituals surrounding the union.

The concept of the bridegroom attended by friends is vividly illustrated in the New Testament. In the Gospel of John, John the Baptist refers to himself as the friend of the bridegroom, highlighting the joy and support that friends bring to the bridegroom during the wedding festivities. John 3:29 states, "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."

This passage underscores the role of the bridegroom's friends as those who stand by, support, and celebrate with him. The joy of the friend of the bridegroom is derived from the successful union and the happiness of the bridegroom, reflecting a selfless and supportive relationship.

In the parable of the ten virgins found in Matthew 25:1-13, the bridegroom is again depicted as being attended by others, in this case, the virgins who are waiting to meet him. This parable emphasizes the importance of readiness and anticipation in the context of a wedding, where the bridegroom's arrival is a moment of great significance and joy.

The cultural context of ancient Jewish weddings also sheds light on the role of the bridegroom's friends. These friends, often referred to as "groomsmen" in modern terms, were responsible for various duties, including escorting the bridegroom to the bride's house, participating in the wedding procession, and ensuring the smooth running of the wedding feast. Their presence was a sign of honor and support, enhancing the communal and celebratory nature of the marriage covenant.

The imagery of the bridegroom and his friends is also used metaphorically in Scripture to describe the relationship between Christ and His Church. In this spiritual analogy, Christ is the bridegroom, and the Church is His bride. The friends of the bridegroom can be seen as those who support and rejoice in the union between Christ and His people, highlighting the communal aspect of faith and the joy found in the fulfillment of God's promises.

Overall, the presence of many friends attending the bridegroom in biblical narratives underscores the communal, joyous, and supportive nature of marriage as a covenantal relationship, both in the earthly sense and in the spiritual relationship between Christ and His Church.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Judges 14:11
And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 3:29
He that has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Mothers, Daughters, and Wives in Israel
... Before marriage, they acted as a kind of intermediaries between the couple ... they offered
gifts, waited upon the bride and bridegroom, and attended them to ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 9 mothers daughters and.htm

The Royal Marriage Feast.
... The conception of the Redeemer as the bridegroom, and his ... who invite them and the
world to the marriage-supper of ... out of the royal store, is attended with some ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/xii the royal marriage feast.htm

No Compromise
... to be married to so strange a Bridegroom is a ... to go with the man, and enter upon
marriage with Isaac. ... The deceitful adulteration of doctrine is attended by a ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 34 1888/no compromise.htm

Faith and Repentance Inseparable
... from the wilderness newly anointed, like the bridegroom from his ... it as a command
from God, attended with a ... spread upon the table for the marriage-supper, there ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/faith and repentance inseparable.htm

The Royal Pair in their Glorious Chariot
... What is the smoke that has attended the Church? ... was this the case with a marriage
procession, because ... for the redemption of the bride or bridegroom by their ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/the royal pair in their.htm

The Prayer of Jabez
... weakness, of debility, of pain, and anguish, may it be so attended with the ... I thank
thee, Savior, for the marriage bond; but be thou the bridegroom of my ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the prayer of jabez.htm

Christ the Believer's Husband
... by faith, to the blessed bridegroom of the ... and particular circumstances, that attended
our conversion ... and consummation of the spiritual marriage, between Jesus ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/christ the believers husband.htm

The Wise and Foolish virgins
... thinking what they should do, the bridegroom, the Lord ... of his spouse the church,
cometh, attended with thousands ... nature, "went in with him to the marriage.". ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the wise and foolish virgins.htm

Holy Song from Happy Saints
... relationship with Christ as our bridegroom and our ... How should it be a marriage without
joyfulness? ... I have frequently attended prayer-meetings where there were ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 61 1915/holy song from happy saints.htm

Death.
... be with him notwithstanding all the trials that attended him in ... cheat that he gave
her in marriage; at least ... making herself ready to go to meet her bridegroom. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xxiv death.htm