The BrideGroom
Core Christian Principal
For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah [means my delight is in her], and thy land Beulah [means married]: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. Isaiah 62:1-4
-
God is the Bridegroom/Husband
God's People is His BetrothedGenesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Jeremiah 3:14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:
Hosea 2:16 And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi [husband]; and shalt call me no more Baali [my Master].
Hosea 2:19-20 And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.
I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD.Isaiah 54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
Isaiah 62:5 For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.
Ezekiel 16:8 "Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine."
Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
John 3:29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Ephesians 5:31-32 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
Marriage was established from the beginning as a union where two become one. This reflects God's design and desire for an intimate relationship with His Chosen people. The marriage covenant mirrors God's covenant with them, as seen through the sacrificial Lamb (Genesis 22:8, Exodus 12:5, Leviticus 4:32). Just as the innocent lamb represented purity and atonement, Christ fulfills this image as the ultimate Bridegroom and Redeemer, which is fully revealed in Revelation.
-
God calling for His Love to "come away" with Him
Rapture ReferencesSong 2:10 My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
Song 2:13 The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
Isaiah 2:5 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.
Revelation 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
-
Jesus as the Bridegroom
Gospel ReferencesMatthew 9:15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Mark 2:19-20 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
Luke 5:34-35 And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
John 3:29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
John 14:2-3 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
-
The Bridegroom Revealed in Revelation
Final FulfillmentRevelation 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Revelation 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
These verses reveal the culmination of the divine marriage metaphor: Christ, the Lamb, is united with His Bride—the redeemed people of God. The imagery of wedding celebration, covenant fulfillment, and eternal union is not symbolic alone—it is prophetic and eschatological, pointing to the final restoration of all things in love and glory.
-
Promise of the New Covenant
Romans 11:26-27 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Jeremiah 31:32-33 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
-
Additional Bridegroom References
Gospel & Old Testament EchoesPsalm 45:11 So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.
Though this verse does not explicitly name God or Jesus as the bridegroom, it is often interpreted messianically. The Hebrew word for “Lord” here is Adonayikh (“your Lord”), which can refer to God or a royal figure. In context, the king’s desire for the bride’s beauty reflects covenantal love, and many theologians see this as a prophetic image of Christ and His Church.
Song of Songs 6:3 I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies.
Let's just assume the entire book of Song of Songs here?
The entire book of Song of Songs is often interpreted as a poetic allegory of divine love—between God and Israel, or Christ and the Church. Its romantic language reflects covenantal intimacy, longing, and joy, all central to the bridegroom metaphor.These verses deepen the bridegroom imagery by showing Jesus not only as the one who calls His bride, but also as the one who prepares a place for her, desires her beauty, and rejoices in intimate union. The poetic and prophetic tones of Psalms and Song of Songs echo the covenantal love that culminates in Christ and His Church.
-
References to God as Husband
Covenantal ImagerySee above: Jeremiah 31:32; Hosea 2:16; Isaiah 54:5; Isaiah 62:5; Ezekiel 16:8; Jeremiah 3:14
Malachi 2:14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
These verses reinforce the theme of divine marriage—not just as metaphor, but as covenant. God’s relationship with His people is described in deeply personal, marital terms: love, faithfulness, betrayal, and restoration. Even when the covenant is broken, God’s desire to restore and redeem remains central to His character.