A woman who is about to be married or who has just got married. In the NT the church is described as the bride of Christ.
Jewels and ornaments worn by a bride at her wedding
Isaiah 61:10 See also Psalm 45:9, Psalm 45:14; Song of Solomon 4:9; Isaiah 49:18; Jeremiah 2:32
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.
Joy and happiness associated with a bride
Jeremiah 33:10–11 See also Jeremiah 7:34, Jeremiah 16:9, Jeremiah 25:10; Revelation 18:23
This is what the LORD says: In this place you say is a wasteland without man or beast, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted — inhabited by neither man nor beast — there will be heard again the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those bringing thank offerings into the house of the LORD, saying: ‘Give thanks to the LORD of Hosts, for the LORD is good; His loving devotion endures forever.’ For I will restore the land from captivity as in former times, says the LORD.
The bride as the object of the bridegroom's love and affection
Isaiah 62:5 See also Song of Solomon 4:8–15, Song of Solomon 5:1
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.
The bridegroom as the object of the bride's love and affection
“Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of His harvest. All who devoured her were found guilty; disaster came upon them,’” declares the LORD.
Exemptions for a newly married bride
Joel 2:16 A newly married bride would normally be excused from certain civic and religious duties. See also Deuteronomy 24:5
Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the aged, gather the children, even those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.
The bride price
Genesis 34:11–12 A bridegroom was required to pay a bride-price to the father of his bride. See also Genesis 29:18–30; 1 Samuel 18:20–27
Then Shechem said to Dinah’s father and brothers, “Grant me this favor, and I will give you whatever you ask. Demand a high dowry and an expensive gift, and I will give you whatever you ask. Only give me the girl as my wife!”
Proof of a bride's virginity was required in certain circumstances
The church depicted as the bride of Christ
Ephesians 5:25–27 See also Revelation 19:7–9, Revelation 21:1–2, Revelation 21:9–27, Revelation 22:17
Husbands, love your 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.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.