A man who is to be married or who has just got married. In the NT Jesus Christ is portrayed as a bridegroom and the church as his bride.
The bridegroom and the wedding ceremony
The bridegroom wore special clothing
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.
The bridegroom took part in the procession to the bride's home
See also Matthew 25:1–12
The bridegroom had a group of companions
Then his father went to visit the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, as was customary for the bridegroom. And when the Philistines saw him, they selected thirty men to accompany him.
The bridegroom had a special friend as an attendant
John 3:29 See also Judges 14:20–15:2; John 2:7–10 The “master of the banquet” was probably the friend who attended the bridegroom.
The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
The bridegroom was sometimes responsible for giving the wedding banquet
Judges 14:10 See also John 2:9–10
Then his father went to visit the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, as was customary for the bridegroom.
The bridegroom led his bride to a specially prepared bridal chamber
Joel 2:16 See also Psalm 19:4–5
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.
Bridegrooms were associated with happiness and rejoicing
Jeremiah 7:34 See also Isaiah 62:5; Jeremiah 16:9, Jeremiah 25:10, Jeremiah 33:11; Revelation 18:23
I will remove from the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem the sounds of joy and gladness and the voices of the bride and bridegroom, for the land will become a wasteland.”
Bridegrooms were excused from military service and certain other duties
Deuteronomy 24:5 See also Deuteronomy 20:1–7
If a man is newly married, he must not be sent to war or be pressed into any duty. For one year he is free to stay at home and bring joy to the wife he has married.
Jesus Christ is portrayed as a bridegroom
Matthew 9:14–15 parallels Mark 2:18–20, Luke 5:33–35 Jesus Christ refers to himself as the bridegroom. See also Ephesians 5:22–33
Then John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast so often, but Your disciples do not fast?” Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
The future coming of Jesus Christ compared to the sudden arrival of the bridegroom
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.