What is a bridegroom?

Answer

A bridegroom is a man who has recently married or is about to get married. A bridegroom is the male counterpart of a bride, a woman who has recently married or is about to get married. The term “bridegroom” originates from the Old English word “brydguma,” which combines “bryd” (meaning “bride”) and “guma” (meaning “man”). The term “bridegroom” is found in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, signifying the husband of the bride.

The term “bridegroom” is frequently used in the Bible as a symbol for God, particularly for Jesus Christ. The church is compared to a bride with Christ as her bridegroom. During His time with the disciples, Jesus responded to a question about fasting using an analogy involving a bridegroom: “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast” (Mark 2:19-20). Jesus is depicted as the bridegroom, and His disciples are portrayed as the wedding guests. John the Baptist described himself as the “friend who attends the bridegroom,” a role similar to what we now call the “best man” «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 3:29). John stated, “The bride belongs to the bridegroom,” referring to Jesus and the church, His spiritual bride, who stands by His side and invites people in, saying, “‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life” «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 f

Revelation 22:17 states, “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life” (Revelation 22:17).

The church, known as the Bride of Christ, represents not a specific local church or denomination but the entire community of believers across time. All individuals who have placed their trust in the Lord and received salvation through faith are collectively considered His Bride. This comparison is found in various passages of the New Testament. Paul provides guidance to believers regarding marriage, stating, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” «Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; », (Ephesians 5:25). Paul also describes the church as a virgin awaiting her bridegroom «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. », (2 Corinthians 11:2) and uses the relationship between Christ and the church to illustrate the significance of wives’ submission to their husbands «Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. », (Ephesians 5:24).

In Revelation 21:2, the New Jerusalem is likened to “a bride beautifully dressed for her husband,” further emphasizing the imagery of Christ as the bridegroom (verse 9).