Bride
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Bride in the Bible?
In biblical contexts, a bride is a woman who is betrothed or married, serving as a central figure in covenantal rituals. The metaphor of the bride is frequently employed in prophetic and apocalyptic literature to depict the collective relationship between the divine and the community of believers.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding the legal and social weight of betrothal clarifies the intensity of covenant language used in scripture, revealing how marital fidelity served as a primary model for interpreting divine loyalty and communal identity.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Bride. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Bride in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Bride clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Bride." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/bride/