Bride
In Scripture, “bride” can refer literally to a woman about to be married and figuratively to God’s covenant people. In the New Testament, the church is especially pictured as the bride of Christ.
At a Glance
In Scripture, “bride” can refer literally to a woman about to be married and figuratively to God’s covenant people. In the New Testament, the church is especially pictured as the bride of Christ.
Description
In the Bible, a bride is first the literal woman entering marriage, but the term also becomes an important theological image. The Old Testament uses marriage language for the Lord’s covenant relationship with His people, especially to emphasize His faithfulness and their call to exclusive devotion. The New Testament develops this imagery by presenting the church as the bride of Christ, stressing His sacrificial love, her holiness, and the future consummation of this relationship at His return. Scripture clearly uses “bride” as covenant and redemptive imagery, though Christians may differ on how precisely the image relates Israel and the church in the unfolding plan of God. The safest conclusion is that “bride” is a biblical metaphor for God’s redeemed people in loving covenant union with Him, with the New Testament especially applying it to the church in relation to Christ.
Study-aid notice
This page is part of an AI-assisted conservative evangelical Bible-study project. It has been produced under strict prompts, structured review, QA checks, and publication testing, but it is not inspired, infallible, or a replacement for Scripture, prayer, pastors, teachers, or local church discernment.
All claims should be tested against Scripture in context. To report a possible issue, see the Corrections and Review Policy.