{
  "id": "dict_000727",
  "term": "Bride",
  "slug": "bride",
  "letter": "B",
  "entry_type": "theological_term",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "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.",
  "simple_one_line": "",
  "tooltip_text": "",
  "aliases": [],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [],
  "see_also": [],
  "lede_intro": "",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [],
  "description_academic_short": "“Bride” is a common biblical image for covenant relationship, love, faithfulness, and future union. The Old Testament at times presents Israel in marital terms before the Lord, while the New Testament speaks of the church as the bride of Christ, highlighting purity, devotion, and the coming marriage supper of the Lamb. Interpreters differ on some details of how Israel and the church relate in this imagery, but the central meaning is clear.",
  "description_academic_full": "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.",
  "background_biblical_context": "",
  "background_historical_context": "",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "",
  "key_texts_primary": [],
  "key_texts_secondary": [],
  "original_language_note": "",
  "theological_significance": "",
  "philosophical_explanation": "",
  "interpretive_cautions": "",
  "major_views_note": "",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "",
  "practical_significance": "",
  "meta_description": "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.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/bride/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/bride.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}