Isaiah 61, Day 5

Like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem,
as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Isaiah 61:10c

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Heavenly Marriage

Biblical marriage between a bridegroom and his bride has royal, sacred, and cosmic significance. 

In Hebrew, the words for bridegroom (chathan), signet ring (chothemeth), and seal (verb, chatham) are closely related. Bearing the seal of the divine king’s signet ring, the union between a man and a woman forms a temple with God at the top.

Wedding Temple

In the three-pointed temple of God, man, and woman, the bridegroom performs the priestly role of guarding, preserving, and cherishing the bride as God loves Israel (and Christ loves the Church). The Hebrew verb translated as “adorned” (kahan) means “to act as a priest,” derived from kohen (priest). The head of the bridegroom, like a priest, is adorned with a turban. 

The bride comes to the wedding in a pure, white linen garment embroidered in gold threads and perfumed with myrhh, cassia, and aloes (Revelation 19:8; Psalm 45). Shining with “the righteous deeds of the holy ones,” the bride, the wife of the Lamb, is perfect and complete (Revelation 19:8). The word for jewels (keli) is derived from kalah (to be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished). 

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them as their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away.”

The one who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then he said, “Write these words down, for they are trustworthy and true.” He said to me, “They are accomplished. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water. The victor will inherit these gifts, and I shall be his God, and he will be my son.“

Revelation 21:1-7