Age:
Though there is no
age restriction
mentioned in the
Bible, Jewish
tradition however
prohibited marriage
for a man less than
thirteen years and a
day, and for a woman
less than twelve
years and a day. The
usual age was
probably nearer to
eighteen years old.
Proverbs 2:17,
the partner of her
youth;
Proverbs 5:18,
rejoice in the wife
of your youth.
Selection:
As the Heavenly
Father chooses a
bride for Adam,
Hebrew fathers
considered it their
duty to choose wives
for their sons. In
the absence of the
father the
responsibility of
selection was passed
to the mother.
Genesis 38:6,
Judah got a wife for
Er, his firstborn,
and her name was
Tamar;
Genesis 21:21,
… his mother got a
wife for him from
Egypt.
Betrothal:
The betrothal
period was similar
to our "engagement."
It was however
formal and binding.
It was undertaken by
a representative on
the part of the
bridegroom and by
the bride’s parents.
It was confirmed by
oaths and
accompanied with
presents to the
bride and to her
relatives. A feast
celebrated the act
of betrothal and the
betrothal period
could last up to
seven years.
Genesis 34:12,
Make the price for
the bride and the
gift I am to bring;
Genesis 29:20,
So Jacob served
seven years to get
Rachel.
Marriage:
Among the Patriarchs
when the proposal
was accepted, the
marriage price paid,
and the gifts
distributed, the
bridegroom was at
liberty to move the
bride at once to his
own home. Usually
the marriage took
place at the home of
the bride's parents
and was celebrated
by a feast to which
friends and
neighbors were
invited and which
lasted seven days. A
marriage covenant
was entered into and
blessings were
pronounced.
Genesis 24:67,
Isaac brought her
into the tent of his
mother Sarah, and he
married Rebekah;
Genesis 29:22,
So Laban brought
together all the
people of the place
and gave a feast;
Genesis 29:27,
Finish this
daughter's bridal
week;
Malachi 2:14,
…the LORD is acting
as the witness
between you and the
wife of your youth,
because you have
broken faith with
her, though she is
your partner, the
wife of your
marriage covenant.
Dress:
The bridegroom would
put on festive
clothing and wear a
special headdress.
The bride would put
on white robes that
were often
elaborately
embroidered. She
would adorn her
robes with jewels,
cover herself with a
veil and place a
garland on her head.
Isaiah 61:10,
…as a bridegroom
adorns his head like
a priest, and as a
bride adorns herself
with her jewels.
Claiming:
Usually in the
evening the
bridegroom set out
to claim his bride
with his groomsmen.
He was preceded by a
band of musicians
and accompanied by
people bearing
lamps. The bride
waited anxiously
with her companions
his arrival. When
the groom arrived he
received his bride
from her parents
with their
blessings.
Judges 14:11,
When he appeared, he
was given thirty
companions;
Genesis 31:27, …
joy and singing to
the music of
tambourines and
harps?
Processional:
The groom conducted
the whole party back
to his own or his
father's house, with
demonstrations of
celebration. On
their way back they
would be joined by a
party of young girls
(virgins), friends
of the bride and
bridegroom.
Matthew 25:1, …
ten virgins who took
their lamps and went
out to meet the
bridegroom;
Matthew 25:6,
"At midnight the cry
rang out: 'Here's
the bridegroom! Come
out to meet him!';
Song of Solomon 3:11,
Come out, you
daughters of Zion,
and look at King
Solomon wearing the
crown, the crown
with which his
mother crowned him
on the day of his
wedding, the day his
heart rejoiced.
Feast:
At the house a
marriage supper was
prepared, to which
all the friends and
neighbors were
invited. The feast
could last from
seven to fourteen
days. The guests
were provided with
wedding clothes by
the host and the
feast was enlivened
with riddles and
other amusements.
Matthew 22:4,
those who have been
invited that I have
prepared my dinner:
My oxen and fattened
cattle have been
butchered, and
everything is ready.
Come to the wedding
banquet.';
Luke 14:8, "When
someone invites you
to a wedding feast,
do not take the
place of honor, for
a person more
distinguished than
you may have been
invited;
John 2:2, and
Jesus and his
disciples had also
been invited to the
wedding;
Judges 14:12,
"Let me tell you a
riddle," Samson said
to them. "If you can
give me the answer
within the seven
days of the feast, I
will give you thirty
linen garments and
thirty sets of
clothes;
Matthew 22:11,
"But when the king
came in to see the
guests, he noticed a
man there who was
not wearing wedding
clothes.
Consummation:
The last act in the
ceremony was the
conducting of the
bride by her parents
to the bridal
chamber, where a
canopy was prepared.
The bride was still
completely veiled.
The marriage was
then consummated.
Joel 2:16, Let
the bridegroom leave
his room and the
bride her chamber;
Psalm 19:5,
which is like a
bridegroom coming
forth from his
pavilion;
Genesis 29:23,
But when evening
came, he took his
daughter Leah and
gave her to Jacob,
and Jacob lay with
her;
Genesis 29:25,
When morning came,
there was Leah! So
Jacob said to Laban,
"What is this you
have done to me? I
served you for
Rachel, didn't I?
Why have you
deceived me?"
Honey-year:
A newly married man
was exempt from
military service, or
from any public
business that might
draw him away from
his home, for the
space of a year. A
similar privilege
was granted to one
who was engaged.
Deuteronomy 24:5,
If a man has
recently married, he
must not be sent to
war or have any
other duty laid on
him. For one year he
is to be free to
stay at home and
bring happiness to
the wife he has
married;
Deuteronomy 20:7,
Has anyone become
pledged to a woman
and not married her?
Let him go home, or
he may die in battle
and someone else
marry her."
Based on the first time
printed usage of modern
English words, in the
Merriam-Webster's
Collegiate Dictionary,
Tenth Edition
1. Wedding, before
12th century
2. Bride, before
12th century
3. Wife, before 12th
century
4. Husband, 13th
century
5. Wedlock, 13th
century
6. Spouse, 13th
century
7. Wedding ring,
14th century
8. Marriage, 14th
century
9. Matrimony, 14th
century
10. Bridegroom, 14th
century
11. Marry, 14th
century
12. Divorce, 14th
century
13. Dowry, 14th
century
14. Nuptial, 15th
Century
15. Co-habitation,
ca 1530
16. Honeymoon, 1546
17. Bridesmaid, 1552
18. Maid of honor,
ca 1586
19. Betrothed, 1588
20. Courtship, 1596
21. Marital, 1603
22. Wedding cake,
1648
23. Alimony, 1656
24. Groomsman, 1698
25. Marriage of
convenience, 1711
26. Bundling, 1781
27. Mixed marriage,
1829
28. Trousseau, 1817
29. Betrothal, 1844
30. Wedding
March,
1850
31. Civil marriage,
ca 1889
32. Common-law
marriage, 1900
33. Proxy marriage,
1900
34. Matron of honor,
1919
35. Blind date, 1925
36. Shotgun
marriage, 1929
37. Double-ring, ca
1959
38. Open marriage,
1971