JEWISH MARRIAGE CUSTOMS: Part Nine

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Preparation of the Bride

The preparation for the bride was a time of separation, purification, anticipation, and preparation for the groom's return. The bride would take what they called a mikvah, which is a bath of purification. Even today, Jewish brides need to obtain a certificate to show that they have acquired the ceremonial mikvah.

Parallels to the Church. . .

The mikvah is the washing of the Word. We are to remain pure to Jesus and not fornicate ourselves to other god's and committing spiritual adultery. Spiritual adultery would not only be adultery with other gods, but is the act of loving and even spending more time with anything or anyone more than we do with God. Chapter five of Ephesians tells us about the parallel of mikvah to the church.

v25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her
v26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word,
v27 and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless [1].
v11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God [2].

The mikvah is also the baptism of water either through immersion or by sprinkling. There is a baptism of the Holy Spirit as well.

v19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [3]
v16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost [4].

The parable of the ten virgins [5] tells us always to be ready with our flasks of oil continually full and prepared for the trip. The oil is always representative of the Holy Spirit of God. So be sure that we replenish daily with the infilling of the Holy Spirit [6].

Do not be like the five unwise virgins whose flasks were empty, but to always be ready for His return, for we know not the hour of His return [7]. We should make certain that our light shines [8] before the world and that we are always ready to give an answer for the hope that is within us [9].

Our focus should be on Jesus Christ and His return, not the world’s plan. God changes not and what Christ wrote will stand and will happen. So let the world worry about the last days and we can prepare ourselves for the return of our husband.

As the bride of Christ, how can we prepare ourselves for His coming? The baptism of water is the act of separating ourselves from the world and setting ourselves apart. Being in our prayer closet, every day is prudent. Reading His Word daily and going to church regularly is a good way to prepare for His return.

We can use our spiritual gifts for the edification of the body and for our own growth. Fulfilling the great commission given to us by our Lord [10] is the last thing God told us to do, so we should continue to do so.

It is all about relationship. Ministering to the Lord Jesus Christ and praying for His return is among the things that we could be doing. Our focus should be on Him, especially at this hour [11]. First Thessalonians 5:12-22 gives us some things to do to prepare ourselves for His return.

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[1] Ephesians 5:25-27 NIV
[2] 1 Corinthians 6:11 NIV
[3] Matthew 28:19
[4] Acts 11:16
[5] Matthew 25:1-13
[6] Luke 11:13
[7] Matthew 24:42
[8] Matthew 5:16
[9] 1 Peter 3:15
[10] Mark 16:15
[11] Colossians 3:1-3

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JEWISH MARRIAGE CUSTOMS: Part Four

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Betrothal (Kiddushin)

Jewish marriages hinged upon two ceremonies: the betrothal (Kiddushin) and the marriage ceremony (Nissu’in). The betrothal [1], is less than a marriage but more than an engagement. The Kiddushin means sanctification or set apart.

When a Jewish couple entered into a betrothal, they considered the marriage to be legal and binding. In fact, when they entered into a betrothal, it was so strong and binding that if the bridegroom died, they considered the woman to be a widow.

The bridegroom brought three things to the house of the prospective bride: a marriage contract (Ketubah), gifts for the bride (Mattan), and the bride price (Mohar).

The father of the bride also gave his daughter a dowry (Shiluhim). When they agreed upon the terms, the groom offered the bride the cup. If she drank from it, this meant that she accepted his proposal. They called this the cup of acceptance. This sealed their marriage.

The groom would then leave and prepare a place for them to live and the bride would prepare herself by taking a ceremonial Mikvah, veil herself until his return, and anticipate his return with fervor. His return is now her only focus.

Parallels to the Church…

Just like the groom left his father's house and traveled to the bride's house for the purpose of betrothal, so did Christ travel from heaven to the earth for the purpose of betrothal and marriage to His prospective bride. The reason behind Christ’s coming was forgiveness from Adam’s sin [2] and to establish a marriage covenant with His bride, the church [3],

The next eight steps happen during the betrothal period: marriage contract, gifts for the Bride, the Father’s dowry, the cup of acceptance, the Bride price, the veil, the preparation of the Bride, and the preparation of the Groom.


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[1] Jeremiah 2:2; Hosea 2:19, 20
[2] 1 John 1:9
[3] Ephesians 1:9-14

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