Jewish Betrothal Wedding Ceremony

  1. Selection of the bride by the father. The father sends a trusted servant, "Agent of the Father," to search out the bride.
    • Genesis 24: He (Abraham) said to the chief servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh. I want you to swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.”
    • 1 Peter 1:8: Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy...
  2. The price is established and agreed upon by the father and the son.
    • 1 Peter 1:18-19: For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
  3. The bride and groom are betrothed (legally bound).
  4. The contract must be written. (Torah, Bible)
  5. The bride must give her consent.
    • Exodus 19:8: The people all responded together, “We will do everything the LORD has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD.
    • Exodus 24:3: When Moses went and told the people all the LORD’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, “Everything the LORD has said we will do.”
    • Romans 10:9: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
  6. Gifts must be given and a cup shared.
    • Luke 22:17: After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you."
  7. The bride must be cleansed in a Mikvah.
    • Ezekiel 16:8-14: “‘Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign LORD, and you became mine. I bathed you with water and washed the blood from you and put ointments on you...'"
    • Exodus 19:14: After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.
    • Luke 3:16: John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."
    • Acts 1:5: For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
  8. The bridegroom departs to prepare a house for the bride.
    • John 14:1-3: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
  9. The bride is consecrated (made holy, set aside, separated from the world). The groom's father gives permission for the son to go to the bride.
    • Mark 13:32: “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."
    • 2 Peter 3:10: But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
  10. The shofar is blown. The bridegroom returns with a shout, "Behold, the bridegroom comes!" and "Blessed is he who comes!"
    • Matthew 25:6: “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’"
    • Matthew 23:39: For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."
    • 1 Corinthians 15:52: For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
  11. The bridegroom abducts the bride for seven days.
    • Joel 2:16: Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber.
  12. The marriage supper for all. The guests are invited by the father of the bride. A friend of the bridegroom relays the news.
    • John 3:29: The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.

Edward Chumney, The Seven Festivals of the Messiah

Source: Bible Book of Lists at www.SusanCAnthony.com