Marriage (give in), Marry
“a marriage, wedding,” or “wedding feast,” is used to denote (a) the ceremony and its proceedings, including the “marriage feast,” Joh 2:1-2; of the “marriage ceremony” only, figuratively, Rev 19:7, as distinct from the “marriage feast” (Rev 19:9); (b) “the marriage feast,” RV in Mat 22:2-4, Mat 22:9; in Mat 22:8, Mat 22:10, “wedding;” in Mat 25:10, RV “marriage feast;” so Luk 12:36; Luk 14:8; in Mat 22:11-12, the “wedding garment” is, lit., “a garment of a wedding.” In Rev. 19, where, under the figure of a “marriage,” the union of Christ, as the Lamb of God, with His heavenly bride is so described, the marriage itself takes place in heaven during the Parousia, Rev 19:7 (the aorist or point tense indicating an accomplished fact; the bride is called “His wife”); the “marriage feast” or supper is to take place on earth, after the Second Advent, Rev 19:9. That Christ is spoken of as the Lamb points to His atoning sacrifice as the ground upon which the spiritual union takes place. The background of the phraseology lies in the OT description of the relation of God to Israel, e.g., Isa 54:4,ff.; Eze 16:7,ff; Hos 2:19; (c) “marriage” in general, including the “married” state, which is to be “had in honor,” Heb 13:4, RV.
Note: Among the Jews the “marriage supper” took place in the husband’s house and was the great social event in the family life. Large hospitality, and resentment at the refusal of an invitation, are indicated in Mat 22:1-14. The “marriage” in Cana exhibits the way in which a “marriage feast” was conducted in humbler homes. Special honor attached to the male friends of the bridegroom, “the sons of the bridechamber,” Mat 9:15, RV (see BRIDECHAMBER). At the close the parents conducted the bride to the nuptial chamber (cp. Jdg 15:1)
“to marry” (akin to A), is used (a) of “the man,” Mat 5:32; Mat 19:9-10; Mat 22:25 (RV; AV, “married a wife”); Mat 22:30; Mat 24:38; Mar 6:17; Mar 10:11; Mar 12:25; Luk 14:20; Luk 16:18; Luk 17:27, RV, “married” (AV, “married wives”); Luk 20:34-35; 1Co 7:28 (1st part); 1Co 7:33; (b) of “the woman,” in the Active Voice, Mar 10:12; 1Co 7:28 (last part); 1Co 7:34; 1Ti 5:11, 1Ti 5:14; in the Passive Voice, 1Co 7:39; (c) of “both sexes,” 1Co 7:9-10, 1Co 7:36; 1Ti 4:3.
“to give in marriage,” is used in the Passive Voice in Mat 22:30 (2nd clause), some mss. have No. 5 here; Mar 12:25 (No. 3 in some mss.); Luk 17:27 (No. 5 in some mss.); Luk 20:35 (last word), Passive (Nos. 3 and 4 in some mss.); in the Active Voice Mat 24:38 (Nos. 3 and 5 in some mss.); further, of giving a daughter in “marriage,” 1 Cor. on the whole, may be taken as the meaning. In this part of the Epistle, the Apostle was answering a number of questions on matters about which the church at Corinth had written to him, and in this particular matter the formal transition from “marriage” in general to the subject of giving a daughter in “marriage,” is simple. Eastern customs naturally would involve the inclusion of the latter in the inquiry and the reply.
an alternative for No. 2, Luk 20:34 (some mss. have No. 4); in some mss. in Mar 12:25; Luk 20:35.
“to give out in marriage” (ek, “out,” and No. 3): see Nos. 2 and 3.
an alternative for No. 4: see Nos. 2 and 3.
“to take to wife after” (epi, “upon,” gambros, “a connection by marriage”), signifies “to marry” (of a deceased husband’s next of kin, Mat 22:24). Cp. Gen 38:8.
Note: In Rom 7:3 (twice) and Rom 7:4, AV, ginomai, “to become” (here, “to become another man’s”), is translated “be married” (RV, “be joined”).