John 3:29

John 3:29 . ὁ ἔχων τὴν νύμφην … The bride is the familiar O.T. figure expressive of the people in their close relation to God ( Isaiah 54:5 , Hosea 2:18 , Psalms 45). This figure passes into N.T. Cf. Matthew 22:2 , Ephesians 5:32 , Jam 4:4 .— ὁ ἔχων , he that has and holds as a wife . Cf. Mark 6:18 , Isaiah 54:1 ; Isaiah 62:5 .— νυμφίος ἐστίν , it is the bridegroom, and no one else, who marries the bride and to whom she belongs. There is only one in whom the people of God can find their permanent joy and rest; one who is the perennial spring of their happiness and life.— ὁ δὲ φίλος τοῦ νυμφίου , the friend, par excellence , the groomsman, παρανύμφιος , νυμφάγωγος , or in Hebrew Shoshben, who was employed to ask the hand of the bride and to arrange the marriage. For the standing and duties of the Shadchan and Shoshben see Abraham’s Jewish Life in the Middle Ages , pp. 170, 180. The similar function of the Hindu go-between or ghatak is fully described in The City of Sunshine . The peculiar and intense gratification [ χαρᾷ χαίρει , intensely rejoices, see especially Lücke, who renders “durch und durch”; Weizsäcker, “freut sich hoch”; R.V[46], “rejoiceth greatly”] of this functionary was to see that his delicate task was crowned with success; and of this he was assured when he stood and heard the bridegroom directly welcoming his bride [“voice of bridegroom” as symbol of joy, Jeremiah 7:34 ; Jeremiah 16:9 ].— αὕτη οὖν ἡ χαρὰ ἡ ἐμὴ πεπλήρωται .

This is the joy which John claims for himself, the joy of the bridegroom’s friend, who arranges the marriage, and this joy is attained in Christ’s welcoming to Himself the people whom John has prepared for Him and directed to Him. Cf. 2 Corinthians 11:2 , where Paul uses similar language. It is not John’s regret that men are attracted to Jesus: rather it is the fulfilment of his work and hope. This was the God-appointed order. [46] Revised Version.

The bride A common figure in the Old testament prophecies, of the relation between Jehovah and His people (Ezekiel 16; Hosea 2:19; Malachi 2:11). See also on Matthew 1:21, concerning Hosea. Friend of the bridegroom Or groomsman. The term is appropriate to Judaea, the groomsmen not being customary in Galilee. See Matthew 9:15, where the phrase children of the bridechamber is used. (See on Mark 2:19). In Judaea there were two groomsmen, one for the bridegroom, the other for his bride. Before marriage they acted as intermediaries between the couple; at the wedding they offered gifts, waited upon the bride and bridegroom, and attended them to the bridal chamber. It was the duty of the friend of the bridegroom to present him to his bride, after marriage to maintain proper terms between the parties, and especially to defend the bride's good fame. The Rabbinical writings speak of Moses as the friend of the bridegroom who leads out the bride to meet Jehovah at Sinai (Exodus 19:17); and describe Michael and Gabriel as acting as the friends of the bridegroom to our first parents, when the Almighty himself took the cup of blessing and spoke the benediction. The Baptist represents himself as standing in the same relation to Jesus. Rejoiceth greatly (χαρᾷ χαίρει) Literally, rejoiceth with joy. A Hebrew idiom. See on Luke 22:15, and compare Acts 23:14; James 5:17. Only here in John's writings. This my joy (αὕτη ἡ χαρὰ ἡ ἐμὴ) A very emphatic expression: this, the joy which is mine

27-30. A man, &c.—"I do my heaven-prescribed work, and that is enough for me. Would you have me mount into my Master's place? Said I not unto you, I am not the Christ? The Bride is not mine, why should the people stay with me?? Mine it is to point the burdened to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world, to tell them there is Balm in Gilead, and a Physician there. And shall I grudge to see them, in obedience to the call, flying as a cloud, and as doves to their windows? Whose is the Bride but the Bridegroom's? Enough for me to be the Bridegroom's friend, sent by Him to negotiate the match, privileged to bring together the Saviour and those He is come to seek and to save, and rejoicing with joy unspeakable if I may but 'stand and hear the Bridegroom's voice,' witnessing the blessed espousals. Say ye, then, they go from me to Him? Ye bring me glad tidings of great joy. He must increase, but I must decrease; this, my joy, therefore is fulfilled." A man can receive, &c.—assume nothing, that is, lawfully and with any success; that is, Every man has his work and sphere appointed him from above, Even Christ Himself came under this law (Heb 5:4).

Christ, whose the church is by a right of redemption, and by its having given up itself to him, 2 Corinthians 8:5 , he is the Bridegroom of it, Matthew 22:2 2 Corinthians 11:2 Ephesians 5:23,25,29 ; as his Father was the Husband of the Jewish church; it belongeth to him to give laws to it, and to order matters and affairs in it. I am but as one who is the friend of the bridegroom, one of the children of the bride chamber, Matthew 9:15 , and have by my preaching prepared the people of the Jews for him; and instead of being troubled to hear that he is come, I rejoice greatly to hear his voice. So far am I from repining to hear that multitudes go to him, that my joy is fulfilled; that is, I have no greater satisfaction than to hear it.

29 . John explains by a figure his subordination to the Messiah. He that hath the bride ] Here only in this Gospel does this well-known symbol occur. It is frequent both in O.T. and N.T. Isaiah 54:5 ; Hosea 2:19-20 ; Ephesians 5:32 ; Revelation 19:7 ; Revelation 21:2 ; Revelation 21:9 . Comp. Song of Solomon, passim ; Matthew 9:15 ; Matthew 25:1 . In O.T. it symbolizes the relationship between Jehovah and His chosen people, in N.T that between Christ and His Church. the friend of the bridegroom ] The special friend, appointed to arrange the preliminaries of the wedding, to manage and preside at the marriage feast. Somewhat analogous to our ‘best man,’ but his duties were very much more considerable. A much closer analogy may be found among the lower orders in the Tyrol at the present day. Here the Messiah is the Bridegroom and the Church His Bride; John is His friend who has prepared the heart of the Bride and arranged the espousal. He rejoices to see the consummation of his labours. heareth him ] i.e. listens attentively to do his bidding. because of the bridegroom’s voice ] Heard in the midst of the marriage-festivities. is fulfilled ] i.e. has been fulfilled and still remains complete. Comp. John 15:11 , John 16:24 , John 17:13 ; 1 John 1:4 .

John 3:29 . Ὁ ἔχων ) He who hath , or whom the bride follows. All come to Jesus: hence it is clear, that Jesus is the Bridegroom. See the Song of Solomon.— φίλος , the friend ) Dear to the Bridegroom, loving the Bridegroom. The derivation of John accords.[59] It is the part of a friend to rejoice ,— ὁ ἐστηκώς , who standeth ) as His attendant.— ἀκούων ) hearing Him speaking with the bride, John 3:32 ; John 3:34 , “What He hath seen and heard, that He testifieth;—He whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God.” These two participles are part of the subject: the predicate is χαίρει , rejoiceth .— φωνήν , the voice ) by which the Bridegroom testifies His presence, John 3:32 . This voice sweetly attracts the bride.— ἡ χαρά , joy ) without sadness and envy. [59] Viz., with this character, as friend of the Bridegroom. John in Hebr. = the favour of God .

(29) He that hath the bride is the bridegroom. —This is the only instance in this Gospel where the familiar imagery of an Eastern marriage meets us. (See Note on Matthew 9:15 , where we have the same imagery in the answer of our Lord to these same disciples of John, then taking sides with the Pharisees, on the question of fasting.) The “friend of the bridegroom”—called by the Hebrews “Shōshbēn,” and by the Greeks “Paranymph”—was charged with the preliminaries of the marriage. He arranged the contract, acted for the bridegroom during the betrothal, and arranged for, and presided at, the festivities of the wedding-day itself. It was a position of honour, in proportion to the position of the bridegroom himself, and was given to his chief friend. That friend then joyed in his joy, and there was none brighter on that day than he. This in John’s thought is an illustration of his own position. The bridegroom is the Messiah; the bride is the Kingdom of God—the church, consisting of all who with pure hearts are willing to receive Him; the friend who has arranged the betrothal, who has prepared these hearts, is John himself. He now stands and hears the Bridegroom. Some of those who had been prepared by him for the Bridegroom would have come, it may be, and told him of his words. He is now near at hand. Throngs crowd to Him. The bride is approaching. Do they see in all this matter for envy? It is to him the consummation of all hopes. The life-work has not been in vain. The cup runs over

He that hath the bride ... - This is an illustration drawn from marriage. The bride belongs to her husband. So the church, the bride of the Messiah, belongs to him. It is to be expected, therefore, and desireD, that the people should flock to him. But the friend of the bridegroom - He whose office it is to attend him on the marriage occasion. This was commonly the nearest friend, and was a high honor. Rejoiceth greatly - Esteems himself highly honored by the proof of friendship. The bridegroom's voice - His commands, requests, or conversation. This my joy ... - "I sustain to the Messiah the relation which a groomsman does to the groom. The chief honor and the chief joy is not mine, but his. It is to be expected, therefore, that the people will come to him, and that his success will be great. The relation of Christ to the church is often compared with the marriage relation, denoting the tenderness of the union, and his great love for his people. Compare Isaiah 62:5; Revelation 21:2, Revelation 21:9; Revelation 22:17; Ephesians 5:26-27, Ephesians 5:32; 2 Corinthians 11:2.