Dictionary of Biblical Words:
This word is applied to the “church of God,” of whom it is the future, and heavenly title (Rev. 19; 21; 22. only, except in that remarkable passage, John 3:29). The word “bride” implies “newly married,” and is not strictly applicable to the Jews, who have been married, but are divorced. Still it is evident, that just as there are two seeds, two Jerusalem’s, two peoples—heavenly and earthly, so are there two wives (see Rev. 19:7; and Isa. 54:4, 8; 62:4; Jer. 3 &c.). The figure, as regards the church, is alluded to in Eph. 5, and we get numerous types of this union in the Old Testament (Adam and Eve, Isaac and Rebecca, Joseph and Asenath, &c.). As seen by the world in the millennium, she will appear as the heavenly Jerusalem (Rev. 21).
Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
[MARRIAGE.]
Concise Bible Dictionary:
A woman about to be married, or newly married, used symbolically for those who are closely associated with Jehovah or the Lord Jesus. Though the word does not occur in the Canticles, nearly the whole of that book is composed of discourses between a bridegroom and a bride-doubtless referring to Jehovah and the Jewish remnant (compare Hos. 2:19-20). As a bride adorns herself with jewels (Isa. 61:10), so would Jerusalem be adorned with Jehovah’s righteousness and salvation. When John is called to behold the bride, the Lamb’s wife, he sees a beautiful city, the holy Jerusalem, having the glory of God (Rev. 21:2, 9-10). The church is the bride of the Lamb (compare 2 Cor. 11:2).
Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:
Meaning:
from a primary but obsolete verb nupto," to marry); a young married woman (as veiled), including a betrothed girl; by implication, a son's wife
KJV Usage:
bride, daughter in law