Bible Strands
John 3:29
The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — John the Baptist speaks these words in the narrative sequence between John 3:28 and John 3:30, clarifying his subordinate role to Jesus while addressing his followers and the surrounding Jewish crowd.
The words — The Greek phrase ἔχων τὴν νύμφην (echōn tēn numphēn) literally means "having the bride," while δὲ (de) operates as a connective "now" to pivot the focus toward the bridegroom’s attendant.
The thread — The bride and bridegroom metaphor appears in Isaiah 54:5 and Hosea 2:19, where Yahweh is named the husband of Israel, and is later applied to Christ and the church in Ephesians 5:25.
Why it lands — The text states that the speaker’s joy is complete because he hears the bridegroom’s voice, which asks the reader to find fulfillment in supporting Christ’s supremacy rather than claiming it for themselves.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 54:5 For your husband is your Maker—the LORD of Hosts is His name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth.
- Hosea 2:19 So I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in loving devotion and compassion.
- Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her
- Matthew 9:15 Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
- Ezekiel 16:8 Then I passed by and saw you, and you were indeed old enough for love. So I spread My cloak over you and covered your nakedness. I pledged Myself to you, entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine, declares the Lord GOD.
- Revelation 19:7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.
- Revelation 21:9 Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls full of the seven final plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
- Philippians 2:2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose.
- John 16:24 Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
- 2 Corinthians 11:2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.