Revelation 19:7

KJV

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

KJV (with Strong's)

Let us be glad {G5463} and {G2532} rejoice {G21}, and {G2532} give {G1325} honour {G1391} to him {G846}: for {G3754} the marriage {G1062} of the Lamb {G721} is come {G2064}, and {G2532} his {G846} wife {G1135} hath made {G2090} herself {G1438} ready {G2090}.

Complete Jewish Bible

“Let us rejoice and be glad!
Let us give him the glory!
For the time has come for the
wedding of the Lamb,
and his Bride has prepared herself —

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Revelation 19:7 erupts with a heavenly chorus of exultant praise, announcing the long-anticipated "marriage of the Lamb" and the readiness of His bride. This pivotal verse marks a dramatic shift in Revelation's narrative from the preceding judgments on Babylon to a joyous celebration of divine union, signaling the ultimate consummation of God's redemptive plan and the eternal fellowship between Christ and His redeemed people.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated immediately after the dramatic fall and judgment of "Babylon the Great" in [Revelation 17-18](/revelation/17-18 "Revelation 17-18 - The Fall of Babylon"), which depicts the destruction of all that opposes God. The scene then shifts abruptly to heaven, where a great multitude, along with the elders and the four living creatures, erupts in fervent praise, declaring God's righteous judgments and sovereignty ([Revelation 19:1-6](/revelation/19-1-6 "Revelation 19:1-6 - Heavenly Praise for God's Judgment")). Revelation 19:7 serves as the climactic announcement within this heavenly worship, introducing the ultimate reason for celebration: the arrival of the Lamb's marriage. It transitions the narrative from divine wrath to divine love and union, setting the stage for Christ's triumphant return and the establishment of His eternal kingdom.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The imagery of a marriage or wedding feast held profound significance in ancient Jewish and Greco-Roman cultures. Weddings were elaborate, multi-stage events, often involving a betrothal period, a procession, and a grand feast. In biblical tradition, the covenant relationship between God and His people Israel was frequently depicted as a marriage ([Isaiah 54:5](/isaiah/54-5 "Isaiah 54:5 - God as Israel's Husband"); [Jeremiah 3:14](/jeremiah/3-14 "Jeremiah 3:14 - God's Call to Backsliding Israel"); [Hosea 2:19-20](/hosea/2-19-20 "Hosea 2:19-20 - God's Betrothal to Israel")). This established a rich theological backdrop for the New Testament's portrayal of Christ as the Bridegroom and the Church as His bride, signifying an intimate, covenantal, and eternal union. The concept of the bride "making herself ready" would have resonated with the cultural expectation of a bride's preparation for her wedding day, often involving special attire and adornment.
* **Key Themes:** The verse encapsulates several crucial themes. First, **Rejoicing and Giving Honour** stands as the immediate response to God's ultimate victory and the unfolding of His redemptive plan. It emphasizes the appropriate posture of worship and adoration in the face of divine glory. Second, **The Marriage of the Lamb** is a central eschatological metaphor, representing the ultimate, permanent, and intimate union between Jesus Christ (the Lamb, who sacrificed Himself for humanity's sin, as seen in [Revelation 5:6](/revelation/5-6 "Revelation 5:6 - The Lamb Who Was Slain")) and His Church, the collective body of believers, depicted as His "wife" or "bride" ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25-27 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ's Love for the Church")). Third, the **Readiness of the Bride** is a critical and active theme. The phrase "his wife hath made herself ready" highlights that the Church's preparation for this divine union is not passive but involves active purification, sanctification, and faithful living, enabled by God's grace but requiring human response. This readiness is further elaborated in [Revelation 19:8](/revelation/19-8 "Revelation 19:8 - The Bride's Fine Linen"), where the bride is clothed in "fine linen, clean and white," which "is the righteousness of saints."

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **marriage (Greek, _gámos'_):** This term refers specifically to a wedding feast or marriage celebration, emphasizing the joyous event and the consummation of the union. In this context, it points to the ultimate eschatological banquet and the permanent bond between Christ and His Church.
* **Lamb (Greek, _arníon'_):** A diminutive form, meaning "lambkin," this is John's favorite title for Jesus Christ throughout Revelation (used 29 times). It powerfully evokes Christ's sacrificial death as the innocent, atoning victim, reminiscent of the Passover lamb ([Exodus 12](/exodus/12 "Exodus 12 - The Passover")). Here, the Lamb is not merely a victim but the triumphant Bridegroom, signifying that the marriage is founded upon His redemptive work.
* **hath made herself ready (Greek, _hetoimázō'_ and _heautoû'_):** The verb _hetoimázō_ means "to prepare" or "to make ready." Crucially, it is used here with the reflexive pronoun _heautoû_ ("herself"), emphasizing that the bride's readiness is an active, self-initiated process. While God's grace enables and empowers, the bride (the Church) actively participates in her sanctification and purification, making herself fit for the union.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him":** This opening clause is a direct exhortation to the heavenly multitude. It is a call to exuberant joy (_chaírō_ and _agalliáō_, indicating deep gladness and exultation) and profound reverence. The "him" refers to God, whose righteous judgments and ultimate plan are being celebrated. This command sets the tone of triumphant worship for the ensuing announcement.
* **"for the marriage of the Lamb is come,"** This clause provides the foundational reason for the preceding command to rejoice. The "marriage of the Lamb" is presented as a definitive, accomplished event ("is come," perfect tense in Greek, indicating a completed action with ongoing results). This signifies the long-awaited consummation of the relationship between Christ and His Church, marking the climax of salvation history.
* **"and his wife hath made herself ready."** This final clause identifies the bride as "his wife" (the Church) and highlights her active role in preparation. The readiness is not merely an external adornment but an internal transformation, a state of holiness and purity achieved through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit and the faithful obedience of believers. This readiness is a prerequisite for the divine union, underscoring the Church's responsibility in her spiritual journey.

#### Literary Devices
Revelation 19:7 is rich in **Symbolism** and **Metaphor**. The entire concept of the "marriage of the Lamb" is a profound metaphor for the eschatological union between Christ and His Church. The "Lamb" is a symbol of Jesus Christ's sacrificial atonement and victorious reign. The "wife" or "bride" symbolizes the Church, the collective body of believers. This imagery conveys intimacy, covenant faithfulness, and the ultimate destiny of God's people. The verse also employs **Personification**, as the Church is personified as a bride actively preparing herself for a wedding. Furthermore, there is a strong sense of **Antithesis** when viewed in the broader context of Revelation 17-18. The glorious, pure bride of Christ stands in stark contrast to the harlot "Babylon the Great," who was just judged, highlighting the purity and faithfulness of God's true people versus the corruption of the world system.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The announcement of the marriage of the Lamb is a profound theological statement about the ultimate destiny of God's people and the culmination of Christ's redemptive work. It signifies the perfect and eternal union between Christ and His Church, a relationship characterized by intimacy, purity, and unwavering love. This marriage is not merely a future event but the glorious telos towards which all of history moves, representing the final triumph of God's kingdom and the complete realization of His covenant promises. It underscores the Church's identity as the beloved of Christ, redeemed and sanctified for eternal fellowship with Him. This vision provides immense hope and a powerful motivation for believers to live lives of holiness and faithfulness in anticipation of this glorious day.

* [Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25-27 "Christ's Love for the Church")
* [2 Corinthians 11:2](/2_corinthians/11-2 "Paul's Concern for the Church")
* [Revelation 21:2-9](/revelation/21-2-9 "Revelation 21:2, 9 - The New Jerusalem as the Bride")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Revelation 19:7 calls us to a profound sense of spiritual readiness and joyful anticipation. The heavenly command to "be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him" should resonate deeply within our hearts, prompting us to live lives of worship and gratitude. This verse reminds us that our ultimate hope is not in earthly triumphs or fleeting pleasures, but in the eternal union with Christ, the Lamb of God. The emphasis on the bride having "made herself ready" serves as a powerful call to active spiritual preparation. It means pursuing holiness, putting off sin, growing in Christ-likeness, and living faithfully in anticipation of His return. Our present choices, our pursuit of righteousness, and our dedication to Christ's mission are all part of this vital preparation. Living in light of the coming marriage of the Lamb provides a profound sense of purpose, resilience in trials, and an unwavering hope that transcends the difficulties of this present age, knowing that our ultimate joy and union with the Savior are certain and imminent.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What does the "marriage of the Lamb" signify for your personal faith and future hope?**
* **In what practical ways can you "make yourself ready" as the bride of Christ in your daily life?**
* **How does the anticipation of Christ's ultimate union with His Church impact your perspective on current challenges and suffering?**
* **How can you cultivate a spirit of gladness, rejoicing, and honor towards God in response to His redemptive plan?**

### FAQ
**Who is the "Lamb" in Revelation 19:7?**

Answer: The "Lamb" consistently refers to Jesus Christ throughout the book of Revelation. This title emphasizes His sacrificial death on the cross as the perfect, sinless offering for humanity's redemption, harkening back to the Passover lamb in the Old Testament ([Exodus 12](/exodus/12 "Exodus 12 - The Passover")). However, in Revelation, the Lamb is not merely a victim but also the victorious, reigning King, who is worthy of all worship and praise ([Revelation 5:12-13](/revelation/5-12-13 "Revelation 5:12-13 - Worthiness of the Lamb")).

**Who is the "wife" or "bride" of the Lamb?**

Answer: The "wife" or "bride" of the Lamb symbolizes the Church, which is the collective body of all believers in Jesus Christ throughout history. This imagery is used elsewhere in the New Testament to describe the intimate and covenantal relationship between Christ and His redeemed people ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25-27 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ's Love for the Church"); [2 Corinthians 11:2](/2_corinthians/11-2 "2 Corinthians 11:2 - Paul's Concern for the Church")). The ultimate manifestation of this bride is the New Jerusalem, descending from heaven ([Revelation 21:2, 9](/revelation/21-2-9 "Revelation 21:2, 9 - The New Jerusalem as the Bride")).

**What does it mean that "his wife hath made herself ready"?**

Answer: The phrase "his wife hath made herself ready" signifies the Church's active participation in her sanctification and purification, enabled by God's grace. It means that believers, empowered by the Holy Spirit, strive for holiness, faithfulness, and obedience, putting off sin and growing in Christ-likeness. This readiness is not based on human merit but is a response of faith to God's transformative work, often depicted as being clothed in the "fine linen, clean and white" which "is the righteousness of saints" ([Revelation 19:8](/revelation/19-8 "The Bride's Fine Linen")). It implies a life of spiritual preparation and expectancy for Christ's return and the consummation of His kingdom.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Revelation 19:7 finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. He is the very subject and object of this glorious announcement. The "marriage of the Lamb" is the eschatological culmination of Christ's entire redemptive mission, initiated by His incarnation, lived out in perfect obedience, sealed by His atoning death on the cross ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), and vindicated by His resurrection and ascension. It is through His shed blood that the "wife" (the Church) is cleansed and made pure, enabling her to "make herself ready" not by her own power, but by the sanctifying grace He provides. Christ, as the Bridegroom, loved the Church and "gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and blameless" ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25-27 "Christ's Love for the Church")). Thus, the readiness of the bride is a direct result of the Bridegroom's perfect work, and the marriage itself is the glorious display of His covenant faithfulness and triumphant love for His redeemed people, culminating in an eternal, intimate union with Him ([Revelation 21:2-3](/revelation/21-2-3 "Revelation 21:2-3 - The New Jerusalem and God's Dwelling with Man")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Revelation 21:9

¶ And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

Revelation 21:2

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Matthew 22:2

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,

2 Corinthians 11:2

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ.

Revelation 19:9

And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed [are] they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Ephesians 5:32

This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

John 3:29

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.