Luke 5:34 Meaning and Explanation
“And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus answers that wedding guests cannot be made to fast while the bridegroom is with them.
What Does Luke 5:34 Mean?
Jesus answers with a picture everyone knew: 'the children of the bridechamber' are the bridegroom's friends, the wedding party. A wedding suspended ordinary austerities; even the devout did not fast during the feast, because joy was the duty of the hour. No one mourns at a wedding while the bridegroom stands among his guests.
Quietly, Jesus names himself the bridegroom — language the prophets use for God's covenant love toward his people (Isaiah 62:5; Hosea 2:19-20). His presence turns the disciples' daily life into a wedding feast; that is why they eat and drink. The deepest reason for Christian joy is not circumstance but company: the Bridegroom is with us, and where he is, the feast is.
Luke 5:34 in the Original Language
nymphios (νυμφίος), 'bridegroom' -- the husband at a wedding; the one whose presence makes the feast.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 5:34
What does Luke 5:34 mean?
Jesus answers that wedding guests cannot be made to fast while the bridegroom is with them.