The Bride Price- the mohar
Hiart, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud1PRdQYBFo
The Bride Price??? Doesn’t that sound less than appealing? From a western mindset, it is anything but appealing. Hang on sisters, it is really a blessing of monumental proportions! God cares for His daughters!
Wedding Contract
Here is where this whole wedding contract starts getting really good! Stringing pearls to better understand scripture is a new method of studying God’s Word to me, but I sure do love it. Tiny iridescent beads of “gospel gorgeous” knowledge we can string together and gain a better understanding of all God is revealing to us in His Word. We just need a bit of a Jewish perspective.
The Mohar (bridewealth)
During ancient Galilean, Jewish life, the wedding was a BIG deal, not just for two families but for the entire village. There is a party coming and it will be a week of celebration! The process of this spiritual bonding that includes dedication and sanctification is called the kiddushin or erusin. It was a legal matter established by the fathers of the bride and groom, at the city gate (where all business was transacted in the presence of witnesses). But, don’t forget, acceptance of the groom must be by the consent of the bride.
Signing the contract (The Bride’s Security)
A contract, which is called the ketubah, is written for the benefit of the bride, and as part of the contract, a bride price (mohar) was established. This bride price is sometimes called by anthropologists, bridewealth. The mohar was the amount the bridegroom’s family is willing to pay for the bride. The average was five shekels. The bridegroom on the other hand was to present the bride with a sum sufficient to provide for her new home and “secure her financial future independence” should the bridegroom divorce the bride or suddenly die. It was to remain the bride’s property for the duration of her life.
The Mattan (Gift to bride for security)
This mohar included money, land, and gifts such as a ring or other jewelry. These gifts are called mattan. We see in Proverbs 31, that the woman engages in commerce, purchasing goods for the home, and being a businesswoman contributing to the wealth of her family. This was made possible by her mohar.
The price to show value
This was no paltry amount. It was meant to show the value of the bride to the groom, to her own family, and to the community. It could take the young bridegroom up to seven years to raise the bride price. (Jacob worked for Laban seven years for Rachel) In Jewish culture, women were valued more than in other Middle Eastern cultures. Women are considered the pinnacle of God”s creation and the mohar for Eve was Adam’s rib. And every Shabbat (sabbath) is welcomed like a bride and the only person allowed to light the Shabbat candle is the mother.
Not a dowry
The mohar is very different from a dowry. A dowry in European cultures is the opposite of the mohar. The bride’s family must provide a dowry for the bride because she was considered an added burden on the groom’s family.
Celebration of joy
Once the mohar is paid the groom cries out in a loud voice, “tetelastai!“ (It is finished: it means paid in full!”). This is done with great simcha or joy. His Bride now is secured. (John 19:30)
It Is Finished, Gaither Vocal Band
Preparation by the bride
The bride is very careful with these gifts. She will sew the five shekels given to her father into her headpiece. She will use part of the money to purchase supplies for her wedding garment and needed items for the couple’s new room in the Father’s house, and the rest will be put aside “for a rainy day.” All that is given is for the BRIDE!
The Contract (Ketuba)
Now that the bride has agreed to the terms of the ketuba, she has accepted the cup of wine, the preparations of sanctification of the bride and the groom begins by the groom departing, saying, “I go to prepare a place for you,” (this is a one to two year waiting period). The bride responds, “Don’t go!” The bridegroom replies, “It is better for you that I go, but I will come back.” The bride implores, “When?” and the groom says, “I do not know the day or the hour, only my Father knows.” (John 14:1-3) In Jewish culture, the bride must be provided for equal to or exceeding her previous home. She is excited to see her new home. This is the simcha: EXPECTATION!
Can you picture our Bridegroom
Sound familiar? Jesus is our Bridegroom. He paid the bride price or mohar with all His blood. Jesus sent gifts of the Spirit to remind us we are precious to Him. He is working to prepare our place in His Father’s house. Our Bridegroom has been gone for two thousand years. (A day is a thousand years and a thousand years is a day.) We have received our mohar and mattan. The question is are we as faithful as the Proverbs 31 woman. Are we being pure and undefiled? We know what Jesus is doing. The second question is are we preparing ourselves for His return to take us to His Father’s house.
Get Ready The Price Has Been Paid!!
Bride, it is time to get ready! Time is of the essence. We should be sleeping in our wedding clothes so we can jump up and go! The waiting is our sanctification when we are faithful till He comes!
It Is Finished, Passion
PS I HIGHLY recommend a podcast called Stringing Pearls by Kristi McLelland. She coined “gospel gorgeous!” This perfectly expresses what studying the Bride has been for me!
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pearls-with-kristi-mclelland/id1606458317
