For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse uses the metaphor of marriage to describe God's deep delight in His people, but the unusual phrasing "your sons marry you" highlights that this isn't a typical familial relationship. Instead, it points to the profound, unbreakable bond and devoted loyalty that the people will have towards Jerusalem, mirroring the intense joy of a bridegroom with his bride.
For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah continues to describe Jerusalem's restoration and renewed relationship with God, following a period of desolation and abandonment. Chapters 60-62 have detailed the city's future glory and the blessings that will return to it. This passage directly follows God declaring Jerusalem will be called "Hephzibah" (my delight) and its land "Beulah" (married) because the Lord delights in her.
The Bible uses marriage as a powerful metaphor for God's relationship with His people. But what does it truly mean for God to be 'married' to us?
In Isaiah 62:5, the prophet uses vivid imagery to describe the deep, intimate, and joyful bond between God and His people. The comparison to a bridegroom rejoicing over his bride highlights the immense delight God takes in us.
The Bridegroom's Joy
This isn't just a simple statement of affection; it speaks to a profound, unshakeable joy. Imagine the happiness of a groom seeing his bride – a joy filled with anticipation, delight, and profound love. This is how God rejoices over us, His chosen people.
A Covenant Relationship
This 'marriage' is a covenant, a sacred promise that signifies exclusivity, faithfulness, and deep commitment. God doesn't just love us; He is eternally bound to us, celebrating us as His own.
The verse speaks of 'sons marrying' the people of Jerusalem. This seems strange at first, but it points to a profound reality of restoration and belonging.
The phrase 'so shall your sons marry you' is a bit unusual. While some scholars suggest a textual variant pointing to God as the 'Builder' or 'Restorer' (which aligns with other passages where God is the husband/builder of His people), the common reading also carries significant meaning.
'Sons Marrying You'
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This can be understood as the people of Jerusalem, the 'sons,' being so intimately united with their restored city that they are metaphorically 'married' to it. It signifies a deep, possessive belonging and a flourishing community where descendants are re-established and flourish within their homeland.
Divine Re-establishment
More importantly, this imagery underscores God's role as the ultimate Restorer. He doesn't just bring His people back; He re-establishes them, giving them a secure, joyful, and permanent place within His covenant, much like a young man committing to his bride.
Understand the original words
sus · Hebrew Verb
The act of finding intense joy, gladness, and celebration; in Scripture, God is frequently described as experiencing profound delight and joy over the well-being and holiness of His people.
This passage offers a vision of restoration and joyful reunion for Jerusalem, directly addressing the deep despair following the destruction of the city and the exile in Babylon. The imagery of marriage and divine rejoicing contrasts sharply with the desolation and perceived abandonment, promising a future where God's delight in His people overshadows all past sorrow and loss.
c. 701 BC
Sennacherib's Assyrian Invasion
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah, capturing many cities and besieging Jerusalem. This event created immense fear and uncertainty for the people of Judah, highlighting their vulnerability and reliance on God.
c. 597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Babylonian forces under Nebuchadnezzar II conquer Jerusalem, exiling King Jehoiachin and a large portion of the population, including key leaders and artisans. This marked the beginning of Judah's exile.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar II destroys Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, followed by a second, larger deportation of Judeans to Babylon. This was a catastrophic event, leading to profound national grief and a sense of abandonment.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, allowing exiled peoples, including the Judeans, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples.
c. 516 BC
Rebuilding of the Second Temple
The returned exiles, with Persian support, complete the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. While a significant achievement, it was a modest structure compared to Solomon's Temple, and the people still faced hardship.
This passage directly states that God is the 'husband' of His people, echoing the intimate, marital imagery of Isaiah 62:5 and reinforcing God's deep affection and claim.
Jeremiah 3:14Here, God promises to take individuals 'one from a city and two from a family' and bring them to Zion, illustrating the gathering of people to form the 'bride' that God rejoices over.
Ezekiel 16:8-14This extended metaphor describes God's covenant relationship with Israel as a marriage, detailing His care and adornment of her, which mirrors the joyous and loving relationship depicted in Isaiah 62:5.
Hosea 2:19-20This passage shows God espousing His people to Himself 'in faithfulness' and describes them knowing the Lord, aligning with the marital union and divine joy presented in Isaiah 62:5.
Revelation 19:7-9This New Testament passage describes the 'marriage supper of the Lamb,' where the bride (the Church) is made ready and clothed in fine linen, directly fulfilling the prophetic imagery of a joyous wedding celebration with God.
barnesIsaiah 62:5: "For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee."
For as a young man marrieth a virgin - Roberts remarks on this, 'In general no youth marries a widow. Such a thing I scarcely ever heard of (in India), nor will it ever be except under some very extraordinary circumstances, as in the case of a queen, princess, or great heiress. Even widowers also, if possible, always marry virgins…
cambridgeIsaiah 62:5: "For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee."
5 . so shall thy sons marry thee ] The harshness of the conception is obvious; and it is hardly relieved by pointing to the double meaning of the verb bâ‘al (“marry” and “possess”). Lowth and others, by a slight emendation of the text, read “so shall thy Builder (Jehovah) marry thee.” (So Cheyne, who refers to Psalm 147:2 : “Jehov…
The verse uses the metaphor of marriage to describe God's deep delight in His people, but the unusual phrasing "your sons marry you" highlights that this isn't a typical familial relationship. Instead, it points to the profound, unbreakable bond and devoted loyalty that the people will have towards Jerusalem, mirroring the intense joy of a bridegroom with his bride.
The prophet Isaiah continues to describe Jerusalem's restoration and renewed relationship with God, following a period of desolation and abandonment. Chapters 60-62 have detailed the city's future glory and the blessings that will return to it. This passage directly follows God declaring Jerusalem will be called "Hephzibah" (my delight) and its land "Beulah" (married) because the Lord delights in her.
The prophet Isaiah continues to describe Jerusalem's restoration and renewed relationship with God, following a period of desolation and abandonment. Chapters 60-62 have detailed the city's future glory and the blessings that will return to it. This passage directly follows God declaring Jerusalem will be called "Hephzibah" (my delight) and its land "Beulah" (married) because the Lord delights in her.
"For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you." — The verse uses the metaphor of marriage to describe God's deep delight in His people, but the unusual phrasing "your sons marry you" highlights that this isn't a typical familial relationship. Instea…
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Last reviewed October 2026