Matthew 9:15. Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bride chamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them?
See also Mark 2:19; Luke 5:34.
The “children of the bride chamber” were the friends and acquaintances who participated in the marriage festivities. The expression “child” or “children,” like that of “father” (see note on Gen. 4:20-21), is an Oriental form of speech, and is designed to show some relation between the person to whom it is applied and certain qualities existing in that person, or certain circumstances connected with him; these qualities or circumstances being the result of that relation. Thus people who are brought together on occasion of a marriage-feast are called the “children of the bride-chamber.” So when any passion or influence, good or bad, gets control of men, they are said to be the children of that passion or influence. Thus we have “children of wickedness” (2 Sam. 7:10); “children of pride” (Job 41:34); “children of the kingdom,” and “children of the wicked one” (Matt. 13:38); “children of this world,” and “children of light” (Luke 16:8); “children of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2; Col. 3:6); “children of wrath” (Eph. 2:3).
We find a similar idiom in the use of the word “son” and “daughter.” We have “sons of Belial” in Judges 19:22, and in several other passages; “sons of the mighty” (Psa. 89:6); “sons of thunder” (Mark 3: 17); “son of consolation” (Acts 4:36); “son of perdition” (2 Thess. 2:3). We have also “daughter of Belial” (1 Sam. 1:16); “daughters of music” (Eccl. 12:4); “daughter of troops” (Micah 5:1).