Espouse
King James Dictionary [1]
Espouse espouz'. L. spondeo, sponsus, the letter n, in the latter, must be casual, or the modern languages have lost the letter. The former is most probable in which case, spondeo was primarily spodeo, sposus.
1. To betroth.
When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph. Matthew 1
2. To betroth to promise or engage in marriage, by contract in writing, or by some pledge as, the king espoused his daughter to a foreign prince. Usually and properly followed by to, rather than with. 3. To marry to wed. 4. To unite intimately or indissolubly.
I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11
5. To embrace to take to one's self, with a view to maintain as, to espouse the quarrel of another to espouse a cause.
Webster's Dictionary [2]
(1): ( v. t.) To betroth; to promise in marriage; to give as spouse.
(2): ( v. t.) To take as spouse; to take to wife; to marry.
(3): ( v. t.) To take to one's self with a view to maintain; to make one's own; to take up the cause of; to adopt; to embrace.
Easton's Bible Dictionary [3]
2 Samuel 3:14 Jeremiah 2:2 Matthew 1:18 2 11:2Betroth
Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types [4]
2 Corinthians 11:2 (a) Paul brought the Church of Corinth before GOD in prayer for Him to love them. He brought Christ before the Church that they might love Him.
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [5]
(properly ( אָרִשׂ , Aras', 2 Samuel 3:14, to Betroth, as elsewhere rendered; Μνῃστεύομαι , Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:27; Luke 2:5; less correctly for חֲתֻנָּה , Chat Thunnah', Song of Solomon 3:11, Nuptials; בְּלוּלוֹת , Keluloth', Jeremiah 2:2, the Bridal State, i.e., condition of a bride before marriage; Ἁρμόζομαι . 2 Corinthians 11:2, to Cause To Be Married, i.e., negotiate the match). Espousal was a ceremolny of betrothing, or coming under obligation for the purpose of marriage, and was a mutual agreement between the two parties which usually preceded the marriage some considerable time. (See Marriage). The reader will do well carefully to attend to the distinction between espousals and marriage, as espousals in the East are frequently contracted years before the parties are married, and sometimes in very early youth. This custom is alluded to figuratively, as between God and his people ( Jeremiah 2:2), to whom he was a husband (21:32), and the apostle says he acted as a kind of assistant (Pronuba) on such an occasion: "I have espoused you to Christ" ( 2 Corinthians 11:2); have drawn up the writings, settled the agreements, given pledges, etc., of your union (compare Isaiah 54:5; Matthew 25:6; Revelation 19:1-21). (See Betroth).
