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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Espousal; Espouse
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es-pouz´al, es-pouz´: In the King James Version these words, following English usage of an earlier day, are used to signify either marriage or betrothal, while the American Standard Revised Version discriminates, and uses them only for marriage. For example, in , “I espoused to me†(Hebrew 'eÌ„rastı̄ lı̄) becomes “I betrothed to me.†So also, in ; ; which refer to the relation between Joseph and Mary before the birth of Jesus, “espoused†(μνηστευÌω, mneÌ„steuÌoÌ„) becomes “betrothed.†On the other hand, “espoused†is retained in (“the day of his espousals†- that is, day of marriage); in (“the love of thine espousals†- that is, the love of married state); and in (“I espoused (ἡÏμοσαÌμην, heÌ„rmosaÌmeÌ„n) you to one husbandâ€).