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Espoused

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

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Dictionaries
American Church Dictionary
• Espousal
American Tract Society
• Espousals
Easton's Bible Dictionary
• Espouse
Holman Bible Dictionary
• Espousal
King James Dictionary
• Espoused
• Espouse
• Espousals
Morrish Bible Dictionary
• Espousal
1910 New Catholic Dictionary
• Spiritual Espousals
• Espousals, Spiritual
• Espousals of the Blessed Virgin Mary
•   (only first 3 shown)
Hawker's Poor Man's Dictionary
• Espoused
• Espousals
Vines' Expository Dictionary
• Espoused
Wilson's Bible Types
• Espouse
Webster Dictionary
• Espousing
• Espouser
• Espousement
•   (only first 3 shown)
Encyclopedias
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• Espousal; Espouse
McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia
• Espousals
• Espouse
• Ring (in Espousals).
The Catholic Encyclopedia
• Espousals
• Espousals of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lexicons
• ܡܟ݂ܰܪ
• ἁρμόζω
• μνηστεύω
• אָרַשׂ
• חֲתֻנָּה
• כְּלולֹּת

"to fit, join" (from harmos, "a joint, joining;" the root ar---, signifying "to fit," is in evidence in various languages; cp. arthron, "a joint," arithmos, "a number," etc.), is used in the Middle Voice, of marrying or giving in marriage; in 2 Corinthians 11:2 it is rendered "espoused," metaphorically of the relationship established between Christ and the local church, through the Apostle's instrumentality. The thought may be that of "fitting" or "joining" to one husband, the Middle Voice expressing the Apostle's interest or desire in doing so.

"to woo and win, to espouse or promise in marriage," is used in the Passive Voice in Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:27; 2:5 , all with reference to the Virgin Mary, RV, "betrothed," for AV, "espoused," in each case. See BETROTH.