Easton's Bible Dictionary (2 Samuel 3:14), to betroth. The espousal was a ceremony of betrothing, a formal agreement between the parties then coming under obligation for the purpose of marriage. Espousals are in the East frequently contracted years before the marriage is celebrated. It is referred to as figuratively illustrating the relations between God and his people (Jeremiah 2:2; Matthew 1:18; 2 Corinthians 11:2). (see BETROTH.) Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v. t.) To make one's own; to take up the cause of; to adopt; to embrace; to marry; as, to espouse a new belief or principle. 2. (v. t.) To betroth; to promise in marriage; to give as spouse. 3. (v. t.) To take as spouse; to take to wife; to marry. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ESPOUSAL; ESPOUSE 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 2 Samuel 3:14, "I espoused to me" (Hebrew 'erasti li) becomes "I betrothed to me." So also, in Matthew 1:18 Luke 1:27; Luke 2:5 which refer to the relation between Joseph and Mary before the birth of Jesus, "espoused" (mnesteuo) becomes "betrothed." On the other hand, "espoused" is retained in Songs 3:11 ("the day of his espousals"-that is, day of marriage); in Jeremiah 2:2 ("the love of thine espousals"-that is, the love of married state); and in 2 Corinthians 11:2 ("I espoused (hermosamen) you to one husband"). E. J. Forrester

Multi-Version Concordance Espouse (2 Occurrences) Exodus 21:9 And if he espouse her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters. (ASV JPS) Isaiah 62:5 For as a young man espouseth a virgin, so shall thy sons espouse thee; and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. (Root in JPS)