ESPOUSE

ESPOUSALS. A ceremony of betrothing, or coming under obligation for the purpose of marriage. It was a mutual agreement between the two parties, which usually preceded the marriage some considerable time. The distinction between espousals and marriage ought to be carefully attended to, as espousals in the East are sometimes contracted for years before the parties cohabit, and sometimes in very early youth. This custom is alluded to figuratively, as between God and his people, (Jer. ii. 2,) to whom he was a husband. (Jer. xxx i. 32.) The apostle says that he acted as a kind of a istant ( pronuba ) on this occasion (2 Cor. xi. 2.): “I have espoused you to Christ ,” that is, I have drawn up the writings, settled the agreements, given pledges, ., of that union. (See Isa. liv. 5; Matt. xxv. 6; Rev. xix.)