Dictionaries :: Betroth

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Betroth:

to promise "by one's truth." Men and women were betrothed when they were engaged to be married. This usually took place a year or more before marriage. From the time of betrothal the woman was regarded as the lawful wife of the man to whom she was betrothed (Deu 28:30; Jdg 14:2,8; Mat 1:18-21). The term is figuratively employed of the spiritual connection between God and his people (Hsa 2:19,20).

International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

Betroth:

be-troth', be-troth' ('dras): On betrothal as a social custom see MARRIAGE. Hosea, in his great parable of the prodigal wife, surpassed only by a greater Teacher's parable of the Prodigal Son, uses betrothal as the symbol of Yahweh's pledge of His love and favor to penitent Israel (Ho 2:19,20). In Ex 21:8,9 the Revised Version (British and American) renders "espouse" for the "betroth" of the King James Version, the context implying the actual marriage relation.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

Betroth:

in the Active Voice, signifies "to woo a woman and ask for her in marriage;" in the NT, only in the Passive Voice, "to be promised in marriage, to be betrothed," Mat 1:18; Luk 1:27; 2:5, RV, "betrothed," (AV, "espoused").
See ESPOUSED.