Espouse

To espouse in Scripture means to betroth or pledge in marriage — a formal legal commitment carrying nearly the same legal weight as marriage itself in ancient Israel and the Near East. In Hebrew law, a betrothed woman was treated as a wife for purposes of the law: violation of a betrothed virgin was equivalent to adultery (Deuteronomy 22:23–27). David was betrothed (espoused) to Michal (2 Samuel 3:14), and Jeremiah speaks of the LORD's covenant relationship with Israel as a time of betrothal (Jeremiah 2:2). Mary was espoused to Joseph when the angel appeared to announce the conception of Jesus (Matthew 1:18). Paul uses the imagery of betrothal when he writes that he has presented the Corinthians as a pure bride to one husband, Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2).