Betrothal

How Nave’s arranged it

• Of JacobGenesis 29:18–30
• Exempts from military dutyDeuteronomy 20:7
• A quasi-marriageMatthew 1:18Luke 1:27
• FIGURATIVE
• See Marriage

The passages, in Bible order (4)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 4 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Genesis 29:18–30

   Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 29:18–301 voice

   “And Jacob loved Rachel,....

   Everything gathered on Genesis 29:18–30→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Deuteronomy 20:7

   Has any man become pledged to a woman and not married her? Let him return home, or he may die in battle and another man marry her.”

   ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 20:72 voices

   “And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her?....

   “Betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? - It was customary among the Jews to contract matrimony, espouse or betroth, and for some considerable time to leave the parties in the houses of their respective parents: when the bridegroom had made proper preparations, then the bride was brought home to his house, and thus the marriage was consummated.

   Everything gathered on Deuteronomy 20:7→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Matthew 1:18

   This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.

   ›Commentary on Matthew 1:182 voices

   “For the one and the same Spirit of God, who proclaimed by the prophets what and of what sort the advent of the Lord should be, did by these elders give a just interpretation of what had been truly prophesied; and He did Himself, by the apostles, announce that the fulness of the times of the adoption had arrived, that the kingdom of heaven had drawn nigh, and that He was dwelling within those that believe on Him who was born Emmanuel of the Virgin.

   “Now the birth of Jesus Christ,.... The Evangelist having finished the genealogy of Christ, proceeds to give an account of his birth, which includes both his conception and bringing forth; and which he says was on this wise, ουτως so, "after this manner", and which was very wonderful and astonishing; when as, γαρ, for his mother Mary was found with child, not of man, no, not of Joseph her husband; Christ had no real father as man, Joseph was only, as was supposed, his father; but of the Holy Ghost, according to Luk 1:

   Everything gathered on Matthew 1:18→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Luke 1:27

   to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.

   ›Commentary on Luke 1:272 voices

   “Therefore he who undertook to prove the mystery of the Incarnation in its incorrupt state, did not think it necessary to pursue at length the testimony of the Virgin Mary's virginity, lest he should be thought to be a defender rather than an assertor of the mystery. Certainly, when Joseph had made lawful the marriage he was about to contract, he sufficiently showed that the temple of the Holy Ghost, the abode of the mystery, the mother of the Lord could not have been violated.

   “[Daniel 8:16-17] "And I heard the voice of a man in the midst of the Ulai, and he cried out and said: 'Gabriel, make this vision intelligible (Vulgate: make this man to understand the vision).' And he came and stood near to where I was standing." The Jews claim that this man who directed Gabriel to explain the vision to Daniel was Michael. Quite appropriately it was Gabriel, who has been put in charge of battles, to whom this duty was assigned, inasmuch as the vision had to do with battles and contests between kings and even between kingdoms themselves.

   Everything gathered on Luke 1:27→

   Verse page →Original language →