Husband
PeopleWhat is the meaning of Husband in the Bible?
A husband is the male spouse in a marriage, a term derived from Old English elements meaning 'house' and 'dweller' or 'ruler.' In ancient Near Eastern and biblical contexts, the legal status of husband was often established at the time of betrothal, which carried the binding weight of marriage and preceded the formal cohabitation phase.
SIGNIFICANCE
Recognizing that betrothal conferred the full legal status of husband clarifies the severity of marital disputes and the rights of spouses in first-century texts, where breaking a betrothal was treated with the same legal gravity as divorce.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.