Greek word · G3423

μνηστεύω

mnēsteuō

to betroth

To betroth, to pledge a woman in marriage, to woo or seek in marriage. In Jewish use it stands for the Hebrew ʾāraś: the binding first stage of marriage, made by contract and the payment or promise of the bride-price, before the bride moves into the groom's home.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

μνηστεύω

[in LXX for אָרַשׂ pi., pu. ;]

1. to woo and win, espouse.

2. to promise in marriage, betroth; pass., of the woman, to be be­trothed: with dative of person(s), Matthew 1:18, Luke 1:27 2:5.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Matthew 1:18

Range of meaning

To betroth, to pledge a woman in marriage, to woo or seek in marriage. In Jewish use it stands for the Hebrew ʾāraś: the binding first stage of marriage, made by contract and the payment or promise of the bride-price, before the bride moves into the groom's home.

Against the English

KJV 'espoused', ESV and NASB 'betrothed', NIV and BSB 'pledged (in marriage)', WEB and NLT 'engaged'. 'Engaged' suggests a modern engagement, an informal promise that either side can call off. Betrothal was a legal marriage that had not yet been completed.

How it drifted

Modern Western culture has no equivalent stage. The English 'engagement' carries no legal force, so readers assume Mary and Joseph were 'not yet married'.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Greek Old Testament uses the verb in Deuteronomy 20:7 (a man who 'has betrothed a wife and not taken her') and in Deuteronomy 22:23–24. There, unfaithfulness by a 'virgin betrothed to a man' is treated as adultery, and she is called her neighbour's 'wife'. Philo (Special Laws 3.72) treats betrothal as equivalent to marriage in cases of adultery. The later Mishnah (Ketubot 5:2) allows a betrothed virgin about twelve months before the wedding. Luke 1:27 and 2:5 use the same verb of Mary.

From the study of Luke 2:5

Range of meaning

To woo, to pledge or promise in marriage. In the passive, of a woman, 'to be betrothed'. In the New Testament it appears only of Mary (Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:27; 2:5).

Against the English

KJV has 'espoused wife'; YLT 'betrothed wife'; ESV 'his betrothed'; NASB 'betrothed to him'; BSB 'pledged to him in marriage'; NIV and WEB 'pledged to be married'; NLT 'engaged'. 'Betrothed' and 'pledged' keep the binding sense better than 'engaged'.

How it drifted

Modern engagement is a private, informal promise that either party may break without legal process. Jewish betrothal was the first legal stage of marriage itself.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament (LXX), mnēsteuō renders Hebrew 'aras, as in Deuteronomy 22:23–29, where a betrothed woman counts legally as a man's wife. Later rabbinic law (Mishnah, Ketubot and Kiddushin, written down c. 200 CE but reflecting older custom) treats betrothal (erusin/kiddushin) as binding. Ending it required a divorce, and a betrothed man was already called 'husband'. Matthew 1:19–20 reflects this: Joseph is her 'husband', considers 'divorcing' her, and is told to 'take Mary your wife'.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 1:18 μνηστευθείσης At the pledging

    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.

    Here: 'Having been betrothed.' The passive form fits the custom: a girl was betrothed by her family's agreement with the groom. This sets the background for the whole clause: she was already legally bound to Joseph.

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 1:27 ἐμνηστευμένην betrothed

    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.

  2. Luke 2:5 ἐμνηστευμένῃ betrothed

    He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.

    Here: A perfect passive participle: 'having been betrothed', a past act whose binding result still holds. It repeats the exact word of Luke 1:27 ('a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph'). That keeps the reader aware that the marriage has not yet been consummated, even though the two now travel together.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.