Greek word · G718

ἁρμόζω

harmozō

to betroth

Basic sense: fit together, join (the root of English 'harmony'). Used of carpentry, music and governance. In marriage contexts it means to join a couple in marriage. The active voice is used of a father who betroths or gives his daughter.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 23, 2026

What it means

ἁρμόζω

(ἁρμός), [in LXX for אמן, etc. ;]

1. to fit, join.

2. of marriage, to betroth. Mid.,

(a) to join to oneself, marry, take to wife; (b) to give in marriage: 2 Corinthians 11:2 (for this there is no direct parallel. But see M, Pr., 160; MM, see word).†

(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 2 Corinthians 11:2

Range of meaning: Basic sense: fit together, join (the root of English 'harmony'). Used of carpentry, music and governance. In marriage contexts it means to join a couple in marriage. The active voice is used of a father who betroths or gives his daughter. The middle voice is often used of a man who takes a wife for himself. Here Paul uses the middle in the sense of 'I arranged the betrothal', acting as the one who gives the bride (BDAG; LSJ).
Against the English: KJV 'espoused' was accurate in 1611 but now sounds like 'advocated' (as in 'espouse a cause'). BSB/WEB 'promised (in marriage)' is clear but can sound like a mere intention. ESV/NASB 'betrothed' is the most exact.
How it drifted: 'Espouse' shifted in English from 'betroth/marry' to mainly 'adopt or support (an idea)'. Also, ancient betrothal was a binding legal act, while modern 'engagement' is a breakable promise, so even 'betrothed' can mislead.
Used elsewhere in the period: LXX Prov 19:14: 'from the Lord a wife is fitted/joined (ἁρμόζεται) to a man.' Herodotus and other classical writers use the active of a father giving his daughter in marriage. Jewish betrothal (erusin/qiddushin) was legally binding. Only divorce could end it, and unfaithfulness during it counted as adultery (Deut 22:23–24; Matt 1:18–19). In the Mishnah a virgin normally waited about twelve months between betrothal and the wedding (m. Ketubot 5:2).

From the study of Psalm 151 1:2

Range of meaning: To fit together, join, or adjust. It is used of carpentry and joinery, of betrothing (joining a bride to a husband, as in 2 Cor 11:2), and in music of tuning strings to each other so they are 'in harmony' (harmonia comes from the same root).
Against the English: Brenton and the WEB both give 'tuned'. Readers may picture adjusting tuning pegs on a finished instrument. In parallel with 'made', the Greek more naturally means 'fitted together, built'. The NRSV's 'fashioned' keeps the building sense.
How it drifted: Not a drift in the English word. The issue is choosing one sense out of a range: 'tuned' gives only the musical sense and drops the craftsman's sense of joining parts.
Used elsewhere in the period: Classical Greek uses it for joining timbers and for tuning a lyre (Pindar, Plato). LXX Prov 8:30 (Wisdom 'fitting together' beside God at creation, in some readings) and Nahum 3:8 use the root. In the NT it appears only at 2 Cor 11:2 ('I betrothed you').

Where it appears

2 Corinthians · 1

2 Corinthians 11:2 ἡρμοσάμην I have betrothed

I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

Here: 'I betrothed', a past act, done when Paul founded the church (Acts 18; 1 Cor 3:6, 10). This is a wedding word: Paul pictures himself arranging the marriage, the way a father does for his daughter.

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