### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb ἐκγαμίζω (`{{G1547}}`) is a compound word derived from the preposition ἐκ (out of, from) and a form of γαμίσκω (to give in marriage, to marry off). The prefix ἐκ emphasizes the action of "giving out" or "marrying off" a female from one's household into another. Its primary and singular meaning is "to give a daughter (or female relative) in marriage." This verb specifically denotes the action taken by parents or guardians in arranging or consenting to the marriage of a female, highlighting their active role in the marital transaction. It is distinct from the more general verb γαμέω (`{{G1062}}`), which simply means "to marry" (either actively or passively, for male or female). The semantic range of ἐκγαμίζω is quite narrow, focused exclusively on this specific aspect of marriage.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb ἐκγαμίζω (`{{G1547}}`) appears only twice in the New Testament, both times in parallel passages within the Synoptic Gospels, specifically in Jesus' eschatological discourse concerning the signs of His coming and the end of the age.
1. **[[Matthew 24:38]]**: "For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark."
* Here, ἐκγαμίζω is used alongside "eating and drinking" and "marrying" to describe the ordinary, everyday activities that preoccupied humanity before the sudden onset of the flood. Jesus uses this common social practice to illustrate the spiritual unawareness and lack of preparedness that will characterize the world just prior to His return. The phrase implies a world engrossed in its normal routines, oblivious to the impending divine judgment.
2. **[[Luke 17:27]]**: "They were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all."
* Luke's account mirrors Matthew's, using the passive form of ἐκγαμίζω (ἐκγαμίζομαι, "were being given in marriage"). The context is identical: Jesus draws a parallel between the days of Noah and the suddenness of the Son of Man's coming. The inclusion of "being given in marriage" further underscores the normalcy and routine of life that will continue right up to the moment of divine intervention, emphasizing the unexpected nature of the judgment.
It is important to note the close relationship with ἐκγαμίσκω (`{{G1548}}`), a virtually synonymous verb also meaning "to give in marriage," which appears in [[Mark 12:25]] and [[Luke 20:35]] within contexts discussing the absence of marriage in the resurrection. While ἐκγαμίζω describes earthly marriage as an ongoing activity before judgment, ἐκγαμίσκω is used to articulate its cessation in the eternal state.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **γαμέω (`{{G1062}}`):** The broader verb for "to marry" or "to be married." While γαμέω covers the act of marriage generally, ἐκγαμίζω specifically highlights the parental or guardian's role in *giving* a female in marriage.
* **γάμος (`{{G1061}}`):** The noun for "marriage" or "wedding feast." ἐκγαμίζω describes an action that leads to or is part of a γάμος.
* **γυνή (`{{G1135}}`):** Woman, wife. The implicit object of ἐκγαμίζω is a woman or daughter.
* **Ancient Marriage Customs:** The use of ἐκγαμίζω reflects the prevalent social customs of the ancient world, where marriages, especially for daughters, were often arranged by parents or guardians, who had the authority to "give" the bride away. This contrasts with modern Western concepts of individual choice in marriage.
* **Eschatological Vigilance:** The consistent context of ἐκγαμίζω in the Synoptic Gospels links it directly to Jesus' teaching on the end times, the unexpected return of the Son of Man, and the critical need for spiritual readiness and vigilance.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ἐκγαμίζω primarily stems from its specific use in Jesus' eschatological discourse.
* **The Mundane and the Divine Intervention:** The phrase "marrying and giving in marriage" serves as a powerful illustration of the world's preoccupation with its ordinary, earthly affairs, even foundational social institutions. This normalcy will continue uninterrupted until the sudden, decisive, and unexpected intervention of God's judgment. It underscores the profound contrast between humanity's routine existence and the divine timetable.
* **Warning Against Spiritual Complacency:** The depiction of people engaged in these everyday activities, oblivious to the impending judgment, functions as a stark warning against spiritual apathy and a call for constant vigilance. The focus is not on the inherent sinfulness of marriage, but on the potential for any earthly concern, however legitimate, to distract from readiness for God's ultimate reckoning.
* **Temporality of Earthly Institutions:** While ἐκγαμίζω describes an earthly reality, its juxtaposition with the suddenness of judgment, and the teaching that in the resurrection there will be no "marrying or giving in marriage" (cf. ἐκγαμίσκω in [[Mark 12:25]], [[Luke 20:35]]), subtly highlights the temporary nature of human social structures like marriage in comparison to the eternal realities of God's kingdom.
* **Divine Sovereignty and Unpredictability:** The continued engagement in "giving in marriage" up to the very moment of the flood and the coming of the Son of Man emphasizes God's sovereign control over time and history, and the unpredictable nature of His final judgment, which will break into human history at an unforeseen moment.
### Summary
The Greek verb ἐκγαμίζω (`{{G1547}}`) precisely denotes the act of "giving a female in marriage," emphasizing the parental or guardian's role in this ancient custom. Its limited but significant occurrences in the New Testament are exclusively found in Jesus' eschatological discourse in [[Matthew 24:38]] and [[Luke 17:27]]. In these passages, ἐκγαμίζω is employed to depict the ordinary, mundane activities of human life—including the fundamental social institution of marriage—that will continue unabated until the sudden and unexpected moment of divine judgment, mirroring the days of Noah before the flood. Theologically, this highlights humanity's potential for spiritual complacency, serving as a poignant warning against preoccupation with earthly affairs to the neglect of spiritual vigilance. It also underscores the divine sovereignty over time and the temporal nature of earthly institutions when contrasted with the eternal realities of God's kingdom.
TRV