Word Study for G3423 (μνηστεύω)

mnēsteúō /mnace-tyoo'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom a derivative of μνάομαι

Meaningto give a souvenir (engagement present), i.e. betroth

KJV usageespouse.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of mnēsteúō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word mnēsteúō, represented by G3423, means to betroth or espouse, derived from the idea of giving an engagement present. It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible, making it a highly specific term used in a distinct context.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In all of its biblical occurrences, G3423 is used to describe the relationship between Mary and Joseph before the birth of Jesus. It establishes that Mary was legally espoused to Joseph, a man of the house of David, at the time of the angelic announcement Luke 1:27. This betrothal is highlighted as preceding their physical union, as Matthew 1:18 states that "before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost." The term is used a final time when Joseph travels with Mary, his espoused wife, for the taxation Luke 2:5.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context of this betrothal:

G2501 Iōsḗph: This is the name for Joseph, the man to whom Mary was espoused in all three instances of the term (Matthew 1:18, Luke 1:27). His status as her betrothed is central to the narrative.
G1135 gynḗ: Meaning a woman or wife, this word is used in Luke 2:5 to describe Mary as Joseph's "espoused wife," defining her legal status within the betrothal.
G4905 synérchomai: This word means to come together or cohabit. Its use in Matthew 1:18 is crucial, as it contrasts the state of being espoused with the physical consummation of the marriage, clarifying the timeline of Mary's pregnancy.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G3423 is tied directly to the circumstances of Jesus's birth.

Legal and Lineage Status: The espousal legally bound Mary to Joseph. This is significant as it places Jesus within the lineage of David through his legal father, Joseph Luke 1:27. Joseph's role as her husband is confirmed by his initial intention to "put her away privily" Matthew 1:19.
Context for the Virgin Birth: The use of G3423 in conjunction with the phrase "before they came together" Matthew 1:18 serves to underscore the miraculous nature of the virgin conception. It affirms that the pregnancy occurred by the Holy Ghost within the period of betrothal but before marital relations.
Defining Mary's Relationship: Describing Mary as Joseph's "espoused wife" Luke 2:5 solidifies her protected and recognized status as they travel to Bethlehem, fulfilling both civic duty and prophetic scripture.

Summary

In summary, G3423 is a precise term that is foundational to the nativity narrative. While used only three times, it is essential for establishing the legal and social context of Mary and Joseph's relationship. It provides the framework for understanding Jesus's Davidic lineage through Joseph and, most critically, highlights the miraculous timing of the virgin conception, which took place after the betrothal but before the marriage was consummated.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 3 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Passive Participle Genitive Singular Feminine 1×
Perfect Passive Participle Accusative Singular Feminine 1×
Perfect Passive Participle Dative Singular Feminine 1×

Genitive: Possession or source — often "of".
Dative: The indirect object — often "to" or "for".
Accusative: The direct object of the verb.
Singular: One.
Feminine: Feminine grammatical gender.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Perfect: A completed act whose results continue.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 3 verses across 2 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Luke (2 verses); never once in the other 25.

Matthew

Luke

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.