γαμίσκω, γαμίζω (gamiskō, gamizō)
gamiskō, gamizō
to give in marriage
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb gamizō means to give a daughter in marriage, placing her under the authority and protection of a husband. It appears seven times in the New Testament, primarily in the Gospels and Paul’s letters. The focus is on the act of handing over a woman for marriage, reflecting the social reality where fathers or guardians arranged unions.
Jesus uses this word to describe the normal course of life before the end times. In Matthew 24:38 and Luke 17:27, he notes that people were "being given in marriage" just as they were in Noah’s day. This highlights how daily social customs continue until God intervenes. Paul also uses it in 1 Corinthians 7:38 to discuss the virtue of a man who gives his virgin in marriage.
The passive form, gamiskō, appears in passages like Matthew 22:30 and Mark 12:25. Here, Jesus teaches that in the resurrection, people do not marry. The sources note this shift from earthly customs to eternal realities. The word anchors these teachings in familiar social practices, making the spiritual point clearer.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
This word describes the act of giving someone in marriage, a practice rooted in the social structures of the ancient world where families arranged unions for protection and continuity. When Jesus uses this term, He is not critiquing the institution itself but highlighting its temporary nature within human history. In Matthew 24:38, He notes that people were marrying and being given in marriage right up until the flood, showing how deeply these daily customs are woven into our lives.
Yet, Jesus also uses this same word to point toward a reality beyond death. In passages like Matthew 22:30, He explains that in the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage. This shift reminds us that while earthly relationships are good and meaningful, they are not the final destination of our hope. Our ultimate security does not rest in human contracts or family lines, but in the eternal presence of God.
Understanding this word helps us see marriage as a gift for this age, not the end of all things. It invites us to value our relationships here without making them idols that replace our devotion to Christ. Whether we are married, single, or giving someone away, our hearts find their true rest in the resurrection life where God is all in all.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- giving in marriage2×
- are given in marriage2×
- were being given in marriage,1×
- giving in marriage,1×
- are given in marriage;1×
- are given in marriage,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- γαμίζων2×
- γαμίζονται2×
- ἐγαμίζοντο,1×
- γαμίσκονται,1×
- γαμίζοντες,1×
- γαμίζονται·1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 22:30
For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like God’s angels in heaven.
Jesus uses this word to clarify that earthly marital bonds do not continue in the resurrected state, distinguishing between current social customs and eternal realities.
-
Matthew 24:38
For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship,
The term appears here to illustrate how normal life, including arranging marriages, continued unchanged until sudden divine judgment arrived.
-
Luke 17:27
They ate, they drank, they married, and they were given in marriage until the day that Noah entered into the ship, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
This occurrence parallels the Noah narrative, emphasizing that people were living out their daily social duties, including giving daughters in marriage, right up to the flood.
-
I Corinthians 7:38
So then both he who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and he who doesn’t give her in marriage does better.
Paul uses this active form to discuss the practical decision of a father giving his virgin daughter in marriage, noting that while it is good, remaining single can be better for undivided devotion.