What does אָרַשׂ (erastikh) mean in the Bible?
אָרַשׂ (erastikh): Contractual commitment to marriage with legal standing; marks transition from betrothal to covenant bond
Hebrew · H781
אָרַשׂ
To engage for matrimony
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אָרַשׂH781
Pronunciationerastikh
What does אָרַשׂ (erastikh) mean in the Bible?
אָרַשׂ (erastikh): Contractual commitment to marriage with legal standing; marks transition from betrothal to covenant bond
Full entry for אָרַשׂ (H781) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H781?
The BSB source-word alignment has 11 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include pledged in marriage (3), a betrothed (1), And I will betroth you (1), become pledged (1), I betrothed (1).
Where does אָרַשׂ (erastikh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 22:16. Its strongest book concentrations include Deuteronomy (6), Hosea (3), 2 Samuel (1), Exodus (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itpledged in marriage3×Exodus 22:16, Deuteronomy 22:23, Deuteronomy 22:28
a betrothed1×Deuteronomy 22:25
And I will betroth you1×Hosea 2:20
become pledged1×Deuteronomy 20:7
I betrothed1×2 Samuel 3:14
I will betroth you1×Hosea 2:19
So I will betroth you1×Hosea 2:19
the betrothed1×Deuteronomy 22:27
You will be pledged in marriage1×Deuteronomy 28:30
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 22:16אֹרָ֖שָׂהtopledged in marriageVerb - Pual - Perfect - third person feminine singularDeuteronomy 20:7אֵרַ֤שׂtobecome pledgedVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 22:23מְאֹרָשָׂ֖הtopledged in marriageVerb - Pual - Participle - feminine singularDeuteronomy 22:25הַמְאֹ֣רָשָׂ֔הtoa betrothedArticle | Verb - Pual - Participle - feminine singularDeuteronomy 22:27הַמְאֹ֣רָשָׂ֔הtothe betrothedArticle | Verb - Pual - Participle - feminine singularDeuteronomy 22:28אֹרָ֔שָׂהtopledged in marriageVerb - Pual - Perfect - third person feminine singularDeuteronomy 28:30תְאָרֵ֗שׂtoYou will be pledged in marriageVerb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular2 Samuel 3:14אֵרַ֣שְׂתִּיtoI betrothedVerb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singularHosea 2:19וְאֵרַשְׂתִּ֥יךְtoSo I will betroth youConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | second person feminine singularHosea 2:19וְאֵרַשְׂתִּ֥יךְtoI will betroth youConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | second person feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 22:16
Aligned rows11
Books represented4
Exodus1Deuteronomy62 Samuel1Hosea3
Source forms
וְאֵרַשְׂתִּ֥יךְ3xwə·’ê·raś·tîḵHosea 2:19, Hosea 2:20
הַמְאֹ֣רָשָׂ֔ה2xham·’ō·rā·śāhDeuteronomy 22:25, Deuteronomy 22:27
אֵרַ֤שׂ1x’ê·raśDeuteronomy 20:7
אֹרָ֖שָׂה1x’ō·rā·śāhExodus 22:16
אֹרָ֔שָׂה1x’ō·rā·śāhDeuteronomy 22:28
אֵרַ֣שְׂתִּי1x’ê·raś·tî2 Samuel 3:14
מְאֹרָשָׂ֖ה1xmə·’ō·rā·śāhDeuteronomy 22:23
תְאָרֵ֗שׂ1xṯə·’ā·rêśDeuteronomy 28:30
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | second person feminine singular3xHosea 2:19, Hosea 2:20
Article | Verb - Pual - Participle - feminine singular2xDeuteronomy 22:25, Deuteronomy 22:27
Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person feminine singular2xExodus 22:16, Deuteronomy 22:28
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular1xDeuteronomy 28:30
Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular1x2 Samuel 3:14
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular1xDeuteronomy 20:7
Verb - Pual - Participle - feminine singular1xDeuteronomy 22:23
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Contractual commitment to marriage with legal standing; marks transition from betrothal to covenant bond
Strong'sH781
Lexical occurrences11 versesWord forms2 forms6 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkHosea 2:14-23Source Gloss
to engage for matrimony
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Contractual commitment to marriage with legal standing; marks transition from betrothal to covenant bond
to engage for matrimony BDB: betroth Usage: betroth, espouse.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms6
Pualintensive passive — intensive action received by the subject3×
PerfectDeut 22:28 · Exod 22:152×
Participle passiveDeut 22:231×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action3×
Perfect2Sam 3:14 · Deut 20:72×
ImperfectDeut 28:301×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
I will betroth you
Showing 1 selected witness from 11 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
אָרַשׂ is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
Formal covenant re-engagement.Hosea 2:14-23
Canonical Themes
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.