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# betroth

verb (betroth, betroths, betrothed, betrothing) (old use or formal)

«betroth» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

To betroth someone is to promise a person in marriage, so that they become engaged to be married. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betroth/#m1)

### In the lessons

in fairy tales a king or father plans to betroth a son or daughter to another royal family.

### Examples

- The king wishes to betroth me to the son of the king of the Green City. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betroth/#x1)
- He promised to betroth his daughter to the brave knight. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betroth/#x2)
- They were betrothed when they were young. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betroth/#x3)

### Note

nothing for maths

## In Jewish tradition

To enter the legal, binding promise of marriage, which comes before the wedding itself. The prophet Hosea uses it as a picture: God betroths Israel to Himself for ever, in faithfulness, righteousness, justice, lovingkindness and compassion.

**Interpretation.** Jewish law treats betrothal (kiddushin) as a binding step that sets the woman apart for one man; the verse warns of a curse that others will enjoy what one has worked for. The tradition reads Hosea's words as God's love for Israel like a marriage, and these verses are said when winding tefillin straps round the finger.

### Examples

- Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her; thou shalt build a house, and thou shalt not dwell therein; thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not use the fruit thereof. (Torah DEU.28.30, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/betroth/#x1)
- And I will betroth thee unto Me in faithfulness; and thou shalt know the LORD. (Prophets HOS.2.22, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/betroth/#x2)
- And I will betroth thee unto Me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in justice, and in lovingkindness, and in compassion. (Prophets HOS.2.21, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/betroth/#x3)

### Note

nothing for maths

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «betroth» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/betroth/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«betroth» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/betroth.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «betroth» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/betroth/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«betroth» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/betroth.html) on Mova free.