What is the legal ruling regarding a man's saying to his wife, "By God, I will divorce you," if he intends it for the future?

If a man says to his wife, "By Allah, I shall divorce you," but does not divorce her, then no divorce occurs, and there is no consequence upon him. However, if he intended it as an oath and did not divorce her (which is preferable), then he must offer expiation for breaking an oath: feeding ten poor persons, or clothing them, or emancipating a slave. If he is unable to do so, then he must fast for three days, as Allah Almighty says: (Allah will not impose blame upon you for what is unintentional in your oaths, but He will impose blame upon you for what you intended of oaths. So its expiation is the feeding of ten needy people from the average of that which you feed your [own] families or clothing them or the freeing of a slave. But he who finds not [the means to do so] - then a fast of three days. That is the expiation for oaths when you have sworn. And guard your oaths.) [Al-Ma'idah: 89].