χρεία (G5532) — Greek Lexicon

χρεία

chreía

G5532 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Primary meaning: need, necessity; refers to the state or condition of lacking something essential, or the requirement for something. In broader contexts, denotes an urgent or compelling need, necessity, or requirement for action, object, or circumstance. Also used for business, duty, or task which arises out of necessity.

Semantic Range

need, necessity, requirement, lack, occasion, want, duty, urgent demand, task arising from necessity

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root χρα-/χρη-, present in the verbs χράομαι (to use) and χρή (it is necessary). χρεία is a noun form denoting the idea of what is needed or required. Related to the concept of utility or necessity.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, χρεία originally denoted what is needed for use, a useful thing or implement, and more abstractly, necessity or requirement (cf. Aristotle, Plato). By the Hellenistic and Koine periods, particularly in the Septuagint and New Testament, its meaning extended to urgent need (e.g., hunger), specific requirements (as in 'there is no need'), and even obligation or duty. The word frequently denotes a deficiency or a lack that calls for fulfillment, but also refers to responsibilities ('necessity') or tasks arising from urgent demand. In the New Testament, usage most often emphasizes necessity and urgent need rather than the simple idea of employment or business. The English terms 'business,' 'use,' or 'want' found in some older translations may fail to capture the prevalent sense of necessity or requirement as understood in Koine contexts. Distinct from more neutral terms for employment (e.g., ἔργον, work), χρεία conveys the aspect of pressing requirement or lack. Common in medical texts of the period to indicate a clinical need; also seen in ethical writings to denote a required or appropriate action.

Translation Consistency

primary "need" 49 occurrences

'Need' is the most natural, versatile rendering and matches the majority usage (26 of 49 occurrences). It covers the primary senses—lack, requirement, urgent demand, duty or task arising from necessity—more fluidly in everyday English than the more formal 'necessity.' Using 'need' allows consistent, idiomatic translation across contexts while still accommodating related senses (requirement, want, duty) through phrasing and inflection.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the base of χράομαι or χρή; employment, i.e. an affair; also (by implication) occasion, demand, requirement or destitution:--business, lack, necessary(-ity), need(-ful), use, want.

Root Family

χρεία (chreia) — need, necessity, requirement, lack

Root χρᾰ-/χρη- to use, to need, to be necessary

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G5532-03`	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	a need	40
`G5532-04`	χρείας	chreias	`N GEN F SG`	need	of need	of need	5
`G5532-02`	χρείαις	chreiais	`N DAT F PL`	needs	for necessities	needs	2
`G5532-01`	χρεία	chreia	`N NOM F SG`	needful	necessity	need	2

Occurrences in Scripture

49 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G5532-03`	Matthew 3:14	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	a need
`G5532-03`	Matthew 6:8	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	need
`G5532-03`	Matthew 9:12	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	a need
`G5532-03`	Matthew 14:16	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	a need
`G5532-03`	Matthew 21:3	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	a need
`G5532-03`	Matthew 26:65	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	a need
`G5532-03`	Mark 2:17	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	a need
`G5532-03`	Mark 2:25	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	need
`G5532-03`	Mark 11:3	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	need
`G5532-03`	Mark 14:63	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	a need
`G5532-03`	Luke 5:31	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	need
`G5532-03`	Luke 9:11	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	need
`G5532-01`	Luke 10:42	χρεία	chreia	`N NOM F SG`	needful	necessity	need
`G5532-03`	Luke 15:7	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	need
`G5532-03`	Luke 19:31	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	need
`G5532-03`	Luke 19:34	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	a need
`G5532-03`	Luke 22:71	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	a need
`G5532-03`	John 2:25	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	a need
`G5532-03`	John 13:10	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	need
`G5532-03`	John 13:29	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	need
`G5532-03`	John 16:30	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	need
`G5532-03`	Acts 2:45	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	a need
`G5532-03`	Acts 4:35	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	a need
`G5532-04`	Acts 6:3	χρείας	chreias	`N GEN F SG`	task	of need	of need
`G5532-02`	Acts 20:34	χρείαις	chreiais	`N DAT F PL`	needs	for necessities	needs
`G5532-04`	Acts 28:10	χρείας	chreias	`N ACC F PL`	needs	of need	needs
`G5532-02`	Romans 12:13	χρείαις	chreiais	`N DAT F PL`	needs	for necessities	needs
`G5532-03`	1 Corinthians 12:21	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	a need
`G5532-03`	1 Corinthians 12:21	χρείαν	chreian-2	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	a need
`G5532-03`	1 Corinthians 12:24	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	a need
`G5532-03`	Ephesians 4:28	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	a need
`G5532-04`	Ephesians 4:29	χρείας	chreias	`N GEN F SG`	need	of need	of need
`G5532-04`	Philippians 2:25	χρείας	chreias	`N GEN F SG`	need	of need	of need
`G5532-03`	Philippians 4:16	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	need
`G5532-03`	Philippians 4:19	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	a need
`G5532-03`	1 Thessalonians 1:8	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	need
`G5532-03`	1 Thessalonians 4:9	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	need
`G5532-03`	1 Thessalonians 4:12	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	a need
`G5532-03`	1 Thessalonians 5:1	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	need
`G5532-04`	Titus 3:14	χρείας	chreias	`N ACC F PL`	needs	of need	needs
`G5532-03`	Hebrews 5:12	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	need
`G5532-03`	Hebrews 5:12	χρείαν	chreian-2	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	need
`G5532-01`	Hebrews 7:11	χρεία	chreia	`N NOM F SG`	need	necessity	need
`G5532-03`	Hebrews 10:36	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	a need
`G5532-03`	1 John 2:27	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	need
`G5532-03`	1 John 3:17	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	need
`G5532-03`	Revelation 3:17	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	a need
`G5532-03`	Revelation 21:23	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	a need
`G5532-03`	Revelation 22:5	χρείαν	chreian	`N ACC F SG`	need	a necessity	need

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