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G5532 χρεία (chreía)
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‹ G5531 Greek Dictionary G5533 ›

Quick Definition

χρεία, ας, ἡ n.f. need, necessity, business

Strong's Definition

from the base of 5530 or 5534; employment, i.e. an affair; also (by implication) occasion, demand, requirement or destitution

KJV Usage: business, lack, necessary(-ity), need(-ful), use, want

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

noun, f. | -ας | χράομαι

57.40 · Possess, Transfer, Exchange · Need, Lack

need, lack, what is needed (derivative of χρῄζω ‘to lack,’ 57.39) that which is lacking and particularly needed

MAT 6:8 · MAT 9:12 · MAT 21:3 · MAT 26:65 · MRK 2:17 · MRK 2:25 · MRK 11:3 · MRK 14:63 · LUK 5:31 · LUK 9:11 · LUK 10:42 · LUK 15:7 · LUK 19:31 · LUK 19:34 · LUK 22:71 · JHN 2:25 · JHN 13:10 · JHN 13:29 · ACT 2:45 · ACT 4:35 · ACT 20:34 · ACT 28:10 · ROM 12:13 · 1CO 12:21 · 1CO 12:21 · 1CO 12:24 · EPH 4:28 · EPH 4:29 · PHP 2:25 · PHP 4:16 · PHP 4:19 · 1TH 4:12 · TIT 3:14 · HEB 7:11 · HEB 10:36 · 1JN 2:27 · 1JN 3:17 · REV 3:17 · REV 21:23 · REV 22:5

71.23 · Mode · Should, Ought

need, what should be that which should be or happen, with the implication of need or lack to be made up

MAT 3:14 · MAT 14:16 · JHN 16:30 · 1TH 1:8 · 1TH 4:9 · 1TH 5:1 · HEB 5:12 · HEB 5:12 · HEB 7:11 · HEB 10:36

42.22 · Perform, Do · Do, Perform

needed task, necessary work an activity which is needed

ACT 6:3

1 ACT 6:3 It is possible that in ACT 6:3 χρεία should be understood simply in terms of task or responsibility.

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

χρεία, -as, ἡ, (χρή); fr. Aeschyl. and Soph.down; 1. necessity, need: τὰ πρὸς τὴν χρείαν [LT Tr WH mp. τὰς χρείας (cf. below)], such things as suited the exigency, such things as we needed for sustenance and the journey, Acts xxviii. 10; εἰς τὰς ἀναγκαίας χρείας, [A. V. for necessary uses] i. e. to supply what is absolutely necessary for life [(ef. Babr. fab. 136, 9) ; al. understand the ‘wants’ here as comprising those of charity or of worship], Tit. iii. 14; πρὸς οἰκοδομὴν τῆς χρείας, for the edification of souls, of which there is now special need, Eph. iv. 29 [ef. R. V. and mrg.]; ἔστι χρεία, there is need, foll. by an acc. with inf. Heb. vii. 11; ἔστι χρεία τινός, there is need of something, Rev. xxii. 5 Grsb.; Lk. x. 42 [(but not WH mrg.)]; ἔχω χρείαν τινός, to have need of (be in want of) some thing (often in the Grk. writ. fr. Aeschyl. down, ef. Passow 8. v. 1; [L. and S. s.v. II.1]), Mt. vi. 8; xxi.3; Mk. xi. 8; Lk. [ix. 11; xv. 7]; xix. 31, 34; xxii. 71; Jn. xiii. 29; 1 Co. xii. 21, 24; 1 Th. iv. 12; Heb. x. 36; Rev. iii. 17 R G (see below) ; xxi. 23; xxii. 5 (not Grsb.); τοῦ with an inf. Heb. v. 12 [W.§ 44, 4 a.; cf. ris, 2 b. p. 626

Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary

χρεία chreia 49x

use; need, necessity, requisiteness, Eph. 4:29; Heb. 7:11; personal need, an individual want, Acts 20:34; Rom. 12:13; Phil. 2:25; 4:16, 19; χρείαν ἔχω, to need, require, want, Mt. 6:8; 14:16; Mk. 2:25; Jn. 2:25; ἐστὶ χρεία, there is need, Lk. 10:42; τὰ πρὸς τὴν χρείαν, necessary things, Acts 28:10; a necessary business, affair, Acts 6:3

Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon

χρεία, -ας, ἡ

[in LXX: II Ch 2:16 (15) (צֹרֶךְ), II Es 7:20 (חַשְׁחוּת) freq. in Si, I-II Mac ;]

need, necessity: Ac 28:10, Tit 3:14; πρὸς οἰκοδομὴν τῆς χ. (RV, txt., for edifying as the need may be; but v. Field, Notes, 192), Eph 4:29; ἕστι χ., Lk 10:42, He 7:11; χ. ἔχειν, c. gen., Mt 6:8 21:3, Mk 11:3, Lk 9:11 15:7 19:31, 34 22:71, Jo 13:29, I Co 12:21, 24, I Th 4:12, He 10:36, Re 21:23 22:5; seq. τοῦ, c. inf. (Bl., § 71, 3), He 5:12; absol. (sc. gen.), Ac 2:45 4:35; c. gen. pers., Mt 9:12 26:65, Mk 2:17 14:63, Lk 5:31; c. inf. (Bl., § 69, 5), Mt 3:14 14:16, Jo 13:10 , I Th 1:8 4:9; seq. ἵνα, Jo 2:25 16:30, I Jo 2:27; absol., Mk 2:25, Eph 4:28, I Jo 3:17; οὐδὲν χ. ἔχειν, Re 3:17; ἡ χ., c. gen. subjc., Phl 2:25 4:16, 19; pl., Ac 20:34, Ro 12:13.

matter, business (so esp. in late writers, Polyb., al.; I Mac 12:45, al.): Ac 6:3.†

Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT

χρεία, (1) ‘‘necessity,” “‘need,”’ or ‘‘ occasion of need ᾿᾿: P Hib T. 5418 (c. B.C. 245) χρεία γάρ ἐστι ταῖς γυναιξὶν πρὸς τὴν θυσίαν, ‘for he is wanted by the women for the sacrifice” (Edd.), P Grenf II. 14(c)§ (iii/B.c.) πρὸς twa χρείαν ἀνᾳγkatay (cf. Tit 34), P Fay 1178 (A.D. 108) πέμσαι αὐτῷ... εἰκθύδιν (/. ἰχθύδιον), ἐπὶ (. ἐπεὶ) χρίαν αὐτοῦ ἔχωμον ( ἔχομεν), “‘send him some fish, as we want to make use of him” (Edd.), P Michigan Inv. No. 27985 (time of Hadrian) περ]ὶ ὧν ἐὰν χρείαν ἔχῃς γράφε por, ‘‘do you write to me about what you may need,” P Tebt II. 416}7 (ili/A.D.) μετάδες (ἡ. μετάδος) καὶ ᾿Ακουτᾶτι τῷ ἀδελφῷ ὅτι ἐὰν χρίαν τινὸς ἔχῃ ἡ γυνή μου ποίησον αὐτῆς τὴν χρίαν ἕως ἔλθω, μηδὲν ἐπιζητείτω, “tell my brother Akoutas also to do anything that my wife requires until I come, and let her want for nothing” (Edd.), and P Grenf II. 725 (a.p. 290-304) eis ἰδίαν pov χρείαν... τάλαντα δύο. For χρείαν ἔχω treated as an active verb and followed by the acc., as in Rev 317, cf. P Oxy VII. 10682° (iii/a.p.) εἴ τι ἂν ἄλλου (1. ἄλλο) σου χρίαν σκῶσιν (/. σχώσιν), ‘ with anything else they may need from you”’ (Ed.), 26. XIV. 1683!7f (late iv/a.D.) δὸς οὖν αὐτά, ἐπιδὲ χρείαν αὐτὰ ὁ vids μου (ἔχει, “‘give them to her, since my son needs them,” 76. XVI. 1929 (iv/v A.D.) χρίαν ἔχομεν τὰ πλοῖα, and P Lond 1918*8 (a.p. 330-340) εἴ τι χρείαν ἔχεις πέμψον σοι, with Bell’s note. (2) ‘“‘matter in hand,” ‘‘ business” (Ac 6%: cf. 1 Macc 12%, 2 Mace γῆς, Judith 1210): P Tebt I. 352 (B.c. 111) τοῖς ἐπὶ χρειῶν τεταγμένοις χαίρειν, “to the other officials, greeting,” BGU I. 18'4(a.p. 169) παραγ[γ]έλεται (/. παραγγέλλετε) ἀντιλαμβάνεσθαι τῆς ἐνχιρισθίσης α[ὐ]τοῖς χρε[ία)ς ὑγιῶς καὶ πιστῶς, P Iand 335 (εἴτις of Commodus) ὀμνύομεν... ἀντιλήμψασθαι τῆς χρίας καὶ φυλάξιν (= -ev) διὰ νυκτὸς τὴν κώμ[ην] ἀνεγκλήίϊτως, Ρ Tebt IT. 32723 (late li/A.D.) κεϊκελευσμένου οὖν. κύριε. γ[υἹναῖκας ἀφεῖσθαι τῶν τ[οιο]ύτων χρειῶν, ‘‘ wherefore, my lord, it has been decreed that women should be freed from such burdens” (Edd.), and 2 66 Χρείαν ἔδωκα, ‘‘you said ‘I have not given in any of them (se. certain names) for the office ’” (Ed.). In Mk 11%, Mt 213, Lk 1931) 6 κύριος αὐτοῦ (αὐτῶν) Χρείαν ἔχει, Nicklin (CX xv. (1601), p. 203) thinks that, in view of the order of the words, the natural translation is, “*Tts (their) owner needs (it or them).”” Various translations of Eph 459 ἀλλ᾽ εἴ tis ἀγαθὸς πρὸς οἰκοδομὴν τῆς χρείας are discussed by Field, Motes p. 192, with a preference for “‘that which is good for the improvement of the occasion.” J. A. Robinson (Com. ad 1.) renders ‘‘ for building up as the matter may require” or ‘‘ as need may be.

Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon

χρεία (chreia) — need. χρεία (written χρέα [Refs 3rd c.BC+], Ionic dialect χρείη [Refs], ἡ: (χράομαι, κέχρημαι):— need, want, χρείας ὕπο [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἵν᾽ ἕσταμεν χρείας considering in what great need we are, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; χρείᾳ πολεμεῖν to war with necessity, [Refs]: with genitive, want of.., φαρμάκων χρείᾳ κατεσκέλλοντο [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἐν χρείᾳ δορός in the need or stress of war, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἦ μὴν ἔτ᾽ ἐμοῦ χρείαν ἕξει will have need of my help, [Refs 4th c.BC+], cf. Call.[same place]; ἀφίκοντο εἰς χρείαν τῆς πόλεως came to feel the need of its assistance, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἰατρῶν ἐν χρείαις ἐσόμεθα, ἐν χρείᾳ ἡγεμόνος εἶναι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; so τίς χ. σ᾽ ἐμοῦ [ἔχει]; [Refs 5th c.BC+] with infinitive, [NT] (followed by (ίνα, [NT+4th c.BC+] 'necessity is the mother of invention', [Refs 5th c.BC+]

2. want, poverty, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

3. a request of necessity, opposed to ἀξίωσις (a claim of merit), [Refs 5th c.BC+]: generally, request, τὴν πρίν γε χ. ἠνύσασθ᾽ ἐμοῦ πάρα [Refs 4th c.BC+]; κἀγὼ.. τοιάνδε σου χ. ἔχω make such a request of or to thee, [Refs]

II. business, ὡς πρὸς τί χρεία; for what purpose? [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II. b especially military or naval service, ἡ πολεμικὴ χ. καὶ ἡ εἰρηνική the employments of war and of peace, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; αἱ κατὰ θάλατταν [χ.], ἡ ἐν τῇ γῇ χ., [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; οἱ ἐπὶ τῶν χ.[LXX+1st c.BC+]; in military sense, action, engagement, αἱ κατὰ μέρος χ. [Refs 2nd c.BC+]

II. c generally, business, employment, function, [Refs]; ἡ ἐγκεχειρισμένη χ. the duty assigned, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; οὓς καταστήσομεν ἐπὶ τῆς χ. ταύτης [NT+1st c.AD+]

II. d a business, affair, matter, like{χρέος}, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; τὴν ὑπὲρ τούτων χ. the study of these things, [Refs 4th c.BC+]

II. e χ. ἀναγκαία need of nature, [Refs 1st c.BC+]

III. use,

III.1. as a property, use, advantage, service, χρείης εἵνεκα μηδεμιῆς [Refs 6th c.BC+]; χρείαν ἔχειν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις to be of service to mankind, [Refs]; τὰ οὐδὲν εἰς χρείαν things of no use or service, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; χρείαν ἔχει εἴς τι is of service towards.., [Refs 5th c.BC+] services rendered by them, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; χρείας παρέχεσθαι render services, Decrees cited in [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἵνα σοι τὰς χ. παρέσχωμαι (sic) [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; μεγάλην παρεῖχε χ. τοῖς κοινοῖς πράγμασιν [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; παρέχειν χ. to be serviceable, useful, [Refs 1st c.AD+]equipments, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

III.2. as an action, using, use, κτῆσις καὶ χ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐν χρείᾳ εἶναι in use, [Refs]; κατὰ τὴν χ. for use, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἡ χ. τῶν λόγων the employment of words, [Refs 5th c.BC+] is made bright by constant use, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

IV. of persons, familiarity, intimacy, τινος with one, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: generally, any relation of business or intercourse, ἐν χρείᾳ τινὶ τῇ πρὸς ἀλλήλους [Refs 5th c.BC+]in the relationship, capacity, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]

V. Rhet., pregnant sentence, maxim, frequently illustrated by an anecdote, Sen.[Refs 1st c.AD+]: plural, title of works by Zeno [Refs 5th c.BC+], a collection of sayings of courtesans, [Refs 1st c.AD+]

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