χρείαchreía
employment, i.e. an affair; also (by implication) occasion, demand, requirement or destitution
Greek (New Testament) · G5532
Meanings
1. need, necessity: Acts 28:10, Titus 3:14; πρὸς οἰκοδομὴν τῆς χ., Ephesians 4:29; ἕστι χ., Luke 10:42, Hebrews 7:11; χ. ἔχειν, with genitive, Matthew 6:8, Matthew 21:3, Mark 11:3, Luke 9:11, Luke 15:7, Luke 19:31, Luke 19:34, Luke 22:71, John 13:29, 1 Corinthians 12:21, 1 Corinthians 12:24, 1 Thessalonians 4:12, Hebrews 10:36, Revelation 21:23, Revelation 22:5; followed by τοῦ, with infinitive (Bl., § 71, 3), Hebrews 5:12; absolutely (namely genitive), Acts 2:45, Acts 4:35; with genitive of person, Matthew 9:12, Matthew 26:65, Mark 2:17, Mark 14:63, Luke 5:31; with infinitive (Bl., § 69, 5), Matthew 3:14, Matthew 14:16, John 13:10, 1 Thessalonians 1:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:9; followed by ἵνα, John 2:25, John 16:30, 1 John 2:27; absolutely, Mark 2:25, Ephesians 4:28, 1 John 3:17; οὐδὲν χ. ἔχειν, Revelation 3:17; ἡ χ., with genitive subjc., Philippians 2:25, Philippians 4:16, Philippians 4:19; plural, Acts 20:34, Romans 12:13.
2. matter, business (so especially in late writers, Polyb., and elsewhere; 1 Maccabees 12:45, and elsewhere): Acts 6:3.
Same root
- χράομαιchráomai · G5530to furnish what is needed; (give an oracle, "graze" (touch slightly), light upon, etc.), i.e. (by implication) to employ or (by extension) to act towards one in a given manner
- χρήchrḗ · G5534it needs (must or should) be
- χρῄζωchrḗizō · G5535to make (i.e. have) necessity, i.e. be in want of
- ἀχρεῖοςachreîos · G888useless, i.e. (euphemistically) unmeritorious
Where it appears
Appears 49 times in the Bible.
- Matthew 3:14 But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”
- Matthew 6:8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
- Matthew 9:12 When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.”
- Matthew 14:16 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.”
- Matthew 21:3 If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.”
- Matthew 26:65 Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy.
See every passage
- Matthew 3:14, 6:8, 9:12, 14:16, 21:3, 26:65
- Mark 2:17, 2:25, 11:3, 14:63
- Luke 5:31, 9:11, 10:42, 15:7, 19:31, 19:34, 22:71
- John 2:25, 13:10, 13:29, 16:30
- Acts 2:45, 4:35, 6:3, 20:34, 28:10
- Romans 12:13
- 1 Corinthians 12:21, 12:24
- Ephesians 4:28, 4:29
- Philippians 2:25, 4:16, 4:19
- 1 Thessalonians 1:8, 4:9, 4:12, 5:1
- Titus 3:14
- Hebrews 5:12, 7:11, 10:36
- 1 John 2:27, 3:17
- Revelation 3:17, 21:23, 22:5
Source: G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), public domain.