Divine Need: χρεία (Strong’s G5532: chreia) Reveals Our Dependence on God

Strong’s G5532: From the root chre, meaning “it is necessary,” chreia denotes necessity, duty, business, or use. In biblical context, it often expresses both physical and spiritual needs, highlighting human dependency on divine provision and the mutual support within the body of believers.

U- Unveiling the Word

Chreia fundamentally expresses the concept of necessity or need, but its usage in the New Testament carries deeper theological significance. Beyond mere physical requirements, it often points to our essential dependence on God and fellow believers. The word appears in contexts ranging from basic physical needs to spiritual necessities, emphasizing both human limitation and divine sufficiency. Early church fathers frequently employed this term to discuss Christian interdependence and God’s provision, a theme that remains powerfully relevant as we recognize our complete dependence on His grace and the importance of community in the body of the Messiah.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: χρεία, chreia, /khree’-ah/
• Detailed pronunciation: kh-REE-ah (where ‘kh’ is a guttural sound like in Scottish ‘loch’)
• Part of Speech: Noun

Etymology:

• Root: χρή (chre) – meaning “it is necessary”
• Suffix: -εία (-eia) – forms abstract nouns denoting state or condition
• Combined meaning: state of necessity or need

D – Defining Meanings

• Primary need or necessity
• That which is required
• Business, duty, or matter
• Usage or employment

For compound words: Not applicable as this is not a compound word

Translation Options:

• “need” – most direct equivalent capturing both physical and spiritual necessity
• “requirement” – emphasizes the essential nature of what is lacking
• “duty” – captures the sense of obligation often present in the word’s usage

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ἀναγκαῖος (anankaios) /an-ang-kah’-yos/ – expressing compelling necessity See G316
• δεῖ (dei) /die/ – impersonal verb meaning “it is necessary” See G1163
• ὀφείλω (opheilo) /of-i’-lo/ – expressing moral obligation See G3784

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a feminine noun:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Gender: Feminine
• Declension: First declension

Examples:

• Nominative: χρεία (chreia)
• Genitive: χρείας (chreias)
• Dative: χρείᾳ (chreia)
• Accusative: χρείαν (chreian)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

The lexical tradition reveals chreia’s rich semantic range. BDAG emphasizes its primary meaning of necessity or need, while Thayer’s highlights its connection to duty and service. LSJ provides evidence of its classical usage in business contexts. Vine’s elaborates on its spiritual applications, particularly in contexts of mutual support within the Christian community. Moulton and Milligan’s papyrological evidence shows its common usage in everyday life, demonstrating how the New Testament authors employed a familiar term to convey profound spiritual truths about dependence on God and Christian fellowship.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Matthew 3:14: “But John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I have [χρεία] need to be baptized by You, and You come to me?'”

Additional References:
Matthew 6:8, Matthew 9:12, Mark 2:25, Luke 10:42, John 13:29, Acts 2:45, Ephesians 4:28, Philippians 4:19, 1 John 3:17

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Chreia beautifully captures the essence of human dependence on divine provision. Its usage in the New Testament reveals a profound theological truth: our fundamental need for God and one another. This word appears in contexts ranging from physical necessities to spiritual requirements, always pointing to the sufficiency of God’s provision. The good news shines through as we recognize that our greatest need—salvation through King Jesus—has been met through His sacrificial death and resurrection. This word reminds us that acknowledging our need is the first step toward experiencing God’s abundant provision.

D – Did You Know?

• The word chreia appears in ancient Greek medical texts, describing the body’s needs for survival
• John the Baptist’s use of chreia in Matthew 3:14 beautifully illustrates spiritual humility
• The term was commonly used in Greek philosophical discussions about human nature and society

Strong’s G5532: From the root chre, meaning “it is necessary,” chreia denotes necessity, duty, business, or use. In biblical context, it often expresses both physical and spiritual needs, highlighting human dependency on divine provision and the mutual support within the body of believers.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: need, necessity, requirement, provision, dependence, divine provision, Christian community, mutual support, spiritual needs, physical needs​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​