Divine Warning: χρηματίζω (Strong’s G5537: chrematizo) Reveals God’s Guidance

Strong’s G5537: A divine communication verb meaning to receive and impart divine instruction or warning, derived from χρῆμα (business, matter). Used of God’s direct guidance, particularly in dreams and visions, indicating authoritative revelation from heaven.

U- Unveiling the Word

χρηματίζω represents a specialized form of divine communication in the New Testament. Originally denoting the conduct of business affairs in classical Greek, it evolved to specifically indicate divine oracular responses and authoritative warnings from God. This transformation reflects the word’s theological weight in early Christianity, where it came to signify God’s direct intervention through dreams, visions, and prophetic messages. The Messiah’s birth narrative in Matthew prominently features this word, highlighting God’s sovereign guidance of events through divine warnings. Today, it reminds us that God still actively communicates His will to His people, though the manner may differ from biblical times.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: χρηματίζω, chrematizo, khray-mat-ID-zō
• Pronunciation: The ‘ch’ is guttural like in ‘loch’, ‘ray’ as in ray of light, ‘mat’ as in mat, ‘id’ as in lid, ‘zo’ as in zone

Part of Speech: Verb

Etymology:

• χρῆμα (chrēma) – matter, business
• -ίζω (-izō) – causative verbal suffix indicating “to make” or “to do”

D – Defining Meanings

• To be divinely instructed, receive divine guidance
• To receive a divine warning
• To be called or named (in later usage)

For compound words:
The root χρῆμα combined with the -ίζω suffix creates a verb meaning “to conduct business,” which evolved to specifically mean “to give a divine response” or “to warn divinely”

Translation Options:

• “to warn divinely” – captures the supernatural nature of the communication
• “to receive divine instruction” – emphasizes the receptive aspect
• “to be divinely directed” – highlights the authoritative nature

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ἀποκαλύπτω (apokalyptō) – to reveal, uncover See G601
• χράομαι (chraomai) – to use, employ See G5530
• προφητεύω (prophēteuō) – to prophesy See G4395

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a verb, χρηματίζω exhibits:

• Tense: Present, Future, Aorist
• Voice: Active, Passive
• Mood: Indicative, Subjunctive, Participle
• Person: 1st, 2nd, 3rd
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Aspect: Imperfective (Present), Perfective (Aorist)

Example morphological changes:

• χρηματίζω – I warn divinely (Present Active Indicative)
• ἐχρημάτισα – I warned divinely (Aorist Active Indicative)
• χρηματισθείς – having been warned divinely (Aorist Passive Participle)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

The major lexicons consistently emphasize χρηματίζω’s evolution from secular business terminology to sacred usage. BDAG highlights its specialized meaning of divine communication, particularly through dreams and oracles. Thayer’s emphasizes its development from “conducting state business” to “communicating divine messages.” LSJ traces its classical usage in official proclamations and oracular responses. Vine’s notes its connection to divine warning and instruction, while Moulton and Milligan provide papyri evidence of its use in official titles and proclamations. This demonstrates how a common business term became elevated to describe God’s authoritative communication with His people.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Matthew 2:12: “And being warned [χρηματίζω] of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.”

Additional References:
Matthew 2:22, Luke 2:26, Acts 10:22, Acts 11:26, Romans 7:3, Hebrews 8:5, Hebrews 11:7, Hebrews 12:25

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

χρηματίζω represents God’s sovereign initiative in communicating with humanity. Its transformation from a business term to a sacred word demonstrates how God often uses ordinary human concepts to reveal extraordinary divine truths. This word appears at crucial moments in Scripture, particularly in the nativity narrative, where God’s direct intervention through dreams protected both the Messiah and those around Him. It reminds us that God is not silent but actively guides His people through His Word and Spirit, fulfilling His promise to lead us into all truth.

D – Did You Know?

1. The word evolved from describing business transactions to divine oracles
2. It appears in critical moments of divine protection in the Messiah’s early life
3. Early Christians adopted this term to describe their reception of divine guidance through the Holy Spirit

Strong’s G5537: A divine communication verb meaning to receive and impart divine instruction or warning, derived from χρῆμα (business, matter). Used of God’s direct guidance, particularly in dreams and visions, indicating authoritative revelation from heaven.

Part of speech: Verb

Tags: divine communication, prophecy, warning, dreams, visions, guidance, revelation, oracle, divine instruction, biblical Greek​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​