noun · feminine
chreias
Strong’sG5532
need, necessity, business
stem chrei-49 times in the New Testamentin 14 of 27 books5 of 10 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
Need or necessity — the state of lacking something required, whether a physical want (food, help, money) or an obligation that must be met. This is the ordinary sense in most New Testament occurrences, seen in phrases like "having need of" something or someone, or "there is need" 13. Strong's and Dodson likewise gloss the word as need, necessity, lack, requirement, or want, sometimes shading into the idea of destitution 24.
Business or matter — a task, function, or practical affair to be attended to, distinct from the sense of lack. This use appears where the word designates a duty or work assigned to someone, such as the practical task given to certain men in the early church 13. Strong's similarly notes "employment" and "affair" as part of the word's range 2.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
χρεία, -ας, ἡ
[in LXX: II Ch 2:16 (15) (צֹרֶךְ), II Es 7:20 (חַשְׁחוּת) freq. in Si, I-II Mac;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G5532 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidkhri'-ah
employment, i.e. an affair; also (by implication) occasion, demand, requirement or destitution
Fromfrom the base of G5530 or G5534;
King Jamesbusiness, lack, necessary(-ity), need(-ful), use, want.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
(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+
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
Every form this word takes in Biblang, with the Greek it corresponds to and how often the New Testament uses it.
| Job in the sentence case | one singular | more than one plural |
|---|---|---|
| subject nominative | chreias2×χρεία | chreiais |
| object accusative | chreian40×χρείαν | chreiain2×χρείας |
| direct address vocative | chreiar | chreiair |
| of, belonging to genitive | chreiau3×χρείας | chreiaiu |
| to, for dative | chreia | chreiai2×χρείαις |
Tinted cells are forms the New Testament never uses, so there is no Greek to show against them — but they are still correct Biblang, built from the slots below like any other.
Why these forms, and no others — the slots that make them
chreia is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
49 occurrences, every one of them listed
chreias“need”subjectnominative singular2×
Luke 10:42oligeiu de atō chreias ē heneu; Mariam gar tan agathan …But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion …
Hebrews 7:11… gar epi autau nomothetotē, tinas ēti chreias kata tan taxian Melchisedek heteron anastēorō …… the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear — one …
chreian“need”objectaccusative singular40×
Matthew 3:14… de Iōannos diakōluate auton legarōntos; Mis chreian echamō hupo su baptizira, kai sis …… tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and …
Matthew 6:8… oidatē gar tos patros vu heiu chreian echavō pro teu vin aitara auton.… for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
Matthew 9:12tos de akouarantos legata; Ouk chreian echalō tois ischuarōntois iatrou alla tois …… It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
Matthew 14:16tos de Iēsus legata autoi; Ouk chreian echalō aperchara; dōavar autoi vis esthiara.“They do not need to go away,” Jesus replied. “You …
Matthew 21:3“need”… tinem, legavi hoti Tos kurios autoiu chreian echatō; euthuos de apostelati autoin.… tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
Matthew 26:65… himatieim autou legarōntos; Blasfēmata; tinem ēti chreian echanō marturoiu? ide nun akouava tan …… He has blasphemed! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you …
Mark 2:17… tos Iēsus legatō autoi hoti Ouk chreian echalō tois ischuarōntois iatrou alla tois …… It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I …
Mark 2:25… Oudepote anagnōskava tinem poiata David hote chreian echata kai peinata autos kai tois …… his companions were hungry and in need?
Mark 11:3“need”… houtem? legavar hoti Tos kurios autou chreian echatō; kai euthuos auton apostelatō palin …… you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will return it shortly.’”
Mark 14:63… toin chitōnoin autou legatō; Tinem ēti chreian echanō marturoiu?… clothes and declared, “Why do we need any more witnesses?
Luke 5:31… tos Iēsus legata pros autoin; Ouk chreian echalō tois hugiainarōntois iatrou alla tois …… It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
Luke 9:11“need”… tau basileiau tou theou, kai toin chreian echarōntoin therapeiau iote.… them about the kingdom of God, and He healed those who needed healing.
Luke 15:7… epi enenēkonta ennea dikaioi hotinois ouk chreian echalō metanoiau.… ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.
Luke 19:31“need”… houtōs legavi hoti Tos kurios autou chreian echatō.… tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
Luke 19:34“need”… de legala hoti Tos kurios autou chreian echatō.“The Lord needs it,” they answered.
Luke 22:71… de legala; Tinem ēti echanō marturiau chreian? autois gar akouana apo teu stomeu …“Why do we need any more testimony?” they declared. “We …
John 2:25kai hoti ouk chreian echate hina tinos marturateia peri tou …He did not need any testimony about man, for He …
John 13:10“need”… tos Iēsus; Tos louorēntos ouk echatō chreian ei mē toin podoin niptera, alla …Jesus told him, “Whoever has already bathed needs only to wash his feet, and he will be …
John 13:29“need”… legatō auto tos Iēsus; Agorazasar heiu chreian echanō eis tan heortan, ē toi …… thought that Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor.
John 16:30… oidanē hoti oidasē panteim kai ouk chreian echasō hina tinos sin erōtateiō; en …… things and that You have no need for anyone to question You. Because …
Acts 2:45… diamerizale auteim pantoi kathoti an tinos chreian echate;… shared with anyone who was in need.
Acts 4:35… diadōote de hekasto kathoti an tinos chreian echate.… distribution to anyone as he had need.
1 Corinthians 12:21… de tos ofthalmos legara ta cheira; Chreian su ouk echamō, ē palin tas …… to the hand, “I do not need you.” Nor can the head say …
1 Corinthians 12:21… ē palin tas kefalas toi podoi; Chreian vu ouk echamō;… to the feet, “I do not need you.”
1 Corinthians 12:24teim de euschēmōneim nu ouk chreian echatō. alla tos theos sunkerannuata tem …… our presentable parts have no such need. But God has composed the body …
Ephesians 4:28… tem agathem, hina echateiō metadōarō to chreian echarōnto.… to share with the one in need.
Philippians 4:16… kai hapax kai dis eis tan chreian mi pempava.… in Thessalonica, you provided for my needs again and again.
Philippians 4:19“need”tos de theos mu plērati pantan chreian vu kata tem ploutem autou en …And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ …
1 Thessalonians 1:8… pros ton theon exerchatē, hōste mē chreian echarō nin lalarō tinem;… place, so that we have no need to say anything more.
1 Thessalonians 4:9Peri de tau filadelfiau ouk chreian echavō grafarō vi, autois gar vis …… about brotherly love, you do not need anyone to write to you, because …
1 Thessalonians 4:12“need”… euschēmonōs pros toin exō kai mēdeneu chreian echaveiō.… will behave properly toward outsiders, without being …
1 Thessalonians 5:1… chronoiu kai toiu kairoiu, adelfoir, ouk chreian echavō vi graforō,… and seasons, brothers, we do not need to write to you.
Hebrews 5:12… arō didaskalois dia ton chronon, palin chreian echavō teu didaskarō vin tinon teim …… you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic …
Hebrews 5:12… teiu logieiu tou theou, kai genavē chreian echarōntois galakteu, ouk stereau trofēau.… basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food!
Hebrews 10:36hupomonau gar echavō chreian hina tem thelēmem tou theou poiarantois …You need to persevere, so that after you …
1 John 2:27… autou menatō en vi, kai ouk chreian echavō hina tinos didaskateiō vin; alla …… in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just …
1 John 3:17… kosmou kai theōrateiō ton adelfon autou chreian echarōnton kai kleiateia teim splanchneim autou …… earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him …
Revelation 3:17… Plousios amō kai ploutamē kai oudenem chreian echamō, kai ouk oidasē hoti sis …… rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize …
Revelation 21:23kai tas polas ouk chreian echatō tou hēliou oude tau selēnau, …And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine …
Revelation 22:5… ouk eti ēti, kai ouk echalō chreian fōteu luchnou kai fōtem hēliou, hoti …… city, and they will have no need for the light of a lamp …
chreiau“need”of, belonging togenitive singular3×
Acts 6:3“task”… kai sofiau, hoin katastēani epi tau chreiau houtau;… the Spirit and wisdom. We will assign this responsibility to them
Ephesians 4:29… ei tinos agathos pros oikodoman tau chreiau, hina dōateia charitan toi akouarōntoi.… for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who …
Philippians 2:25“need”… vu de apostolon kai leitourgon tau chreiau mu, pempara pros vin,… necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my needs.
chreiain“needs”objectaccusative plural2×
Acts 28:10“needed”… kai anagorōntoi epitithela teim pros tain chreiain.The islanders honored us in many ways and supplied our needs when we were ready to sail.
Titus 3:14… kaleiu ergeiu prostēorō eis tain anankaiain chreiain, hina mē aleiō akarpois.… in order to meet the pressing needs of others, so that they will …
chreiai“needs”to, fordative plural2×
Acts 20:34autois gnōskavō hoti tai chreiai mu kai toi arōntoi meta mu …… mine have ministered to my own needs and those of my companions.
Romans 12:13“needs”tai chreiai toiu hagioiu koinōnarōntois, tan filoxenian diōkarōntois.Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.