chreia · need

What it means

chreia (χρεία) is a Greek word of the Bible that means “need”.

What is lacking.

How to say it

Approximate pronunciation. Vowels sound as in Spanish (a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in note, u as in rule); the syllable in bold is stressed. The voice is your device's.

Its senses in the Bible

1. What is lacking, required.
2. A task, an assignment.

From Abbott-Smith (1922) · Thayer (1889)

Word study

Need: what is lacking, and the state of one who lacks something. It almost always comes in the phrase ‘have need of’. Thayer also gives it the sense of a matter or task to be attended to.

• “The healthy have no need of a doctor” Matthew 9:12Mark 2:17
• The Father knows what you need Matthew 6:8
• Distributing according to each one’s need Acts 2:45Acts 4:351 John 3:17
• “What further need do we have of witnesses?” Luke 22:71Matthew 26:65
• “This task” Acts 6:3

How we translate it

“Need” 40 times, almost always in “have need” or “have no need”; sometimes the English verb is enough: “what you need” (Matthew 6:8). In Acts 6:3, where it is about serving at tables, it is rendered “this task”.

How it is translated

The words this translation uses for it, most frequent first.

• need ×40
• needs ×6
• needed ×1
• needing ×1
• task ×1

Related words

Words of the same family, by Strong’s numbering.

Where it appears

• Matthew×6
• Mark×4
• Luke×7
• John×4
• Acts×5
• Romans×1
• 1 Corinthians×3
• Ephesians×2
• Philippians×3
• 1 Thessalonians×4
• Titus×1
• Hebrews×4
• 1 John×2
• Revelation×3

• Matthew 3:14

  But John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be immersed by you, and you come to me?”

• Matthew 6:8

  So do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

• Matthew 9:12

  But he, hearing it, said, “The healthy have no need of a doctor, but those who are ill.

• Matthew 14:16

  But Jesus said to them, “They have no need to go away; you give them something to eat.”

• Matthew 21:3

  And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and at once he will send them.”

• Matthew 26:65

  Then the high priest tore his garments, saying, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.

• Mark 2:17

  And hearing it, Jesus says to them, “Those who are well have no need of a doctor, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

• Mark 2:25

  And he says to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and was hungry, he and those with him,

• Mark 11:3

  And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it, and he will send it back here at once.’”

• Mark 14:63

  And the high priest, tearing his garments, says, “What further need do we have of witnesses?

• Luke 5:31

  And Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a doctor, but those who are sick.

• Luke 9:11

  But the crowds, learning of it, followed him; and welcoming them, he was speaking to them about the kingdom of God, and those who had need of healing he was healing.

• Luke 10:42

  but few things are needed, or only one; for Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

• Luke 15:7

  I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who changes his mind than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of a change of mind.

• Luke 19:31

  And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you will say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’”

• Luke 19:34

  And they said, “The Lord has need of it.”

• Luke 22:71

  And they said, “What further need do we have of testimony? For we ourselves have heard it from his own mouth.”

• John 2:25

  and because he had no need for anyone to testify about man; for he himself knew what was in man.

• John 13:10

  Jesus says to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to wash the feet, but is entirely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”

• John 13:29

  For some thought that, since Judas had the money box, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.

• John 16:30

  Now we know that you know all things and do not need for anyone to question you; by this we believe that you came forth from God.”

• Acts 2:45

  And they were selling their properties and possessions and distributing them to all, as anyone had need.

• Acts 4:35

  and laying them at the feet of the apostles, and it was distributed to each as anyone had need.

• Acts 6:3

  So, brothers, select from among you seven men of good testimony, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint over this task;

• Acts 20:34

  You yourselves know that these hands served my needs and those of the ones who were with me.

• Acts 28:10

  They also honored us with many honors, and when we set sail they put on board the things for our needs.

• Romans 12:13

  sharing in the needs of the saints; pursuing hospitality.

• 1 Corinthians 12:21

  And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you, or again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

• 1 Corinthians 12:24

  whereas our presentable parts have no need. But God has put together the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacks it,

• Ephesians 4:28

  Let the one who steals no longer steal, but rather let him labor, working with his own hands what is good, so that he may have something to share with the one who has need.

• Ephesians 4:29

  Let no corrupt word come out of your mouth, but only whatever is good for building up according to the need, so that it may give grace to those who hear.

• Philippians 2:25

  But I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your envoy and minister to my need,

• Philippians 4:16

  for even in Thessalonica you sent help for my need both once and twice.

• Philippians 4:19

  And my God will fill every need of yours according to his riches in glory in the Messiah Jesus.

• 1 Thessalonians 1:8

  For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to say anything.

• 1 Thessalonians 4:9

  Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;

• 1 Thessalonians 4:12

  so that you may walk properly toward those outside and have need of nothing.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:1

  Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need for anything to be written to you.

• Titus 3:14

  And let our people also learn to devote themselves to good works for urgent needs, so that they may not be unfruitful.

• Hebrews 5:12

  For indeed, though you ought to be teachers by this time, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God, and you have become people needing milk, not solid food.

And 9 more times.