Strong's Lexicon
dei: It is necessary, must, ought
Original Word:δεῖ
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:dei
Pronunciation:day
Phonetic Spelling:(die)
Definition:It is necessary, must, ought
Meaning:it is necessary, inevitable; less frequently: it is a duty, what is proper.
Word Origin:A primary verb
Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries:The concept of necessity or obligation in the Hebrew Bible is often expressed with words like "חָיָב" (chayav - obligated) or "צָרִיךְ" (tsarikh - need, must), though there is no direct one-to-one equivalent for "δεῖ."
Usage:The Greek word "δεῖ" (dei) is used to express necessity or obligation. It conveys a sense of something that is required or inevitable, often in the context of divine will or purpose. In the New Testament, it frequently appears in discussions about what must happen according to God's plan or what believers ought to do in obedience to God's commands.
Cultural and Historical Background:In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of necessity was often linked to fate or destiny. However, in the biblical context, "δεῖ" is more closely associated with the sovereign will of God. It reflects the understanding that certain events or actions are part of God's predetermined plan and are therefore necessary. This aligns with the Jewish and early Christian belief in a God who is actively involved in the unfolding of history and the lives of individuals.
HELPS Word-studies
1163deí – properly, whatmust happen, i.e. what isabsolutely necessary ("itbehooves that . . . ").
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina form of
deóDefinitionit is necessary
NASB Translationdue (1), had (7), have (2), must (56), necessary (4), needed (1), ought (17), ought to (1), should (9).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1163: δεῖδεῖ; subjunctive present
δέῃ; imperfect
ἔδει; an impersonal verb (cf.
Buttmann, § 132, 12; cf. § 131, 3; from
Homer down); (
δέω, namely,
τίνος, to have need of, be in want of; cf. German
esbedarf),
it is necessary, there is need of, it behooves, is right and proper; followed either by the infinitive alone (cf. our
one ought), or by the accusative with an infinitive (cf.
Buttmann, 147 (129)), it denotes any sort of necessity; as a. necessity lying in the nature of the case:
John 3:30;
2 Timothy 2:6.
b. necessity brought on by circumstances or by the conduct of others toward us:Matthew 26:35 (κἄνδέῃμεἀποθανεῖν), cf.Mark 14:31;John 4:4;Acts 27:21;2 Corinthians 11:30; (2 Corinthians 12:1LTTrWH text); or imposed by a condition of mind:Luke 2:49;Luke 19:5.
c. necessity in reference to what is required to attain some end:Luke 12:12;John 3:7;Acts 9:6;Acts 16:30;1 Corinthians 11:19;Hebrews 9:26 (on this cf.Winers Grammar, 283 (266); (alsoButtmann, 216 (187); 225 (195)));Hebrews 11:6.
d. a necessity of law and command, of duty, equity:Matthew 18:33;Matthew 23:23;Luke 11:42;Luke 13:14;Luke 15:32;Luke 18:1;Luke 22:7;John 4:20;Acts 5:29;Acts 15:5;Romans 1:27 (ἀντιμισθίαν,ἥνἔδει, namely,ἀπολαμβάνεσθαι, the recompense due by the law of God);Romans 8:26;Romans 12:3;1 Corinthians 8:2, etc. or of office:Luke 4:43;Luke 13:33;John 9:4;John 10:16;Ephesians 6:20;Colossians 4:4;2 Timothy 2:24.
e. necessity established by the counsel and decree of God, especially by that purpose of his which relates to the salvation of men by the intervention of Christ and which is disclosed in the O. T. prophecies:Matthew 17:10;Matthew 24:6;Mark 9:11;Acts 4:12;1 Corinthians 15:53; in this use, especially of what Christ was destined finally to undergo, his sufferings, death, resurrection, ascension:Luke 24:46 (RGL brackets);Matthew 26:54;John 3:14;Acts 3:21, etc. (of the necessity of fate inHerodotus 5, 33; with the additionκατάτόθεοπρόπιον, 8, 53;Thucydides 5, 26.) [SYNONYMS:δεῖ,χρή:δεῖ seems to be more suggestive of moral obligation, denoting especially that constraint which arises from divine appointment; whereasχρή signifies rather the necessity resulting from time and circumstance.Schmidt, chapter 150.]
STRONGS NT 1163: δέονδέον,δεοντος,τό (participle ofδεῖ, which see), from (Sophocles and)Herodotus down,that of which there is need, which is requisite, due, proper:δέονἐστι there is need,1 Peter 1:6 (TTr textWH omit;Tr marginal reading bracketsἐστι); followed by the accusative with an infinitiveActs 19:36;τάμήδέοντα that are not proper,1 Timothy 5:13.
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
needful, ought, should.3d person singular active present ofdeo; also deon deh-on'; neuter active participle of the same; both used impersonally; it is (was, etc.) Necessary (as binding) -- behoved, be meet, must (needs), (be) need(-ful), ought, should.
see GREEKdeo
Forms and Transliterations
δεη δέη δέῃ δεήσει δει δεῖ δειν δεῖν δεον δέον δεοντα δεόντα δέοντα εδει έδει ἔδει dee deē déei déēi dei deî dein deîn deon déon deonta déonta edei édeiLinks
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