Greek word · G316

ἀναγκαῖος

anankaios

necessary

"Necessary, indispensable, required" (from anankē, "necessity, compulsion"); also "urgent, pressing"; and in the phrase anagkaioi philoi, "close, intimate friends" (people bound to you by ties of obligation).

Appears 8 times in 8 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀναγκαῖος, -αῖα, -αῖον

(ἀνάγκη), [in LXX: Esther 8:13, Wisdom of Solomon 16:3, Sir prol.22, 2Ma.4:23 2Mac 9:21, 4Ma.1:2 * ;]

1. necessary: Acts 13:46, 1 Corinthians 12:22, 2 Corinthians 9:5, Philippians 2:25, Titus 3:14, Hebrews 8:3; comp. -αιότερον, Philippians 1:24.

2. Of persons connected by bonds of nature or friendship, near, intimate (Field, Notes, 118; ΜΜ, VGT, see word): ἀ. φίλοι, Acts 10:24.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Philippians 1:24

Range of meaning

"Necessary, indispensable, required" (from anankē, "necessity, compulsion"); also "urgent, pressing"; and in the phrase anagkaioi philoi, "close, intimate friends" (people bound to you by ties of obligation).

Against the English

"More necessary" or "more needful" are right. NLT's "better" erases Paul's careful wording, because "better" (kreisson) is the word he has just used for departing to be with Christ.

Used elsewhere in the period

Paul uses the same word in Phil 2:25: "I thought it necessary to send Epaphroditus". Acts 10:24 has "his close friends" (tous anagkaious philous). In Greek moral writing what is "necessary" often means what duty or a relationship requires, as opposed to what one would prefer.

From the study of Acts 13:46

Range of meaning

Anagkaios: necessary, compulsory, required by circumstance or obligation; also "close" (of kin or friends, Acts 10:24). Prōton: first in time, order or rank.

Against the English

"It was necessary … first" is accurate. A reader might take it as a missionary strategy (synagogues were a convenient platform). The Greek points to an obligation rooted in God's order of salvation.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke–Acts repeatedly states this order: repentance and forgiveness preached "beginning from Jerusalem" (Luke 24:47); "to you first God raised up his servant" (Acts 3:26); "to us the message of this salvation was sent" (13:26). Paul has the same pattern: "to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Rom 1:16; 2:9-10).

From the study of Titus 3:14

Range of meaning

Anagkaios means necessary, indispensable, compelling, and can also mean urgent. Chreia means need, lack, requirement, or the thing needed. Together the phrase is a common Greek expression for the necessities of life, or for needs that press and cannot wait.

Against the English

KJV "necessary uses" uses "uses" in its older sense of needs or requirements, which a modern reader may find opaque. BSB and NLT add "of others", and NIV and ESV say "urgent needs". The Greek does not say whose needs they are.

Used elsewhere in the period

Chreia refers to material needs in Acts 20:34 ("these hands ministered to my needs"), Acts 28:10 (supplies loaded for a voyage), Eph 4:28 (work with your hands "so that you may have something to share with the one who has need"), Phil 4:16 and 1 Thess 4:12. The phrase "necessary needs" is used in Hellenistic Greek for daily essentials.

Similar words

Where it appears

Acts · 2

  1. Acts 10:24 ἀναγκαίους close

    The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

  2. Acts 13:46 ἀναγκαῖον necessary

    Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.

    Here: "Necessary" in the sense of a binding obligation. In Luke–Acts it points to the order God laid down for the message (Luke 24:47; Acts 3:26), not to tactics.

1 Corinthians · 1

  1. 1 Corinthians 12:22 ἀναγκαῖά indispensable

    On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

2 Corinthians · 1

  1. 2 Corinthians 9:5 ἀναγκαῖον Necessary

    So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you beforehand and make arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. This way, your gift will be prepared generously and not begrudgingly.

    Here: Comes first for emphasis: 'it was necessary'. Paul presents sending the envoys as a step he had to take, given what was riding on the visit (9:3–4).

Philippians · 2

  1. Philippians 1:24 ἀναγκαιότερον [is] more necessary

    But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

    Here: "More necessary", "more needed". The comparative is set deliberately against "far better" in v. 23: departing is better for Paul, staying is more necessary for them.

  2. Philippians 2:25 Ἀναγκαῖον Necessary

    But I thought it necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my needs.

    Here: Comes first in the sentence for emphasis: Paul presents the decision as something the situation required, not something he simply chose. It heads off any idea that Epaphroditus is coming home because he gave up.

Titus · 1

  1. Titus 3:14 ἀναγκαίας necessary

    And our people must also learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet the pressing needs of others, so that they will not be unfruitful.

    Here: Needs that cannot be put off: food, lodging, travel supplies, the basics of life. It can also mean urgent needs.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 8:3 ἀναγκαῖον necessary

    And since every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, it was necessary for this One also to have something to offer.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.