Greek word · G5534
χρή
chrē
it should be
An impersonal verb meaning 'it is fitting, proper, right', or 'one ought'. In classical Greek it often refers to what is fitting given the nature of things or the will of the gods. It differs slightly from δεῖ, which more often means 'it is necessary' or 'it must'.
Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
- Range of meaning
An impersonal verb meaning 'it is fitting, proper, right', or 'one ought'. In classical Greek it often refers to what is fitting given the nature of things or the will of the gods. It differs slightly from δεῖ, which more often means 'it is necessary' or 'it must'.
- Against the English
'Ought not' (KJV, WEB) and 'should not be' (BSB) are accurate. YLT's 'it doth not need' is overly literal and misleading. The Greek suggests 'this is out of place, unnatural', and the next two verses make that point with examples from nature.
- Used elsewhere in the period
This is its only occurrence in the New Testament. It appears a few times in the LXX (for example Proverbs 25:27) and is common in classical and Hellenistic Greek, including moral writers. It is one of several signs of James's polished Greek.
Where it appears
James · 1
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James 3:10 χρή, ought,
Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!
Here: An impersonal verb for what is proper or in keeping with how things should be. This is its only use in the New Testament. James is saying the situation goes against the nature of things, not only against a rule.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.