Greek word · G5536

χρῆμα

chrēma

money

A thing one uses or needs; in the plural, money, property, wealth.

Appears 6 times in 6 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated November 01, 2026

What it means

χρῆμα, -τος, τό

(χράομαι) [in LXX: Joshua 22:8, 2 Chronicles 1:11-12 (נֶכֶס), Job 27:17 (כֶּסֶף), etc.; frequently in Sir (5:1, 8, al.), 2 and 4 Mac ;]

a thing that one uses or needs (and generally, a matter, event, business); hence in pl.,

(a) wealth, riches: οἱ τά χ. ἔχοντες, Mark 10:23-24, Luke 18:24;

(b) money: Acts 8:18, 20 24:26; sing. (rare in cl.) of a special sum of money, Acts 4:37.†

(AS)

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

Range of meaning: A thing one uses or needs; in the plural, money, property, wealth.
Against the English: KJV 'goods' and WEB 'possessions' are both accurate. 'Riches' (NRSV) brings out the sense of wealth.
Used elsewhere in the period: Mark 10:23 says 'those who have riches (chrēmata)'. Acts 4:37 and 8:18 use it of money. It is common in the papyri for money and property.

Range of meaning: From χράομαι, "to use": things one uses, property, wealth. In the plural it most often means money or funds (BDAG). It is common in the papyri for payments.
Against the English: "Money" is correct. The plural suggests a sum or funds rather than a single coin.
Used elsewhere in the period: Luke uses it in Acts 4:37 (Barnabas brought the money, τὸ χρῆμα, and laid it at the apostles' feet) and 24:26 (Felix hoping Paul would give him money, a bribe). The Greek magical papyri and literary sources show that magical knowledge was regularly passed on for payment.

Range of meaning: From χράομαι ('to use'): a thing one uses or needs. In the plural it means property, goods, wealth, and especially money.
Against the English: KJV/WEB 'riches', ESV 'wealth', BSB/NIV 'the rich'. All fine, though the Greek word is plainer and more concrete, like 'money' or 'means'.
Used elsewhere in the period: Acts 4:37 (Barnabas brings the money from a sale); Acts 8:18, 20 (Simon offers money); Acts 24:26 (Felix hopes for a bribe); widely used in the papyri and in Josephus for funds and property.

Mark · 1

Mark 10:23 χρήματα riches

Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

Here: Plural: 'means, funds, assets.' The word covers money and anything of value a person can use. Jesus picks a broader word than the 'possessions' (ktēmata, often land) of v. 22, so the saying reaches past this one landowner.

Luke · 1

Luke 18:24 χρήματα riches

Seeing the man’s sadness, Jesus said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!

Here: Literally 'things for use'. In the plural it means money and possessions. It is concrete, not an attitude.

Acts · 4

Acts 4:37 χρῆμα money

sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Acts 8:18 χρήματα money

When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.

Here: Plural: "funds", money as purchasing power. Peter's answer in v.20 calls it "your silver" (τὸ ἀργύριόν σου). The word links back to the shared property of Acts 4:34–37, where Barnabas laid money at the apostles' feet as a gift. Simon lays it before them as a price.
Acts 8:20 χρημάτων money

But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!

Here: The same word used in v.18 ('he offered them money'). It echoes Simon's offer straight back at him.
Acts 24:26 χρήματα riches

At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe. So he sent for Paul frequently and talked with him.

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