χρή; (from χράω, χραει contracted χρή); impors. verb, it is necessary; it behooves: followed by an infinitive Jas_3:10 ((Buttmann, §§ 131, 3; 132, 12). From Homer on. Synonym: see δεῖ, at the end.)

χρή c hrē 1x impersonal verb, there is need or occasion, it is necessary, it is requisite; it becomes, it is proper, Jas_3:10

* χρή , impers . ( < χράω , v. LS , s.v. ), it is necessary: Jas_3:10 ( cf. δεῖ .).†

χρή [page 691] χρή occurs in the NT only in Jas. 3:10 (but cf. Pro. 25:27, 4Ma. 8:26 A), where Hort ( Comm. ad l. ) notes that it is a somewhat vague word, apparently starting from the sense there is need. This is borne out by such exx. as the following P Hib I. 64 .19 (B.C. 264) χ̣ρ̣ὴ δὲ καὶ [γρά ]φειν μοι π̣[ερ ]ι̣, ὧν ἂν χρείαν ἔχ̣η̣ς , and you must write to me about anything which you require (Edd.), BGU III. 830 .18 (i/A.D.) χρ ]ὴ οὖν ἑτοιμάσ [ε ]ιν ( l. ἑτοιμάσαι ) καὶ προαιρ [εῖν ], ἵν᾽ ἔχι ( l. ἔχῃ ) τοῦ π [ωλ ]εῖν , it is therefore necessary to prepare and bring forward, in order that he may be able to sell, P Flor III. 309 .5 (iv/A.D.) οὐ χρὴ σ [ι ]ωπῇ παραδ̣ίδοσθαι τὰ ὑπ᾽ αὐτῆς εἰρημένα , P Oxy I. 120 .5 (iv/A.D.) χρὴ γάρ τινα ὁρῶντα αἱαυτὸν ( l. ἑαυτὸν ) ἐν δυστυχίᾳ κἂν ἀναχωρεῖν , when a man finds himself in adversity he ought to give way (Edd.), ib. VIII. 1163 .5 (v/A.D.) ἐρωτηθὶς παρὰ τῆς αὐτοῦ μεγαλοπρεπίας ὅσα ἔχρην ἀνεδίδαξα α̣ὐ̣ [τ ]ὸν̣ περὶ τῆς ὑμετέρας μεγαλοπρεπίας , on the inquiry of his magnificence I told him what was fitting about your magnificence (Ed.). See also the Attic inscr. Preisigke 421 .10 ( = LAE 2 , p. 367) χρή , τιμιώτατε , τὰς θεὰς (or θέας ) κωμάζεσθαι , it is necessary, O most honourable, that the goddesses (or spectacles) be celebrated in festal procession.

χρή [Etym: imperf. ἐχρῆν, also without the augm. χρῆν even in attic] "it is fated, necessary", Aesch. , etc.; οὐδὲ ἓν ἴαμα ὅ τι χρῆν προσφέροντας ὠφελεῖν no one remedy which "one was sure" to do good by administering, Thuc. :—c. inf. "it must, must needs, one must or ought" to do, Hom. , attic; more often, like Lat. oportet, c. acc. pers. et inf. "one must, one must needs, it behoves, befits" one to . . , οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ νηλεὲς ἦτορ ἔχειν Il. , etc.; often the inf. must be supplied from the context, τίπτε μάχης ἀποπαύεαι; οὐδέ τί σε χρή (sc. ἀποπαύεσθαι), why cease from battle? for "it behoves" thee not, Il. ; so, ὅθι χρὴ πεζὸν ἐόντα (sc. μάρνασθαι) Od. ; ἐπιπλεύσειέ τις ὡς χρή (sc. ἐπιπλεῦσαι) Thuc. :—absol., ἐρεῖ τις, οὐ χρῆν [sc. τοῦτο ποιεῖν], ἀλλὰ τί χρῆν εἴπατε Eur. ap. Ar. c. acc. pers. et gen. rei, οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ ἀφροσύνης thou "hast" no "need of" imprudence, i. e. it does not "befit" thee, Il. ; μυθήσεαι ὅττεό (i. e. ὅτου) σε χρή thou wilt say what thou "hast need" of, Od. sometimes in a less strong sense, πῶς χρὴ τοῦτο περᾶσαι; how "is one to" get through this? Theocr. τὸ χρῆν (inf.) = χρεών, "fate, destiny", Eur.

χρή impers. (χράω, see LS, see word), it is necessary: Jas.3:10 (cf. δεῖ.).† (AS)