Dictionaries :: Need, Needs, Needful

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

Need, Needs, Needful:

denotes "a need," in such expressions as "there is a need;" or "to have need of" something, e.g., Mat 3:14; 6:8; 9:12, RV, "(have no) need," AV, "need (not)," the RV adheres to the noun form; so in Mat 14:16; Mar 14:63; Luk 5:31; 22:7; Eph 4:28; 1Th 4:9; in the following, however, both RV and AV use the verb form, "to need" (whereas the original has the verb echo, "to have," with the noun chreia as the object, as in the instances justmentioned): Luk 15:7; Jhn 2:25; 13:10; 16:30; 1Th 1:8; 1Jo 2:27; Rev 22:5; in all these the verb "to have" could well have been expressed in the translation.

In Luk 10:42 it is translated "needful," where the "one thing" is surely not one dish, or one person, but is to be explained according to Mat 6:33; 16:26. In Eph 4:29, for the AV, "(to) the use (edifying)," the RV more accurately has "(for edifying) as the need may be," marg., "the building up of the need," i.e., "to supply that which needed in each case;" so Westcott, who adds "The need represents a gap in the life which the wise word 'builds up,' fills up solidly and surely." In Phl 4:19 the RV has "every need of yours" (AV, "all your need"); in 1Th 4:12, RV, "need" (AV, "lack"); in Act 28:10, RV, "(such things) as we needed" (AV, "as were necessary"), lit., "the things for the needs (plural)."
See BUSINESS, A, No. 1, LACK, NECESSITY, USE, WANT.

Need, Needs, Needful:

"a necessity, need," is translated "it must needs be" in Mat 18:7, with the verb "to be" understood (according to the best mss.); in Luk 14:18, "I must needs" translates the verb echo, "to have," with this noun as the object, lit., "I have;" in Rom 13:5 "(ye) must needs," lit., "(it is) necessary (to be subject)."
See NECESSARY, No. 2, NECESSITY, No. 1. See also DISTRESS.

Need, Needs, Needful:

"to need, to have need of" (akin to chre, "it is necessary, fitting"), is used in Mat 6:32; Luk 11:8; 12:30; Rom 16:2, RV, "may have need" (AV, "hath need"); 2Cr 3:1.

Need, Needs, Needful:

an impersonal verb, signifying "it is necessary," is rendered "must needs" in Mar 13:7; Jhn 4:4; Act 1:16, AV (RV, "it was needful"); Act 17:3, AV (RV, "it behoved"); (in some mss. in Act 21:22); 2Cr 11:30; 12:1; in Act 15:5, "it was needful."

Need, Needs, Needful:

the neuter of the present participle of No. 2, is used as a noun, signifying "that which is needful, due, proper," in 1Pe 1:6, with the meaning "need," "(if) need (be)," with the verb to be understood.
See OUGHT.

Need, Needs, Needful:

"to want besides, to need in addition" (pros, "besides," deomai, "to want"), is used in Act 17:25, "(as though) He needed (anything);" the literal sense of pros is not to be stressed. In the Sept., Pro 12:9, "lacking (bread)."

Need, Needs, Needful:

"to owe, be bound, obliged to do something," is translated "must ye needs," in 1Cr 5:10; in 1Cr 7:36 it is used impersonally, signifying "it is due," and followed by the infinitive mood of ginomai, "to become, to occur, come about," lit. "it is due to become," translated "(if) need (so) require,"
See BEHOVE, BOUND, DEBT, DUE, DUTY, GUILTY, INDEBTED, MUST, OUGHT, OWE.

Note: In Phl 4:12, AV, hustereo, "to come short, fail, to be in want," is translated "to suffer need" (RV, "to be in want").
See BEHIND.

Need, Needs, Needful:

the comparative degree of anankaios, "necessary," is translated "more needful" in Phl 1:24.
See NECESSARY, No. 1.

Need, Needs, Needful:

primarily, "suitable, convenient," then, "useful, necessary," is translated "needful, in Jam 2:16, neuter plural, "necessaries." In the Sept., 1Ch 28:2, "suitable."

Note: In Hbr 4:16 eukairos, "timely, seasonable," qualifying the noun boetheia, "help," is translated "time of need," lit., "for opportune help."
See CONVENIENT.