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δεῖ

deî

G1163 verb

SILEX Entry

Root δεω- to bind, to tie

Definition

To be necessary, to be required or obligatory – used impersonally to indicate that something must or ought to happen according to necessity, propriety, or logical consequence; expresses compulsion or moral, legal, or practical obligation.

Semantic Range

to be necessary, to be required, to be obligatory, it must be, it ought to be, it is appropriate, it is inevitable, it is fitting

Root / Etymology

From the root δέω (to bind, tie), evolving into the impersonal use indicating what is bound or constrained by necessity. The form δεῖ is a contracted impersonal verb.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, δεῖ regularly functions as an impersonal verb meaning 'it is necessary' or 'it must (happen),' signifying a compelling necessity or need arising from circumstances, logic, fate, laws, or ethical obligations. In the Hellenistic and Koine periods, including the New Testament, it frequently introduces statements concerning divine will, prophecy, fate, or moral imperatives (e.g., 'it is necessary for the Son of Man to suffer'). Its semantic range overlaps with ὀφείλω ('to owe, ought'), but δεῖ more strongly connotes compulsion or inevitability—whether dictated by external circumstances, internal requirements, or established law. English translations like 'must,' 'ought,' or 'should' only partially capture the scope, sometimes obscuring the nuance of necessity, obligation, or destiny conveyed by δεῖ.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

3rd person singular active present of δέω; also deon deh-on'; neuter active participle of the same; both used impersonally; it is (was, etc.) necessary (as binding):--behoved, be meet, must (needs), (be) need(-ful), ought, should.

Root Family

δεῖ (dei) — to bind, to tie; to be necessary; to be obligatory

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G1163-01 ἔδει edei V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG it was necessary it was necessary 16

Occurrences in Scripture

16 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G1163-01 Matthew 18:33 ἔδει edei V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG it was necessary
G1163-01 Matthew 23:23 ἔδει edei V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG it was necessary
G1163-01 Matthew 25:27 ἔδει edei V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG it was necessary
G1163-01 Luke 11:42 ἔδει edei V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG it was necessary it was necessary
G1163-01 Luke 13:16 ἔδει edei V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG ought it was necessary
G1163-01 Luke 15:32 ἔδει edei V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG it was necessary it was necessary
G1163-01 Luke 22:7 ἔδει edei V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG it was necessary it was necessary
G1163-01 Luke 24:26 ἔδει edei V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG was necessary it was necessary
G1163-01 John 4:4 ἔδει edei V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG it was necessary it was necessary
G1163-01 Acts 1:16 ἔδει edei V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG it was necessary it was necessary
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