← G5529 G5531 →

χράομαι

chráomai

G5530 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To use, employ, make use of (something or someone); in wider contexts, to deal with, treat, behave toward. In oracular language, to consult an oracle, to receive or proclaim an utterance. The primary sense is to take something or someone into one's service or experience, with extensions to various kinds of application, treatment, or consultation.

Semantic Range

to use, employ, make use of; to experience, enjoy (something as a benefit); to deal with, treat (a person in a particular way); to consult an oracle, to receive or deliver an oracular response (in older contexts)

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root χρα-, potentially related to Hebrew חָרָה (to need, lack), but more likely indigenous Greek formation. Sometimes distinguished from χράω (to proclaim an oracle), though there is overlap in some sources. The relationship with χείρ ('hand') is speculative and not widely accepted; etymology uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, χράομαι consistently means 'to use' or 'to make use of', with both concrete (using an object, resource, or person) and abstract applications (using opportunity, time, or experience). In oracular contexts, it means 'to consult an oracle' or 'to declare as an oracle' (passive sense), sometimes written as χράω or with chi rho eta forms. In Koine and New Testament usage, χράομαι rarely retains oracular overtones; its main sense is functional: to employ, to make use of, or to treat (someone) in a particular way. The verb is often constructed with the dative of the thing used or the accusative (sometimes prepositional phrases in later Greek). New Testament instances exhibit 'to deal with' (e.g., how one behaves toward another), as well as the general sense 'use'. English translations sometimes narrow the meaning to 'entreat' or 'deal with', but the core Greek sense encompasses any form of use or utilization. Related verbs: χράω (in traditional lexica, the active for oracular utterance), χρή ('it is necessary', from the same root), which are semantically and morphologically linked but function distinctly in discourse.

Translation Consistency

primary "use" 8 occurrences

χράομαι primarily means to employ or make use of something or someone; in extended contexts it covers experiencing or enjoying a benefit and dealing with/treating a person. “Use” is the natural, simple English verb that best fits the typical range and will read consistently across forms (the rare oracular sense can be handled by context or paraphrase).

Alternatives (3 occurrences):
"having treated" (1x) "avail yourself of" (1x) "acted" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

middle voice of a primary verb (perhaps rather from χείρ, to handle); to furnish what is needed; (give an oracle, "graze" (touch slightly), light upon, etc.), i.e. (by implication) to employ or (by extension) to act towards one in a given manner:--entreat, use. Compare χράω; χρή.

Root Family

χράομαι (chraomai) — to use, to employ, to make use of, to treat, to deal with

Root χρα- to use, to make use of, to treat, to deal with

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5530-11 κέχρημαι kechremai V PRF MID IND 1P SG have used I have availed myself I have used 1
G5530-01 χρῆσαι chresai V AOR MID IMP 2P SG use Avail yourself of avail yourself of 1
G5530-07 χρώμεθα chrometha V PRS MID IND 1P PL we use we are making use we use 1
G5530-05 χρῶ chro V PRS MID IMP 2P SG use make use for yourself make use for yourself 1
G5530-10 ἐχρῶντο echronto V IMPF MID IND 3P PL they used they were using for themselves they were using for themselves 1
G5530-02 χρησάμενος chresamenos V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG having treated having made use for himself having treated 1
G5530-04 χρῆται chretai V PRS MID SUBJ 3P SG uses may make use of for oneself uses 1
G5530-03 χρήσωμαι chresomai V AOR MID SUBJ 1P SG I should use I might make use of I might make use of 1
G5530-09 ἐχρησάμεθα echresametha V AOR MID IND 1P PL did we use we made use of we made use of 1
G5530-06 χρώμενοι chromenoi V PRS MID PTCP NOM M PL use those using for themselves using for themselves 1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5530-02 Acts 27:3 χρησάμενος chresamenos V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG having treated having made use for himself having treated
G5530-10 Acts 27:17 ἐχρῶντο echronto V IMPF MID IND 3P PL they used they were using for themselves they were using for themselves
G5530-01 1 Corinthians 7:21 χρῆσαι chresai V AOR MID IMP 2P SG use Avail yourself of avail yourself of
G5530-06 1 Corinthians 7:31 χρώμενοι chromenoi V PRS MID PTCP NOM M PL use those using for themselves using for themselves
G5530-09 1 Corinthians 9:12 ἐχρησάμεθα echresametha V AOR MID IND 1P PL did we use we made use of we made use of
G5530-11 1 Corinthians 9:15 κέχρημαι kechremai V PRF MID IND 1P SG have used I have availed myself I have used
G5530-08 2 Corinthians 1:17 ἐχρησάμην echresamen V AOR MID IND 1P SG use I made use of I acted
G5530-07 2 Corinthians 3:12 χρώμεθα chrometha V PRS MID IND 1P PL we use we are making use we use
G5530-03 2 Corinthians 13:10 χρήσωμαι chresomai V AOR MID SUBJ 1P SG I should use I might make use of I might make use of
G5530-04 1 Timothy 1:8 χρῆται chretai V PRS MID SUBJ 3P SG uses may make use of for oneself uses
← G5529 Greek Lexicon G5531 →