← G5535 G5537 →

χρῆμα

chrēma

G5536 noun

SILEX Entry

Root χρη- to use, to employ, to need

Definition

A thing used or needed; frequently, a thing of value or possession, most commonly referring to money, property, or material goods. More generally, denotes anything used to serve a purpose or meet a need, extending to objects, resources, or instruments.

Semantic Range

thing used, object, possession, property, money, wealth, goods, resource, instrument

Root / Etymology

From the verb χράομαι (chraomai, 'to use, to employ'), indicating that which is used or has use; the suffix -μα indicates the result of an action. Related to χρῆσις (chrēsis, 'use') and χρῆσιμον (chrēsimon, 'useful thing').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, χρῆμα referred broadly to anything used, needed, or useful (Herodotus, Thucydides). Over time, especially from the Classical to Hellenistic periods, it increasingly took on the sense of 'possession','goods', or specifically 'money, wealth' (cf. Plato, Xenophon). In legal and economic contexts, χρῆμα often denoted property or assets. In the Septuagint and Koine Greek, the term retained this material or financial nuance, commonly contrasting with more abstract values or non-material resources. By the New Testament period, χρῆμα typically denotes material wealth, property, or money, but can still, depending on context, mean general 'things' or 'objects.' Standard English Bibles most often translate χρῆμα as 'money,' 'goods,' or 'property,' which may obscure its broader sense of 'anything useful or used.' χρῆμα is distinct from νόμισμα (nomisma, 'currency, coin') in that it may refer to any kind of useful material thing, not just legal tender.

Root Family

χρῆμα (chrēma) — thing used, possession, property, resource, wealth

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G5536-02 χρήματα chremata N ACC N PL money material goods 4
G5536-01 χρῆμα chrema N ACC N SG money a useful possession 1
G5536-03 χρημάτων chrematon N GEN N PL money of resources 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G5536-02 Mark 10:23 χρήματα chremata N ACC N PL riches material goods
G5536-02 Luke 18:24 χρήματα chremata N ACC N PL riches material goods
G5536-01 Acts 4:37 χρῆμα chrema N ACC N SG money a useful possession
G5536-02 Acts 8:18 χρήματα chremata N ACC N PL money material goods
G5536-03 Acts 8:20 χρημάτων chrematon N GEN N PL money of resources
G5536-02 Acts 24:26 χρήματα chremata N NOM N PL money material goods
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