an impersonal verb, signifying "it is necessary" or "one must," "one ought," is found most frequently in the Gospels, Acts and the Apocalypse, and is used (a) of a necessity lying in the nature of the case e.g., John 3:30; 2 Timothy 2:6; (b) of necessity brought about by circumstances, e.g., Matthew 26:35 , RV, "must," AV, "should;" John 4:4; Acts 27:21 , "should;" 2 Corinthians 11:30; in the case of Christ, by reason of the Father's will, e.g., Luke 2:49; 19:5; (c) of necessity as to what is required that something may be brought about, e.g., Luke 12:12 , "ought;" John 3:7; Acts 9:6; 1 Corinthians 11:19; Hebrews 9:26; (d) of a necessity of law, duty, equity, e.g., Matthew 18:33 , "shouldest;" Matthew 23:23 , "ought;" Luke 15:32 , "it was meet;" Acts 15:5 , "it is needful" (RV); Romans 1:27 , RV, "was due," AV, "was meet" (of a recompense due by the law of God); frequently requiring the rendering "ought," e.g., Romans 8:26; 12:3; 1 Corinthians 8:2; (e) of necessity arising from the determinate will and counsel of God, e.g., Matthew 17:10; 24:6; 26:54; 1 Corinthians 15:53 , especially regarding the salvation of men through the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ, e.g., John 3:14; Acts 3:21; 4:12 . See BEHOVE , No. 2 (where see the differences in the meanings of synonymous words), MEET , NEED , NEEDFUL , OUGHT , SHOULD.
"to owe," is rendered "must ... needs" in 1 Corinthians 5:10 . See BEHOVE , No. 1.
Notes: (1) In Mark 14:49 , AV, the conjunction hina with the subjunctive mood, "in order that," is represented by "must" (RV, "that ... might"). (2) In Hebrews 13:17 , AV, the future participle of apodidomi, "to give," is translated "they that must give" (RV, "they that shall give"). (3) In 2 Peter 1:14 , AV, the verb "to be," with apothesis, "a putting off," is translated "I must put off," RV, "(the) putting off ... cometh," lit., "is (swift)." (4) Sometimes the infinitive mood of a verb, with or without the article, is necessarily rendered by a phrase involving the word "must," e.g., 1 Peter 4:17 , AV, "must (begin);" or "should," Hebrews 4:6 , RV, "should" (AV "must"). (5) Sometimes the subjunctive mood of a verb, used as a deliberative, is rendered "must," etc., John 6:28 , "(what) must (we do)," RV (AV, "shall").