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Bible Dictionaries
Need, Needs, Needful
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words
or denotes "a need," in such expressions as "there is a need;" or "to have need of" something, e.g., Matthew 3:14; 6:8; 9:12 , RV, "(have no) need," AV, "need (not)," the RV adheres to the noun form; so in Matthew 14:16; Mark 14:63; Luke 5:31; 22:7; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Thessalonians 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 just mentioned): Luke 15:7; John 2:25; 13:10; 16:30; 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 John 2:27; Revelation 22:5; in all these the verb "to have" could well have been expressed in the translation.
In Luke 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 Matthew 6:33; 16:26 . In Ephesians 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 Philippians 4:19 the RV has "every need of yours" (AV, "all your need"); in 1 Thessalonians 4:12 , RV, "need" (AV, "lack"); in Acts 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."a necessity, need," is translated "it must needs be" in Matthew 18:7 , with the verb "to be" understood (according to the best mss.); in Luke 14:18 , "I must needs" translates the verb echo, "to have," with this noun as the object, lit., "I have;" in Romans 13:5 "(ye) must needs," lit., "(it is) necessary (to be subject)." See NECESSARY , No. 2, NECESSITY, No. 1. See also DISTRESS.
"to need, to have need of" (akin to chre, "it is necessary, fitting"), is used in Matthew 6:32; Luke 11:8; 12:30; Romans 16:2 , RV, "may have need" (AV, "hath need"); 2 Corinthians 3:1 .
an impersonal verb, signifying "it is necessary," is rendered "must needs" in Mark 13:7; John 4:4; Acts 1:16 , AV (RV, "it was needful"); Acts 17:3 , AV (RV, "it behoved"); (in some mss. in Acts 21:22 ); 2 Corinthians 11:30; 12:1; in Acts 15:5 , "it was needful."
the neuter of the present participle of No. 2, is used as a noun, signifying "that which is needful, due, proper," in 1 Peter 1:6 , with the meaning "need," "(if) need (be)," with the verb to be understood. See OUGHT.
"to want besides, to need in addition" (pros, "besides," deomai, "to want"), is used in Acts 17:25 , "(as though) He needed (anything);" the literal sense of pros is not to be stressed. In the Sept., Proverbs 12:9 , "lacking (bread)."
"to owe, be bound, obliged to do something," is translated "must ye needs," in 1 Corinthians 5:10; in 1 Corinthians 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 Philippians 4:12 , AV, hustereo, "to come short, fail, to be in want," is translated "to suffer need" (RV, "to be in want"). See BEHIND.the comparative degree of anankaios, "necessary," is translated "more needful" in Philippians 1:24 . See NECESSARY , No. 1.
primarily, "suitable, convenient," then, "useful, necessary," is translated "needful, in James 2:16 , neuter plural, "necessaries." In the Sept., 1 Chronicles 28:2 , "suitable."
Note: In Hebrews 4:16 eukairos, "timely, seasonable," qualifying the noun boetheia, "help," is translated "time of need," lit., "for opportune help." See CONVENIENT.These files are public domain.
Vines, W. E., M. A. Entry for 'Need, Needs, Needful'. Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ved/n/need-needs-needful.html. 1940.
