Definition
δεῖ impersonal (δέω),
[in LXX chiefly for infin. with לְ ;]
one must, it is necessary: with inf., Matthew 26:54, Mark 13:7, Acts 5:29, al.; with accusative and inf., Matthew 16:21, Mark 8:31, John 3:7, Acts 25:10, al.; with ellipse of accusative, Matthew 23:23; of accusative, and inf., Mark 13:14, Romans 1:27; 8:26; οὐ (μὴ) δεῖ (non licet), ought not, must not: Acts 25:24, 2 Timothy 2:24; impf., ἔδει, of necessity or obligation in past time regarding a past event (Bl., § 63, 4), Matthew 18:33, Luke 15:32, John 4:4, Acts 27:21, al.; periphr., δέον ἐστίν (as in Attic, χρεών ἐστι = χρή, see: δέον), Acts 19:36; id., with ellipse of ἐστίν, 1 Peter 1:6 τὰ μὴ δέοντα (= ἃ οὐ δεῖ 1 Timothy 5:13.
Synonyms: ὀφείλει, expressing moral obligation, as distinct from δεῖ, denoting logical necessity and χρή, a need which results from the fitness of things (see Tr., Syn., § cvii, 10; Westc. on Hebrews 2:1, 1 John 2:6; Hort on James 3:10).
Hebrew words it translates
Usage patterns
Occurrences
- Revelation 20:3δεῖ · mustAnd he threw him into the Abyss, shut it, and sealed it over him, so that he could not deceive the nations until the thousand years were complete. After that, he must be released for a brief period of time.
- Revelation 22:6δεῖ · mustThen the angel said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel to show His servants what must soon take place.”