"anything useful, or needful; pl. wealth, riches, Mk. 10:23; Lk. 18:24; money, Acts 8:18, 20; 24:26; sg. price, Acts 4:37*"
Definition and meaning
anything useful, or needful; pl. wealth, riches, Mk. 10:23; Lk. 18:24; money, Acts 8:18, 20; 24:26; sg. price, Acts 4:37*
In the original Greek the word is written: χρῆμα
Historical context
The Gospel of Mark moves urgently — the word "immediately" appears over 40 times. It was written for a Roman audience familiar with power and action. Jesus is portrayed as a man who acts, heals, and commands authority that the Roman world had never seen from a Jewish teacher.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of chrema (G5536) across the King James Bible.
And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.
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Common questions
Strong's G5536 (chrema) is a Greek word that means: anything useful, or needful; pl. wealth, riches, Mk. 10:23; Lk. 18:24; money, Acts 8:18, 20; 24:26; sg. price, Acts 4:37* It appears 7 times in the King James Bible.
The word chrema (G5536) appears 7 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5536 is chrema, a Greek word defined as: anything useful, or needful; pl. wealth, riches, Mk. 10:23; Lk. 18:24; money, Acts 8:18, 20; 24:26; sg. price, Acts 4:37*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
chrema is a Greek word found in the New Testament.