Original Word: χράομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: chraomai
Pronunciation: khrah'-om-ahee
Phonetic Spelling: (khrah'-om-ahee)
KJV: entreat, use
NASB: use, used, do, treated, uses
Word Origin: [middle voice of a primary verb (perhaps rather from G5495 (χείρ - hands), to handle)]

1. to furnish what is needed
2. (give an oracle, "graze" (touch slightly), light upon, etc.)
3. (by implication) to employ or (by extension) to act towards one in a given manner

use, entreat

Middle voice of a primary verb (perhaps rather from cheir, to handle); to furnish what is needed; (give an oracle, "graze" (touch slightly), light upon, etc.), i.e. (by implication) to employ or (by extension) to act towards one in a given manner -- entreat, use. Compare chrao; chre.

see GREEK chrao

see GREEK cheir

see GREEK chre

Word Origin
akin to chré
Definition
to use, make use of
NASB Translation
do (1), treated (1), use (5), used (2), uses (1), vacillating* (1).

STRONGS NT 5530: χράομαι

χράομαι. χρωμαι; imperfect 3 person plural ἐχρῶντο; 1 aorist ἐχρησάμην; perfect κέχρημαι (1 Corinthians 9:15 G L T Tr WH); from Homer down; (middle of χράω (thought to be allied by metathesis with χείρ (cf. Curtius, § 189)), 'to grant a loan', 'to lend' (but cf. Liddell and Scott, under the word; they regard the radical sense as 'to furnish what is needful'); hence)

1. properly, to receive a loan; to borrow.

2. to take for one's use; to use: τίνι (Winers Grammar, § 31, 1 i.), to make use of a thing, Acts 27:17; 1 Corinthians 9:12, 15; 1 Timothy 1:8; 1 Timothy 5:23; τῷ κόσμῳ, the good things of this world, 1 Corinthians 7:31 R G (see below); μᾶλλον χρῆσαι, namely, the opportunity of becoming free, 1 Corinthians 7:21 (where others, less fitly, supply τῷ κληθῆναι δοῦλον (see references under the word εἰ, III. 6 a.)). contrary to the regular usage of classical Greek with an accusative: τόν κόσμον, 1 Corinthians 7:31 L T Tr WH; see Meyer at the passage; Buttmann, § 133, 18; Winer's Grammar, as above; (also in Wis. 7:14 according to some manuscripts; (Liddell and Scott, give (Pseudo-) Aristotle, oecon. 2, 22, p. 1350{a}, 7)). with the dative of a virtue or vice describing the mode of thinking or acting: τῇ ἐλαφρίᾳ (R. V. 'shew fickleness'), 2 Corinthians 1:17; πολλή παρρησία, 2 Corinthians 3:12 (for numerous examples from Greek writings from Herodotus down, see Passow, ii., p. 2497b; (Liddell and Scott, under the word, II. a.)). with adverbs (see Passow, ii., p. 2497{a}; (Liddell and Scott, under the word, IV.)): ἀποτόμως, to deal sharply, use sharpness, 2 Corinthians 13:10. of the use of persons: τίνι, to bear oneself toward, to deal with, treat, one (often so in Greek writings; see Passow, ii., p. 2496{b}; (Liddell and Scott, under the word, III. 1 and 2)), Acts 27:3.

Overview

The verb translated “use, employ, treat, act, deal with” appears eleven times in the Greek New Testament. Whether the object is a person, a privilege, the created order, a legal code, or even apostolic authority, the same underlying idea remains: purposeful employment of something so that it serves its God-given design rather than personal indulgence.

Varied Objects of Use

1. Rights and Liberties
• 1 Corinthians 9:12; 1 Corinthians 9:15 – Paul refuses to “use” (exercise) financial rights lest the gospel be hindered.
• 1 Corinthians 7:21 – A believing slave may “make use” of the opportunity for freedom, illustrating responsible liberty.

The pattern: liberties are real, yet love may limit their exercise.

2. Created World
• 1 Corinthians 7:31 – “Those who use the world as if not dependent on it.” The passing nature of the age demands detachment; believers engage creation without allowing it to master them.

3. The Mosaic Law
• 1 Timothy 1:8 – “We know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully.” The Law serves to expose sin and reveal God’s character; it is misused when turned into a ladder for self-righteousness.

4. Medical Provision
• 1 Timothy 5:23 – “Use a little wine for the sake of your stomach.” Practical means are honored as instruments of God’s common grace; ascetic extremes are corrected.

5. Apostolic Authority
• 2 Corinthians 13:10 – Paul intends not to “act severely”; authority is a tool for building up, only reluctantly employed in discipline.
• 2 Corinthians 1:17 – He denies “using lightness” in planning, underscoring integrity in leadership.

6. Treatment of People
• Acts 27:3 – Julius “treated Paul kindly.” Right “use” of authority includes mercy toward those in one’s charge.

7. Maritime Measures
• Acts 27:17 – Sailors “used supports” to brace the ship. The word can describe technical, non-moral usage, highlighting its everyday range.

8. Communicative Boldness
• 2 Corinthians 3:12 – “We are very bold.” Here it introduces the manner of speech—open, confident proclamation grounded in the new-covenant hope.

Theological Threads

Purposeful stewardship – Every gift (liberty, law, authority, creation) is a trust from God, calling for responsible employment.

Self-denial for gospel advance – Paul’s refrain of “not using” rights models cruciform ministry.

Lawful use vs. misuse – Moral goodness lies not merely in the object but in its application consistent with God’s intent.

Hope produces boldness – Confidence in the surpassing glory of the new covenant leads to frank speech, illustrating that right “use” of hope energizes ministry.

Historical and Linguistic Note

Classical writers employed the term for everything from consulting an oracle to handling tools. In the Septuagint it is rare, leaving the New Testament occurrences to carry fresh, context-driven nuance. The middle voice underscores personal involvement: one not only “uses” a thing; one engages with it.

Pastoral Applications

• Examine liberties: Are they serving Christ’s mission or self-gratification?
• Handle Scripture “lawfully,” letting it teach, convict, correct, and train (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16–17).
• Employ authority with kindness and clarity, avoiding fickleness or harshness.
• Adopt medical and practical means gratefully, recognizing them as God’s provision.
• Engage the world’s systems without becoming entangled, keeping eternal priorities in view.

Key References

Acts 27:3; Acts 27:17

1 Corinthians 7:21, 31; 1 Corinthians 9:12, 15

2 Corinthians 1:17; 2 Corinthians 3:12; 2 Corinthians 13:10

1 Timothy 1:8; 1 Timothy 5:23

εχρησαμεθα εχρησάμεθα εχρησάμεθά ἐχρησάμεθα εχρησαμην εχρησάμην ἐχρησάμην έχρησαν εχρήσαντο έχρησας εχρήσατο εχρήσατό εχρωντο εχρώντο ἐχρῶντο κεχρημαι κέχρημαι κέχρηταί χράσθε χρησαι χρήσαι χρῆσαι χρησαμενος χρησάμενος χρήσασθαι χρησάσθω χρήσεται χρήσθαι χρησθή χρησθήσεται χρήσομαι χρήσόν χρήσονται χρησωμαι χρήσωμαι χρηται χρήται χρῆται χρω χρώ χρῶ χρωμεθα χρώμεθα χρωμενοι χρώμενοι χρωμένοις χρωμένους chresai chrêsai chrēsai chrē̂sai chresamenos chresámenos chrēsamenos chrēsámenos chresomai chrēsōmai chrḗsomai chrḗsōmai chretai chrêtai chrētai chrē̂tai chro chrô chrō chrō̂ chromenoi chrōmenoi chrṓmenoi chrometha chrōmetha chrṓmetha echresamen echresámen echrēsamēn echrēsámēn echresametha echresámetha echrēsametha echrēsámetha echronto echrônto echrōnto echrō̂nto kechremai kechrēmai kéchremai kéchrēmaiInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts