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The words δεῖ, ὀφείλει (ὀφείλω) and χρή are all translated 'ought,' with other variations as to the first two. But there is a difference in their signification. Bengel says ὀφείλω denotes 'obligation;' δει, 'necessity.' ὀφείλω is to be under moral obligation, bound by duty, one ought, etc., and specially in personal aspects. See Eph. 5: 28; 2 Cor. 12: 11, 14; Acts 17: 29; Rom. 15: 1; 1 John 2: 6; 1 John 3: 16; 1
John 4: 11. Compare Luke 11: 4 'indebted,' Matt. 18: 28, 30. ὀφείλω (with its compounds) is with one exception the word for 'owing,' and what is owed, Philemon 18; Rom. 8: 8; Rom. 15: 27, 27, translated 'debtor' and 'duty.' In Luke 17: 10 it is "that which was our duty": Heb. 2: 17, "it behoved him": 2 Thess. 1: 3; 2 Thess. 2: 13, "are bound."
δει is more general, denoting any kind of necessity, as that which lies in the nature of the case, or specially that which arises by divine appointment, and this gives it a greater strength: 'must' is its most frequent rendering. See 2 Tim. 2: 6; Luke 22: 7; John 3: 7, 14, 30;
John 4: 4 ('must needs'), John 4: 24; Acts 16: 30; 1 Cor. 15: 53; Heb.
9: 26; Heb. 11: 6; Mark 14: 31 ('should,' 'should have to'); Acts 5: 29 'ought.' These may illustrate the general use, and the following passages, out of many, the necessity established by the will and word of God: Matt. 16: 21; Matt. 17: 10; Matt. 24: 6; Matt. 26: 54;
Luke 2: 49; Luke 4: 43; Luke 22: 37; Luke 24: 7, 26 ('ought'), Luke
24: 44; John 9: 4; John 20: 9; Acts 1: 16, 22 (21); Acts 3: 21; Acts 4:
12; Acts 9: 16; Acts 14: 22; Acts 23: 11; Acts 27: 24; 1 Cor. 15: 25;
2 Cor. 5: 10; 1 Tim. 3: 7; Rev. 1: 1.
χρή occurs but once, James 3: 10; coming from the root of χράω, 'to deliver an oracle,' 'to be fated,' it passes into the sense of what is necessary, what behoves or is fitting (or the reverse with οὐ, negative, as in James 3: 10). Compared with the other words, it is rather a necessity of time or circumstance, and has not the same moral force. Compare the kindred verb χρήζω (from χρεία, 'need, necessity'): 'to have need of,' Matt. 6: 32; Rom. 16: 2; 'need,' Luke
11: 8; 2 Cor. 3: 1.