Dei is a small word that means it is necessary.  Some variations on the definition are it is inevitable or it is a duty.  In more than half of the 104 occurrences of this word in the New Testament, dei is translated as must.  In studying this word, I realized that I use the word must a lot without really thinking about what a strong word it is.  Must means to be obliged, under the necessity to, compelled to, forced to, or feel urged to.

I wondered then, what does the Bible tell us is necessary with this word dei.  And every time I saw the translation ‘must’, I substituted in ‘it is necessary’ to see if it changed my understanding of the verse a little.  Take, for instance, Matthew 24:6.  ‘You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars.  See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.’  Then change it to ‘See that you are not frightened, for it is necessary for those things to take place, but that is not yet the end.’  ‘It is necessary’ and ‘must’ really mean the same thing and it may be that for you ‘must’ seems stronger.  We all experience language a little differently.  After this study, I have a greater appreciation for the word ‘must’ than I had previously.

Verses:

Matthew 16:21 ESV  From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

Matthew 26:35 NASB  Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.”  All the disciples said the same thing too.

Mark 8:31 NIV  He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.

Mark 13:10 ESV  And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations.

Luke 2:49 KJV  And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me?  Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?

Luke 24:26 NASB  “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?”

Luke 24:44 NIV  He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

John 3:7 KJV  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

John 4:24 ESV  God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

Acts 4:12 NIV  Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.

Acts 5:29 NASB  But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”

Romans 8:26 ESV  Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Romans 12:3 NIV  For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

2 Corinthians 5:10 NASB  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Colossians 4:6 KJV  Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

1 Thessalonians 4:1 ESV Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.

1 Timothy 3:2 ESV  Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

2 Timothy 2:6 NIV  The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.

2 Timothy 2:24 NASB  The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged.

Hebrews 11:6 KJV  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Revelation 1:1 NIV  The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place.  He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John.

Revelation 4:1 ESV  After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven!  And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”

Revelation 20:3 KJV  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Revelation 22:6 NASB  And he said to me, “These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place.

The G/K number for dei is 1256.

The Strong’s number for dei is 1163.