### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **chrēmatismós**, represented by `{{G5538}}`, signifies **a divine response or revelation**. Its usage is highly specific, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible, where it is translated as the **answer of God**.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single biblical use of `{{G5538}}` occurs in [[Romans 11:4]]. The passage poses a question: "But what saith the **answer of God** unto him?" This highlights that the communication is not a human insight but a direct and authoritative response from God. The content of this divine answer is a declaration of God's sovereignty, stating, "I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal." The term, therefore, points to a specific, clear revelation given by God to address a situation of widespread apostasy.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its sole context in [[Romans 11:4]] illuminate its meaning:
* `{{G3004}}` **légō** (to "lay" forth... relate (in words)): This word is used to ask what the divine answer **saith**, emphasizing the nature of `{{G5538}}` as a spoken or declared revelation from God [[Romans 11:4]].
* `{{G2641}}` **kataleípō** (to leave down, i.e. behind... have remaining): This verb is central to the content of the divine answer, where God states, "I have **reserved** to myself" a faithful remnant [[Romans 11:4]].
* `{{G2578}}` **kámptō** (to bend): This describes the act of worship the remnant refused to perform. The "answer of God" defines the faithful as those who have not **bowed** the knee to an idol [[Romans 11:4]].
* `{{G896}}` **Báal** (Baal, a Phœnician deity (used as a symbol of idolatry)): The divine response is given in the context of idolatry, with the faithful being those who have rejected the worship of **Baal** [[Romans 11:4]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G5538}}` is centered on the nature of God's communication and His sovereign work.
* **Authoritative Revelation:** The term establishes that God speaks directly and definitively. The "answer of God" is not a feeling or interpretation but a clear, factual statement from the divine source [[Romans 11:4]].
* **Sovereign Preservation:** The content of the revelation underscores God's sovereignty. It is God who declares, "I have reserved to myself," showing that the preservation of the faithful remnant is His own work, not a result of human effort [[Romans 11:4]].
* **God's Faithfulness:** In a moment of apparent total apostasy, the "answer of God" reveals that God has faithfully preserved a people for Himself, contrasting His active power with the lifeless idol Baal.
### Summary
In summary, though used only once, `{{G5538}}` is a term of profound significance. It encapsulates the concept of a direct, authoritative **answer of God** that cuts through human perception to reveal divine truth. Its appearance in [[Romans 11:4]] serves as a powerful reminder of God's active communication and His sovereign power to preserve His people according to His own purpose.
TRV