Lexical Summary dunamai: to be able, to have power Original Word: δύναμαι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance to be powerful, ableOf uncertain affinity; to be able or possible -- be able, can (do, + -not), could, may, might, be possible, be of power. HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 1410 dýnamai (a primitive verb) – to show ability (power); able (enabled by God), empowered. See the cognate-noun, 1411 /dýnamis ("ability, power"). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. verb Definition to be able, to have power NASB Translation able (50), am able (2), can (60), cannot (1), cannot* (59), could (24), may (1), might (3), power...has (1), unable* (7). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1410: δύναμαιδύναμαι, deponent verb, present indicative 2 person singular δύνασαι and, according to a rarer form occasional in the poets and from Polybius on to be met with in prose writings also (cf. Lob. ad Phryn., p. 359; (WHs Appendix, p. 168; Winers Grammar, § 13, 2 b.; Veitch, under the word)), δύνῃ (Mark 9:22f L T Tr WH; (Luke 16:2 T WH Tr text); Revelation 2:2); imperfect ἐδυναμην and Attic ἠδυναμην, between which forms the manuscripts and editions are almost everywhere divided (in Mark 6:19; Mark 14:5; Luke 8:19; Luke 19:3; John 9:33; John 12:39 all editions read ἠδυναμην, so R G in Matthew 26:9; Luke 1:22; John 11:37; Revelation 14:3; on the other hand, in Matthew 22:46; Luke 1:22; John 11:37; Revelation 14:3, L T Tr WH all read ἐδυναμην, so T WH in Matthew 26:9; R G in Matthew 22:46. Cf. WHs Appendix, p. 162; Winer's Grammar, § 12, 1 b.; B, 33 (29)); future δυνήσομαι; 1 aorist ἠδυνήθην and (in Mark 7:24 T WH, after manuscripts א B only; in Matthew 17:16 manuscript B) ἠδυνάσθην (cf. (WH as above and p. 169); Kühner, § 343, under the word; (Veitch, under the word; Winers Grammar, 84 (81); Buttmann, 33 (29); Curtius, Das Verbum, 2:402)); the Sept. for יָכֹל; to be able, have power, whether by virtue of one's own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favorable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom; a. followed by an infinitive (Winers Grammar, § 44, 3) present or aorist (on the distinction between which, cf. Winer's Grammar, § 44, 7). α. followed by a present infinitive: Matthew 6:24; Matthew 9:15; Mark 2:7; Mark 3:23; Luke 6:39; John 3:2; John 5:19; Acts 27:15; 1 Corinthians 10:21; Hebrews 5:7; 1 John 3:9; Revelation 9:20, and often. β. followed by an aorist infinitive: Matthew 3:9; Matthew 5:14; Mark 1:45; Mark 2:4; Mark 5:3; Luke 8:19; Luke 13:11; John 3:3; John 6:52; John 7:34, 36; Acts 4:16 (R G); b. with an infinitive omitted, as being easily supplied from the context: Matthew 16:3 (here T brackets WH reject the passage); c. joined with an accusative, δύναμαι τί, to be able to do something (cf. German ich vermag etwas): Mark 9:22; Luke 12:26; 2 Corinthians 13:8 (and in Greek writings from Homer on). d. absolutely, like the Latinpossum (as in Cues. b. gall. 1, 18, 6), equivalent to to be able, capable, strong, powerful: 1 Corinthians 3:2; 1 Corinthians 10:13. (2 Chronicles 32:13; 1 Macc. 5:40f; in 2 Macc. 11:13 manuscript Alex., and often in Greek writings as Euripides, Or. 889; Thucydides 4, 105; Xenophon, an. 4, 5, 11f; Isocrates, Demosthenes, Aeschines) The verb translated “can,” “is able,” or “to be able” permeates the New Testament narrative, appearing in every genre—Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and Revelation—and functioning as a hinge between human limitation and divine omnipotence. The contexts cluster around four main themes: (1) the confessed inability of humans, (2) the displayed ability of Jesus Christ, (3) the imparted ability granted by God to believers, and (4) the ultimate ability of God to bring His purposes to completion. Inherent Capability Versus Granted Empowerment From the outset Scripture distinguishes between what creatures can do in themselves and what they can do only when God supplies power. Jesus crystallizes the issue: “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). The disciples’ bewilderment in Matthew 19:25—“Who then can be saved?”—is answered in the next verse: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Human ability is therefore derivative, never autonomous. Revealing Human Inability Several passages use the verb to expose spiritual impotence. Romans 8:8 states, “Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God.” 1 Corinthians 2:14 agrees: “The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God… and he cannot understand them.” In James 3:8 even the tongue “no man can tame.” The Law, miracles, and parables alike uncover a condition in which fallen humanity simply “cannot” fulfill righteousness without divine aid (Hebrews 10:1). Christ’s Sovereign Competence Jesus repeatedly claims an ability unique to His divine nature. In John 5:30 He affirms, “I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear,” revealing a perfect dependence that paradoxically confirms absolute authority. He declares the capacity to command legions of angels (Matthew 26:53) and to rebuild the temple of His body (Matthew 26:61). The crowds testify, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Mark 2:7), yet His healing word proves that He indeed can (Mark 2:12). His ability extends to complete salvation: “He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him” (Hebrews 7:25). Divine Enablement in the Believer’s Life New Testament writers celebrate God’s empowering grace. Paul commends the Ephesian church “to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up” (Acts 20:32). He exults that God “is able to establish you by my gospel” (Romans 16:25) and “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). Jude ends with a doxology to “Him who is able to keep you from stumbling” (Jude 24). The same dynamic operates on a practical level: Scripture instructs believers to be “able to admonish one another” (Romans 15:14) and equips them so that they “may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). Power for Ministry and Witness Acts illustrates how divine ability propels mission. The apostles confess, “We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20), a holy inability to remain silent. Even a hostile Sanhedrin concedes, “What shall we do with these men?… we cannot deny it” (Acts 4:16). God’s enablement overrides external threats; Paul survives a storm when sailors “could not” control the ship (Acts 27:15), yet God “was able” to fulfill His promise that all would be spared (Acts 27:22, implicit). Endurance amid Trials and Temptations Believers face temptations but never without sufficient grace. 1 Corinthians 10:13 assures, “God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.” 2 Corinthians 1:4 links comfort received from God to the ability to comfort others. Timothy is reminded that Scripture is “able to make you wise for salvation” (2 Timothy 3:15), and James tells the church to “receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). Guarantees of Final Preservation Eschatological hope anchors in God’s unmatched ability: “Neither height nor depth… nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39). Revelation echoes, portraying a day when none “was able to open the scroll” (Revelation 5:3) except the Lamb, and when no unrepentant rebel “will be able to stand” under God’s wrath (Revelation 6:17). Moral Accountability and Judgment Because ability and responsibility intertwine, the verb often frames judgment scenes. Those refusing the wedding invitation “were unwilling to come” and later “were not able” to enter (Matthew 22:8–13). James 4:12 warns that only God “is able to save and to destroy,” underscoring human impotence to usurp divine prerogatives. Pastoral and Discipleship Implications Shepherds derive confidence from the God who enables. Hebrews 4:15 highlights Christ the High Priest “able to sympathize with our weaknesses,” while Hebrews 5:2 calls earthly leaders to deal gently with the ignorant, “since he himself also is beset by weakness.” Spiritual gifts are measured not merely by natural aptitude but by Spirit-given capacity (1 Corinthians 12:7–11). Discipleship therefore stresses dependence, prayer, and obedience so that believers “may be able to discern” (Ephesians 3:4) and “may be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2, concept). Historical Impact on Church Teaching Early creeds and councils drew heavily on passages stressing God’s ability—His omnipotence in creation, incarnation, atonement, and resurrection. Reformers emphasized human inability under sin, highlighting grace alone. Revival movements have likewise urged believers to rely on the Spirit’s enabling power for holiness and evangelism, echoing Paul’s testimony, “Not that we are competent in ourselves… our competence comes from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5). Concluding Summary Across two hundred ten occurrences the New Testament weaves a consistent message: humans, left to themselves, cannot achieve righteousness, comprehend divine truth, or secure salvation. Jesus Christ possesses unlimited ability, and through union with Him God graciously imparts real, though dependent, capability to His people—for endurance, ministry, holiness, and ultimate preservation. Recognizing both our inherent inability and God’s abundant ability humbles the sinner, strengthens the saint, and magnifies the Savior who “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” Englishman's Concordance Matthew 3:9 V-PIM/P-3SGRK: ὑμῖν ὅτι δύναται ὁ θεὸς NAS: God is able to raise KJV: that God is able of these INT: to you that able is God Matthew 5:14 V-PIM/P-3S Matthew 5:36 V-PIM/P-2S Matthew 6:24 V-PIM/P-3S Matthew 6:24 V-PIM/P-2P Matthew 6:27 V-PIM/P-3S Matthew 7:18 V-PIM/P-3S Matthew 8:2 V-PIM/P-2S Matthew 9:15 V-PIM/P-3P Matthew 9:28 V-PIM/P-1S Matthew 10:28 V-PPM/P-GMP Matthew 10:28 V-PPM/P-AMS Matthew 12:29 V-PIM/P-3S Matthew 12:34 V-PIM/P-2P Matthew 16:3 V-PIM/P-2P Matthew 17:16 V-AIP-3P Matthew 17:19 V-AIP-1P Matthew 19:12 V-PPM/P-NMS Matthew 19:25 V-PIM/P-3S Matthew 20:22 V-PIM/P-2P Matthew 20:22 V-PIM/P-1P Matthew 22:46 V-IIM/P-3S Matthew 26:9 V-IIM/P-3S Matthew 26:42 V-PIM/P-3S Matthew 26:53 V-PIM/P-1S Strong's Greek 1410 |
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