Lexical Summary endunamoó: To empower, to strengthen, to make strong Original Word: ἐνδυναμόω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance enable, increase in, strengthen. From en and dunamoo; to empower -- enable, (increase in) strength(-en), be (make) strong. see GREEK en see GREEK dunamoo HELPS Word-studies 1743 endynamóō (from 1722 /en "in," which intensifies 1412 /dynamóō, "sharing power-ability") – properly, to impart ability (make able); empowered. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom en and dunamoó Definition to empower NASB Translation grew strong (1), increasing in strength (1), strengthened (2), strengthens (1), strong (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1743: ἐνδυναμόωἐνδυναμόω, ἐνδυνάμω; 1 aorist ἐνεδυναμωσα; passive (present imperative 2 person singular ἐνδυναμοῦ, 2 person plural ἐνδυναμοῦσθε); imperfect 3 person singular ἐνεδυναμοῦτο; 1 aorist ἐνεδυναμωθην; (from ἐνδυναμος equivalent to ὁ ἐν δυνάμει ὤν); to make strong, endue with strength, strengthen: τινα, Philippians 4:13; 1 Timothy 1:12; 2 Timothy 4:17; passively, to receive strength, be strengthened, increase in strength: Arts 9:22; ἐν τίνι, in anything, 2 Timothy 2:1; ἐν κυρίῳ in union with the Lord, Ephesians 6:10; with the dative of respect, τῇ πίστει, Romans 4:20; ἀπό ἀσθενείας, to recover strength from weakness or disease, Hebrews 11:34 R G; (in a bad sense, be bold, headstrong, Psalm 51:9 Topical Lexicon Overview of the Verb’s Theme Strong’s Greek 1743 portrays God-given empowerment that enables believers to fulfill divine purposes. In every occurrence the strengthening comes from the Lord, never from human resolve alone, and it results in effective witness, endurance, or obedience. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. Acts 9:22 – Saul “grew more powerful,” refuting opponents by proving Jesus is the Christ. Divine Source of Empowerment The strengthening is consistently attributed to God the Father, Jesus Christ, or grace itself. Human weakness becomes the canvas on which divine power is displayed (compare 2 Corinthians 12:9). Thus empowerment is relational rather than merely mechanical, flowing from fellowship with the Lord. Christological Focus Philippians 4:13 and 1 Timothy 1:12 explicitly link strength to Christ. In Acts 9:22 Saul’s newfound power arises from his encounter with the risen Jesus. The verb underscores that all Christian vigor is Christ-derived; the believer is the vessel, Christ the empowering presence. Ministry Application Paul’s letters show that authentic ministry is impossible without divine strengthening. Timothy is told to draw strength from grace because pastoral labor—entrusting truth to “faithful men” (2 Timothy 2:2)—demands more than natural ability. Likewise, Paul’s standing trial in 2 Timothy 4:17 illustrates that the Lord’s empowering secures gospel proclamation even in hostile courts. Spiritual Warfare and Armor Ephesians 6:10 sets the keynote for the armor passage. The imperative “be strong” is passive-middle in force: believers are commanded to receive strength. The ensuing armor pieces describe how divine empowerment is appropriated—truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, Word, and prayer. Victory in spiritual conflict is thereby located in God’s might, not human schemes. Perseverance in Suffering Whether Abraham awaiting a promised son (Romans 4:20) or Paul abandoned at trial (2 Timothy 4:17), empowerment undergirds endurance. Strength is not an escape from hardship but the capacity to glorify God within it. The verb thus bridges Old and New Testament testimony; Abraham’s example mirrors Isaiah 40:29–31, where the Lord “gives power to the faint.” Faith and Empowerment Romans 4 links strengthening to faith’s enlargement. Empowerment both fuels and is fueled by trust in God’s promises. As faith praises God in advance, inner vigor increases, forming a virtuous cycle of belief and power. Early Church Witness Acts 9:22 shows that empowerment translated into persuasive proclamation. Patristic writers echoed this theme: Ignatius of Antioch urged believers to “be strengthened in the faith” (Letter to the Trallians 12), reflecting the same verb family. The early church understood that bold witness required supernatural enablement. Practical Exhortation for Believers Today • Seek strength through intimate communion with Christ (Philippians 4:13). Forms and Transliterations ενδυναμου ενδυναμού ἐνδυναμοῦ ενδυναμουντι ενδυναμούντί ἐνδυναμοῦντί ενδυναμουσθε ενδυναμούσθε ἐνδυναμοῦσθε ενδυναμωσαντι ενδυναμώσαντί ἐνδυναμώσαντί ενεδυναμουτο ενεδυναμούτο ἐνεδυναμοῦτο ενεδυναμωθη ενεδυναμώθη ἐνεδυναμώθη ενεδυναμώθησαν ενεδυνάμωσε ενεδυνάμωσέ ενεδυναμωσεν ἐνεδυνάμωσέν endunamosanti endunamōsanti endunamou endunamounti endunamousthe endynamosanti endynamōsanti endynamṓsantí endynamou endynamoû endynamounti endynamoûntí endynamousthe endynamoûsthe enedunamosen enedunamōsen enedunamothe enedunamōthē enedunamouto enedynamosen enedynamōsen enedynámosén enedynámōsén enedynamothe enedynamōthē enedynamṓthe enedynamṓthē enedynamouto enedynamoûtoLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 9:22 V-IIM/P-3SGRK: δὲ μᾶλλον ἐνεδυναμοῦτο καὶ συνέχυννεν NAS: But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding KJV: the more in strength, and INT: however more increased in power and confounded Romans 4:20 V-AIP-3S Ephesians 6:10 V-PMM/P-2P Philippians 4:13 V-PPA-DMS 1 Timothy 1:12 V-APA-DMS 2 Timothy 2:1 V-PMM/P-2S 2 Timothy 4:17 V-AIA-3S Strong's Greek 1743 |
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