Lexical Summary ischuó: To be strong, to have power, to prevail, to be able. Original Word: ἰσχύω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be able, prevail, be of strengthFrom ischus; to have (or exercise) force (literally or figuratively) -- be able, avail, can do(-not), could, be good, might, prevail, be of strength, be whole, + much work. see GREEK ischus HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 2480 isxýō – properly, embodied strength that "gets into the fray" (action), i.e. engaging the resistance. For the believer, 2480 (isxýō) refers to the Lord strengthening them with combative, confrontive force to achieve all He gives faith for. That is, facing necessary resistance that brings what the Lord defines is success (His victory, cf. 1 Jn 5:4). Accordingly, faith (4102 /pístis) and 2480 (isxýō) are directly connected (Js 5:16). See 2479 (is Js 5:15,16 (Gk text): "15And the prayer characterized by faith (4102 /pístis) will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed sins with present effects, it will be forgiven him. 16Therefore, openly confess these sins to one another, and pray for the benefit of one another, for the purpose of being supernaturally healed. Very combative (engaging, overcoming, 2480 /isxýō) is the specific (urgent) request of a divinely-approved person who is energized (by God)." [Here the believer seeks to make petitions (1162 /déēsis) in faith – i.e. which are in accord with God's inbirthings (the persuasion of His will).] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ischus Definition to be strong, have power NASB Translation able (5), am...strong enough (1), been able (1), can (1), can do (1), could (8), force (1), good (1), healthy (2), means (1), overpowered (1), prevailing (1), strong enough (3), unable* (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2480: ἰσχύωἰσχύω; imperfect ἴσχυον; future ἰσχύσω; 1 aorist ἴσχυσα; (ἰσχύς); the Sept. for חָזַק, אָמֵץ, עָצַם, etc.; to be strong, i. e.: 1. to be strong in body, to be robust, to be in sound health: οἱ ἰσχύοντες, as a substantive, Matthew 9:12; Mark 2:17 (Sophocles Tr. 234; Xenophon, Cyril 6, 1, 24; joined with ὑγιαίνειν, id. mem. 2, 7, 7). 2. to have power (from Aeschylus down), i. e. a. to have a power evinced in extraordinary deeds, i. e. to exert, wield, power: so of the gospel, Acts 19:20; Hebraistically, to have strength to overcome: οὐκ ἴσχυσαν (A. V. prevailed not i. e.) succumbed, were conquered (so יָכֹל לֹא, Genesis 32:26 (25)), Revelation 12:8; κατά τίνος, against one, i. e. to use one's strength against one, to treat him with violence, Acts 19:16. b. equivalent to to be of force, avail (German gelten): Hebrews 9:17; τί, Galatians 5:6, and Rec. in Galatians 6:15. c. to be serviceable: εἰς τί (A. V. good for), Matthew 5:13. d. followed by an infinitive to be able, can: Matthew 8:28; Matthew 26:40; Mark 5:4; (Mark 9:18 (infinitive to be supplied)); Mark 14:37; Luke 6:48; Luke 8:43; ( Strong’s Greek 2480 focuses on the idea of having power, ability, or prevailing strength. Its twenty-eight New Testament occurrences span the Synoptic Gospels, John, Acts, Pauline letters, Hebrews, James, and Revelation, covering physical capability, moral or legal sufficiency, and decisive spiritual power. The contexts range from everyday labor (Luke 16:3) to cosmic conflict (Revelation 12:8), showing that true strength is ultimately measured by relationship to the Lord and His purposes. Physical Strength and Human Limitation 1. Daily labor and human frailty: “I am not strong enough to dig” (Luke 16:3). These scenes stress the inadequacy of human strength apart from divine help. Moral and Legal Competence 1. Salt that “is no longer good for anything” (Matthew 5:13) depicts moral uselessness. Spiritual Power and Ministry Effectiveness 1. The possessed boy’s spirit resisted the disciples: “they were not able” (Mark 9:18), contrasting human impotence with Christ’s authority. Prevailing Word and the Advance of the Gospel The verb highlights the unstoppable spread of the message: Acts 19:20’s “prevailed mightily” links gospel power with measurable impact. Acts 6:10 shows Stephen’s Spirit-filled wisdom that adversaries could not resist, demonstrating that the Word’s strength outstrips the opposition’s best efforts. Prayer, Faith, and the Believer’s Strength James 5:16: “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” Strength here is not physical but spiritual efficacy rooted in holiness and faith. This guides believers to seek strength through righteous living and fervent intercession. Discipleship and Dependence on Christ 1. Luke 13:24—many will seek to enter and “will not be able,” warning that self-reliance fails at the kingdom’s door. Eschatological Victory and Cosmic Conflict Revelation 12:8 states that the dragon “was not strong enough” and lost his place in heaven. Final victory belongs to God and His Christ; evil cannot prevail. The term thus frames eschatology in terms of divine versus created strength. Practical and Pastoral Implications • Dependence: Human strength is limited; believers must draw on Christ’s sufficiency (Philippians 4:13). Historical Usage in Early Church Language Early Christian writers echoed 2480 to describe martyr endurance and doctrinal steadfastness, reflecting the apostolic pattern: human weakness matched with divine strength. The term became a watchword for confessors who, though physically powerless, “prevailed” through faith, mirroring the New Testament emphasis that true might belongs to God, is received through Christ, and is exercised by the Spirit. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 5:13 V-PIA-3SGRK: εἰς οὐδὲν ἰσχύει ἔτι εἰ NAS: longer good for anything, KJV: it is thenceforth good for INT: for nothing it is potent any longer if Matthew 8:28 V-PNA Matthew 9:12 V-PPA-NMP Matthew 26:40 V-AIA-2P Mark 2:17 V-PPA-NMP Mark 5:4 V-IIA-3S Mark 9:18 V-AIA-3P Mark 14:37 V-AIA-2S Luke 6:48 V-AIA-3S Luke 8:43 V-AIA-3S Luke 13:24 V-FIA-3P Luke 14:6 V-AIA-3P Luke 14:29 V-PPA-GMS Luke 14:30 V-AIA-3S Luke 16:3 V-PIA-1S Luke 20:26 V-AIA-3P John 21:6 V-IIA-3P Acts 6:10 V-IIA-3P Acts 15:10 V-AIA-1P Acts 19:16 V-AIA-3S Acts 19:20 V-IIA-3S Acts 25:7 V-IIA-3P Acts 27:16 V-AIA-1P Galatians 5:6 V-PIA-3S Philippians 4:13 V-PIA-1S Strong's Greek 2480 |
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