Topical Bible: Couldn't

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The term "couldn't" is a contraction of "could not," indicating an inability or lack of power to perform an action or achieve a result. In the context of the Bible, the concept of inability is often juxtaposed with the omnipotence of God and the limitations of human beings. The Scriptures frequently highlight the contrast between human limitations and divine capabilities, emphasizing the need for reliance on God's strength and wisdom.

Human Inability and Dependence on God

Throughout the Bible, human beings are depicted as limited in their abilities, often unable to accomplish tasks without divine intervention. This theme is evident in various narratives and teachings, where individuals recognize their own insufficiency and turn to God for help.

For instance, in the account of Gideon, God reduces Gideon's army to a mere 300 men to demonstrate that victory comes not by human might but by divine power (Judges 7:2-7). This narrative underscores the idea that human inability is an opportunity for God's power to be made manifest.

Similarly, the Apostle Paul speaks of his own weaknesses and the sufficiency of God's grace. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul writes, "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me." Here, Paul acknowledges his own limitations and celebrates the strength that comes from Christ.

The Omnipotence of God

While humans often encounter situations where they "couldn't" achieve their desires or overcome obstacles, the Bible consistently affirms that nothing is impossible for God. This is a central tenet of biblical teaching, highlighting God's supreme power and authority over all creation.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus addresses the disciples' astonishment at the difficulty of salvation, stating, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26). This declaration serves as a reminder that God's capabilities far exceed human limitations.

The account of Sarah and Abraham also illustrates this principle. When Sarah doubts the promise of bearing a child in her old age, the Lord responds, "Is anything too difficult for the LORD?" (Genesis 18:14). This rhetorical question reinforces the belief in God's limitless power.

Faith and Trust in God's Abilities

The recognition of human limitations often leads to a deeper faith and trust in God's abilities. Believers are encouraged to rely on God's strength rather than their own, acknowledging that He can accomplish what they cannot.

Proverbs 3:5-6 advises, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." This passage encourages believers to depend on God's wisdom and guidance, rather than their own limited understanding.

In the New Testament, Jesus teaches about the importance of faith, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges. In Mark 9:23, Jesus tells a father seeking healing for his son, "If You can?' echoed Jesus. 'All things are possible to him who believes.'" This statement emphasizes the power of faith in overcoming human limitations through God's intervention.

Conclusion

The concept of "couldn't" in the Bible serves as a reminder of human limitations and the necessity of relying on God's omnipotence. Through various narratives and teachings, Scripture encourages believers to trust in God's abilities, recognizing that while humans may face situations where they "couldn't" succeed, God is always able.

Library

Jacob Jones; Or, the Man who Couldn't Get Along in the World.
... WORDS FOR THE WISE. JACOB JONES; OR, THE MAN WHO COULDN'T GET ALONG IN
THE WORLD. JACOB JONES was clerk in a commission store at ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arthur/words for the wise/jacob jones or the man.htm

Stubborn Little Sammy.
... Sammy, why don't you ask your mother's forgiveness?" The little fellow shook his
head, "Won't do it." "But, Sammy, you have got to." "Couldn't." The father ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/stubborn little sammy.htm

A Little Child Converts an Infidel.
... "Please, sir, tell me why you don't love Jesus?" He pushed her aside and away he
went. When he got to his office he couldn't get this question out of his mind. ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/a little child converts an.htm

A Human Picture of God.
... Supper-time came, and the father and mother sat down to eat. But they couldn't eat
for thinking of their son. ... He couldn't see the print distinctly. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks with world winners/a human picture of god.htm

The Heart-Road to the Head.
... But what John is saying here, put into as simple language as he would use, is this:
"the darkness wouldn't let the light in, and couldn't shut it out, and ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/the heart-road to the head.htm

A Little Boy Converts his Mother.
... she don't believe, and won't hear me." "Now," I said, "I want you to talk to your
mother to-night." For years I had been trying to reach her and couldn't do it ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/a little boy converts his.htm

Mr. ...
... "Couldn't you let me hear one of them now?" said Mr. Raymond. "No, sir,
I couldn't. I forget them as soon as I've done with them. ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 22 mr .htm

Very Hard, yet Very Easy.
... well enough, and had made up his mind that he wouldn't. She told the boy she would
have to punish him if he didn't, and then he said he couldn't, and by and by ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/very hard yet very easy.htm

Before the End of the Month, Ruby had Got Respectably Thin...
... "You couldn't find a corner for Jim to work in"-could you, sir?". "I don't know
that I couldn't. That is, if you can show good reason for it.". ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 34 before the end.htm

"That is Your Fault. "
... I remember a mother coming to me and saying, "It is easy enough for you to speak
in that way; if you had the burden that I've got, you couldn't cast it on the ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/that is your fault.htm

Thesaurus

Couldn't (6 Occurrences)
Couldn't. Couldest, Couldn't. Couldst . Multi-Version Concordance
Couldn't (6 Occurrences). Matthew 17:19 Then the disciples came ...
/c/couldn't.htm - 18k

Sleeping (69 Occurrences)
... Matthew 26:40 He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping, and said
to Peter, "What, couldn't you watch with me for one hour? ...
/s/sleeping.htm - 27k

Magicians (16 Occurrences)
... Exodus 8:18 The magicians tried with their enchantments to bring forth lice,
but they couldn't. There were lice on man, and on animal. ...
/m/magicians.htm - 12k

Repay (79 Occurrences)
... Matthew 18:25 But because he couldn't pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with
his wife, his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. ...
/r/repay.htm - 28k

Rigging (2 Occurrences)
... NIV). Isaiah 33:23 Your rigging is untied. They couldn't strengthen the
foot of their mast. They couldn't spread the sail. Then the ...
/r/rigging.htm - 7k

Mast (4 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Isaiah 33:23 Your rigging is untied. They
couldn't strengthen the foot of their mast. They couldn't spread the sail. ...
/m/mast.htm - 8k

Drive (132 Occurrences)
... Mark 9:28 When he had come into the house, his disciples asked him privately,
"Why couldn't we cast it out?" (See NAS NIV). Mark ...
/d/drive.htm - 38k

Sail (32 Occurrences)
... (Root in BBE NIV). Isaiah 33:23 Your rigging is untied. They couldn't strengthen
the foot of their mast. They couldn't spread the sail. ...
/s/sail.htm - 17k

Lame (35 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Isaiah 33:23 Your rigging is untied.
They couldn't strengthen the foot of their mast. They couldn't spread the sail. ...
/l/lame.htm - 21k

Egyptians (108 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Exodus 7:21 The fish that were in the river died; and the river became foul,
and the Egyptians couldn't drink water from the river; and the blood was ...
/e/egyptians.htm - 40k

Resources

Catholic Questions - questions from Catholics and about Catholicism | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak? | GotQuestions.org

What are the implications of God being infinite, unlimited, and unmeasurable? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Couldn't (6 Occurrences)

Matthew 17:19
Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked Him, "Why could not we expel the demon?"
(See NIV)

Matthew 18:25
But because he couldn't pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
(WEB)

Matthew 26:40
He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What, couldn't you watch with me for one hour?
(WEB)

Matthew 26:53
Or do you think that I couldn't ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?
(WEB)

Mark 6:19
Herodias set herself against him, and desired to kill him, but she couldn't,
(WEB)

Mark 7:24
From there he arose, and went away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. He entered into a house, and didn't want anyone to know it, but he couldn't escape notice.
(WEB)

Mark 9:28
When he had come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we cast it out?"
(WEB NIV)

Mark 14:37
He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn't you watch one hour?
(WEB)

Luke 7:42
When they couldn't pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?"
(WEB)

Luke 9:40
I begged your disciples to cast it out, and they couldn't."
(WEB)

Luke 14:6
They couldn't answer him regarding these things.
(WEB)

Luke 19:3
He was trying to see who Jesus was, and couldn't because of the crowd, because he was short.
(WEB)

Luke 19:48
They couldn't find what they might do, for all the people hung on to every word that he said.
(WEB)

John 11:37
Some of them said, "Couldn't this man, who opened the eyes of him who was blind, have also kept this man from dying?"
(WEB)

John 12:39
For this cause they couldn't believe, for Isaiah said again,
(WEB)

Acts 21:34
Some shouted one thing, and some another, among the crowd. When he couldn't find out the truth because of the noise, he commanded him to be brought into the barracks.
(WEB)

Acts 22:11
When I couldn't see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.
(WEB)

Acts 27:15
When the ship was caught, and couldn't face the wind, we gave way to it, and were driven along.
(WEB)

Romans 8:3
For what the law couldn't do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh;
(WEB)

1 Corinthians 3:1
Brothers, I couldn't speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ.
(WEB)

1 Thessalonians 3:1
Therefore, when we couldn't stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone,
(WEB)

1 Thessalonians 3:5
For this cause I also, when I couldn't stand it any longer, sent that I might know your faith, for fear that by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor would have been in vain.
(WEB)

Genesis 36:7
For their substance was too great for them to dwell together, and the land of their travels couldn't bear them because of their livestock.
(WEB)

Genesis 37:4
His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, and they hated him, and couldn't speak peaceably to him.
(WEB)

Genesis 41:21
and when they had eaten them up, it couldn't be known that they had eaten them, but they were still ugly, as at the beginning. So I awoke.
(WEB)

Genesis 45:1
Then Joseph couldn't control himself before all those who stood before him, and he cried, "Cause every man to go out from me!" No one else stood with him, while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.
(WEB)

Genesis 45:3
Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Does my father still live?" His brothers couldn't answer him; for they were terrified at his presence.
(WEB)

Genesis 48:10
Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he couldn't see. He brought them near to him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.
(WEB)

Exodus 7:21
The fish that were in the river died; and the river became foul, and the Egyptians couldn't drink water from the river; and the blood was throughout all the land of Egypt.
(WEB)

Exodus 7:24
All the Egyptians dug around the river for water to drink; for they couldn't drink of the water of the river.
(WEB)

Exodus 8:18
The magicians tried with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they couldn't. There were lice on man, and on animal.
(WEB)

Exodus 9:11
The magicians couldn't stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boils were on the magicians, and on all the Egyptians.
(WEB)

Exodus 12:39
They baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt; for it wasn't leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt, and couldn't wait, neither had they prepared for themselves any food.
(WEB)

Exodus 15:23
When they came to Marah, they couldn't drink from the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore its name was called Marah.
(WEB)

Joshua 15:63
As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah couldn't drive them out; but the Jebusites live with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.
(WEB)

Joshua 17:12
Yet the children of Manasseh couldn't drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
(WEB)

Judges 12:6
then said they to him, "Now say'Shibboleth;'" and he said "Sibboleth;" for he couldn't manage to pronounce it right: then they laid hold of him, and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. At that time, forty-two thousand of Ephraim fell.
(WEB)

Judges 14:14
He said to them, "Out of the eater came forth food. Out of the strong came forth sweetness." They couldn't in three days declare the riddle.
(WEB)

1 Samuel 30:10
But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so faint that they couldn't go over the brook Besor.
(WEB)

1 Kings 1:1
Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he couldn't keep warm.
(WEB)

2 Kings 5:12
Aren't Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them, and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage.
(WEB NIV)

1 Chronicles 21:30
But David couldn't go before it to inquire of God; for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of Yahweh.
(WEB)

Esther 6:1
On that night, the king couldn't sleep. He commanded the book of records of the chronicles to be brought, and they were read to the king.
(WEB)

Job 4:16
It stood still, but I couldn't discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. Silence, then I heard a voice, saying,
(WEB)

Psalms 78:64
Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows couldn't weep.
(WEB)

Isaiah 33:23
Your rigging is untied. They couldn't strengthen the foot of their mast. They couldn't spread the sail. Then the prey of a great spoil was divided. The lame took the prey.
(WEB)

Subtopics

Couldn't

Related Terms

Couldn't (6 Occurrences)

Moved (316 Occurrences)

Coulter (1 Occurrence)