Lexicon
δυνατός
dunatos
G1415
G:A Greek

able

32
Occurrences
12
Books
Greek
Language

dunatos describes what has the capacity or power to be done, to happen, or to characterize a person or thing as strong.

The dominant attested use marks an action or outcome as possible, often under a stated condition or in relation to God’s capacity to act. It also describes strength or power in people and weapons, and the competence of people for a specified task.

Senses in use

  1. Possible or within capacity to occur · dominant

    Neuter nominative forms mark outcomes as contingent or possible: in Acts 2:24 the APB renders death’s holding of him as “not possible,” while Acts 20:16 and Galatians 4:15 place arrival by Pentecost and the giving of eyes under an “if possible” condition. Mark 13:22, Matthew 26:39, and Romans 12:18 likewise frame deception, the passing of the cup, and peace with others as matters of possibility or limitation.

  2. Strong, powerful, or mighty · common

    The term characterizes visible strength or force: in 1 Corinthians 1:26 the APB contrasts the called with those described as “powerful,” and in 2 Corinthians 10:4 it describes weapons as “powerful” for tearing down strongholds. Acts 7:22 and Luke 24:19 connect it with speech, action, deed, and word, while Luke 1:49 identifies the one who has done great things as “Mighty.”

  3. Capable or qualified for a task · occasional

    Masculine forms describe persons in relation to a concrete ability. In Acts 18:24 the APB calls Apollos “competent in the Scriptures”; Acts 25:5 concerns those who can go down to accuse a man, and James 3:2 concerns a person capable of bridling the whole body. Titus 1:9 places this capacity alongside encouraging with teaching and refuting opponents.

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB variously uses “possible,” “powerful,” “strong,” “Mighty,” “competent,” and “able” in these clauses. These renderings show the verse-level presentation rather than a fixed English equivalent.

Passages featuring this word

Across Scripture