G1410 δύναμαι (dýnamai)

Able (1410) (dunamai) conveys the basic meaning of that which has the inherent ability to do something or accomplish some end. Thus dunamai means to be able to, to be capable of, to be strong enough to do or to have power to do something. It is usually translated able (50x), can (61x and cannot 58x) or could. Dunamai is in the present tense which signifies the Word of Truth is continuously able or continually has inherent power to save. Luke has a similar statement writing that... For no (ou = absolutely no) word (rhema) from God shall be void of power (adunateo - essentially the converse of dunamai). (Luke 1:37 ASV) Comment: This verse says not one single Word of God is powerless or unable. Modern translations do not really convey the sense of the power of the Word quite as clearly as the ASV - e.g., the NAS = "For nothing will be impossible with God." The Amplified Version is somewhat better "For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment." The derivative word dunamis (from dunamai) refers to intrinsic power or inherent ability, the power or ability to carry out some function, the potential for functioning in some way, the power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature. The word group (dunamai, dunamis, dunatos, etc) gives us our English word dynamic, (synonyms = energetic, functioning, live, operative, working) which describes that which is marked by usually continuous and productive activity or change. That which is dynamic is characterized by energy or forces that produce motion, as opposed to that which is static. BDAG says that dunamai means "to possess capability (whether because of personal or external factors) for experiencing or doing something." Larry Richards says that dunamis and dunamai... look to the inherent physical, spiritual, or natural strength or power of individuals. The verb raises the issue of one's being "strong enough" and thus able. TDNT - Words of this stem all have the basic sense of ability or capability. Dunamai means a. “to be able” in a general sense, b. “to be able” with reference to the attitude that makes one able, hence sometimes “to will,” and c. (of things) “to be equivalent to,” “to count as,” “to signify.” Thayer's summary of dunamai... 1 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. 2 to be able to do something. 3 to be capable, strong and powerful. Vine summarizes dunamai writing that it means... “to be able, to have power,” whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, e.g., Ro 15:14 (note); or through a state of mind, or through favorable circumstances, e.g., 1Thes 2:6 (note); or by permission of law or custom, e.g., Acts 24:8, 11; or simply “to be able, powerful,” Matt. 3:9;2Ti 3:15 (note), etc. See can, may, possible, power. Click here to study all 210 uses of dunamai in the NT (in the window that opens, scroll down to the "Verse Count" which will show the distribution by NT book. Click on the book to see all the uses of dunamai in that book. Where are the majority of uses found?) Here are just a few representative uses... Matthew 3:9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you, that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. (God has the inherent ability or power. This same God is our Father. We need to remember "He is able"!) Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot (does not have the ability even to) be hidden. (In other words the city must shine!) Matthew 6:24 No one can (is able to, has the inherent ability or power to) serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:27 "And which of you by being anxious can (is able to or has the power to) add a single cubit to his life's span? Matthew 7:18 "A good tree cannot (does not have the inherent ability or power to) produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Matthew 8:2 And behold, a leper came to Him, and bowed down to Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can (have the inherent ability or power to) make me clean." Matthew 9:28 And after He had come into the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able (have the inherent ability or power) to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." (What say you to this question? Do you believe Jesus still has the inherent ability to open our eyes to the "blind spots" in our life?) Matthew 19:25 And when the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, "Then who can be saved?" Mark 1:40 And a leper came to Him, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." Mark 2:7 "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?" Mark 4:33 And with many such parables He was speaking the word to them as they were able to hear it; Mark 7:15 there is nothing outside the man which going into him can (has the inherent ability to) defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man...18 And He said to them, "Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him; Mark 8:23 And Jesus said to him, "'If You can!' All things are possible to him who believes." Luke 3:8 "Therefore bring forth fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father,' for I say to you that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Luke 21:15 for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot (is not able, has no inherent ability or capability to) see the kingdom of God." John 6:44 "No one can (has the inherent ability to) come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. John 10:29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able (has the inherent power) to snatch them out of the Father's hand. John 10:35 "If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken) John 12:39 For this cause they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing. Acts 4:20 for we cannot (lack the inherent ability to) stop speaking what we have seen and heard." Acts 20:32 "And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Romans 8:7 (note) because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; 8:8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:39 (note) nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 16:25 (note) Now to Him (God the Father) Who is able (present tense = He is continuously able! Do you believe this about your great God and Father? Does your life of faith demonstrate you truly believe "He is dunamai"?) to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, 1 Corinthians 2:14 But a natural (not born again by the Spirit, not a new creation in Christ) man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot (he does not have the inherent ability to) understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, Who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able (beyond what you have the inherent ability to endure), but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able (have the capacity, the inherent ability) to endure it. 2 Corinthians 1:4 (The Father of mercies and God of all comfort) Who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able (have the capacity, inherent ability) to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. Galatians 3:21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able (had the ability) to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. Ephesians 3:20 (note) Now to Him Who is able (present tense = He is continuously able) to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, Ephesians 6:11 (note) Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able (have the ability, power or capacity) to stand firm against the schemes of the devil...6:13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm...6:16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. Philippians 3:21 (note) who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power (verb used as a noun - His inherent ability) that He has even to subject all things to Himself. 1 Timothy 6:7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 1 Timothy 6:16 (He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords) Who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light; Whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. 2 Timothy 3:15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Hebrews 2:18 (note) For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able (present tense = He is continuously able) to come to the aid (see this great word - boetheo) of those who are tempted. Hebrews 3:19 (note) And so we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief. Hebrews 4:15 (note) For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 5:2 (note) he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; Hebrews 7:25 (note) Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 10:1 (note) For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never by the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near. Hebrews 10:11 (note) And every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; James 2:14 What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can (does it have the inherent ability or power) that faith save him? James 3:8 But no one can (has the inherent ability to) tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. James 4:12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor? 1 John 3:9 No (Greek = absolute negation) one who is born (perfect tense = speaks of the permanence of this "transaction") of God practices (present tense = habitually) sin, (why not?) because His seed abides in him; and he cannot (negative = ou = absolutely "not" able to continually commit sin - why? because the Holy Spirit in him and he has a new heart with new desires) sin (sin = present tense = speaks of the habitual practice of one's life, the "general direction" of their walk), because he is born of God. (Comment: This is a vitally important verse for modern day evangelicalism in America, for some teach the deadly lie that one can be genuinely born again and yet never have any change in the direction of their life. One cannot twist the apostle John's words so that they support such a deceptive and eternally damning lie.) 1 John 4:20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot (does not have the inherent ability - natural man is a "God hater" no matter how religious he is - only circumcision of one's heart brings about the inherent ability to love God) love God Whom he has not seen. Jude 1:24 Now to Him Who is able (what's the tense? Right - you guessed it - present tense = continually) to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, Revelation 3:8 (note) 'I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Revelation 5:3 (note) And no one in heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look into it. Revelation 7:9 (note) After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; Revelation 13:4 (note) and they worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?" Revelation 13:17 (note) and he provides that no one should be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.