Greek word · G2480

ἰσχύω

ischyō

be strong

Have bodily or general strength. Be able or competent (often with an infinitive). Have force or validity (of a law or contract, Gal 5:6; Heb 9:17). Prevail or win out (Acts 19:16, 20). With a direct object like πάντα it means 'be strong enough for' or 'be equal to all things' (BDAG).

Appears 28 times in 28 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἰσχύω

(ἰσχύς), [in LXX for חָזַק, גִּבּוֹר, עָצַם, etc. ;]

1. to be strong in body: Matthew 9:12, Mark 2:17.

2. to be powerful, have power, prevail: Acts 19:20, Revelation 12:8; before κατά, with genitive of person(s), Acts 19:16; with inf., to be able (MM, Exp., xv): Matthew 8:28 26:40, Mark 5:4 9:18 (inf. understood) Mark 14:37, Luke 6:48 8:43 13:24 14:6, 29-30 16:3 20:26, John 21:6, Acts 6:10 15:10 25:7 27:16; with accusative, Philippians 4:13, James 5:16; of things, to avail, be serviceable (MM, Exp., l.with): Matthew 5:13, Galatians 5:6, Hebrews 9:17 (cf. ἐν-, ἐξ-, ἐπ-, κατ-ισχύω).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Philippians 4:13

Range of meaning

Have bodily or general strength. Be able or competent (often with an infinitive). Have force or validity (of a law or contract, Gal 5:6; Heb 9:17). Prevail or win out (Acts 19:16, 20). With a direct object like πάντα it means 'be strong enough for' or 'be equal to all things' (BDAG). The idea is having enough capacity for something, not producing results.

Against the English

Most English versions say 'I can do'. That brings in a verb of achievement ('do') that the Greek does not have, and modern readers hear it as accomplishing anything. YLT's 'I have strength' is closer. The Latin 'possum' ('I am able') was probably the source of the 'can do' tradition.

How it drifted

The Latin Vulgate's 'omnia possum' ('I am able for all things') became the English 'I can do all things' (Tyndale, KJV). In modern English 'can do' sounds like ambition and getting things done, which moves the sense from endurance toward success.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in the LXX and in everyday Greek papyri for being strong or able, and for something 'holding good'. In the New Testament: Mt 26:40 ('could you not keep watch one hour?'), Lk 13:24 ('will not be able'), Jas 5:16 ('the prayer of a righteous person has great power').

From the study of Matthew 26:40

Range of meaning

To be strong, have physical strength; to be healthy; and very often to be able, have the power to do something. It comes from ischus, 'strength, might.'

Against the English

'Could you not' and 'were you not able' are correct, but they hide the root idea of strength. Greek hearers would hear something close to 'did you not have the strength to…?'

Used elsewhere in the period

It is common in the Septuagint and in the papyri (everyday documents) for 'have power' or 'prevail.' Matthew uses it for physical health ('those who are strong/well have no need of a physician,' 9:12), for being able to pass ('so that no one could pass,' 8:28), and for salt that 'is good for nothing' (5:13).

From the study of Galatians 5:6

Range of meaning

To be strong or able. To have power to accomplish something. In legal and administrative use, to be valid or in force (of a law, will or contract). In general, to count or carry weight.

Against the English

KJV and YLT 'availeth' captures the sense of effectiveness well. WEB 'amounts to anything', ESV 'counts for anything' and BSB 'has any value' lean toward worth or value. That is close, but it loses the overtone of legal force and power to produce a result.

How it drifted

The drift is mild. 'Value' can sound like a ranking of preferences, as if Paul were saying circumcision is not very important. The verb is about whether something has force or effect in the sphere of Christ.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used of a will in Hebrews 9:17: a will 'is never in force (ischuei) while the one who made it is alive'. Greek papyri and inscriptions use the verb for laws and agreements that are 'valid'. In the LXX it often means physical or military strength.

Where it appears

Matthew · 4

  1. Matthew 5:13 ἰσχύει it is useful

    You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

    Here: Literally 'has strength'. Flat salt has no power left to do what salt does.

  2. Matthew 8:28 ἰσχύειν to be able

    When Jesus arrived on the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, He was met by two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.

    Here: "To have the strength or power to." Nobody was strong enough to get past them. That sets up Jesus as the one who is stronger (compare 12:29, binding the strong man).

  3. Matthew 9:12 ἰσχύοντες being strong

    On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

    Here: Literally 'those who are strong', meaning people with their bodily strength intact and so healthy. Mark has the same word. Luke uses the more clinical 'those who are sound'.

  4. Matthew 26:40 ἰσχύσατε were you able

    Then Jesus returned to the disciples and found them sleeping. “Were you not able to keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked Peter.

    Here: 'You (all) did not have the strength.' The verb is plural, so it is addressed to Peter but includes the group. It speaks of strength, which sets up the next verse: 'the flesh is weak' (v.41).

Mark · 4

  1. Mark 2:17 ἰσχύοντες being strong

    On hearing this, Jesus told them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

    Here: Literally “those being strong.” In a medical setting it means the healthy and fit. The KJV's “whole” and the YLT's “strong” both reflect this.

  2. Mark 5:4 ἴσχυεν was able

    Though he was often bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and shattered the shackles. Now there was no one with the strength to subdue him.

  3. Mark 9:18 ἴσχυσαν.¶ they had power.

    Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked Your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable.”

  4. Mark 14:37 ἴσχυσας you were able

    Then Jesus returned and found them sleeping. “Simon, are you asleep?” He asked. “Were you not able to keep watch for one hour?

    Here: Literally 'did you not have the strength'. This is the language of physical capacity. It sets up v.38's contrast with flesh that is 'weak' (asthenēs), and stings after Peter's confident boasts.

Luke · 8

  1. Luke 6:48 ἴσχυσεν was able

    He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid his foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the torrent crashed against that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.

    Here: The river is the subject: it 'did not have the strength'. The picture is a contest of strength, and the flood loses.

  2. Luke 8:43 ἴσχυσεν was able

    including a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. She had spent all her money on physicians, but no one was able to heal her.

    Here: "Was able", from a root meaning strength. Literally "she did not have the strength to be cured": all the effort and money had no power over her illness.

  3. Luke 13:24 ἰσχύσουσιν. will be able.

    “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.

    Here: 'They will not be able' or 'will not have the strength'. The verb is built on the idea of strength, but v. 25 gives the reason they fail: the door is locked. Lack of muscle is not the problem.

  4. Luke 14:6 ἴσχυσαν they were able

    And they were unable to answer these questions.

  5. Luke 14:29 ἰσχύοντος being able

    Otherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone who sees it will ridicule him,

  6. Luke 14:30 ἴσχυσεν he was able

    saying, ‘This man could not finish what he started to build.’

  7. Luke 16:3 ἰσχύω, I am able,

    The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking away my position? I am too weak to dig and too ashamed to beg.

  8. Luke 20:26 ἴσχυσαν they were able

    And they were unable to trap Him in His words before the people. And amazed at His answer, they fell silent.

John · 1

  1. John 21:6 ἴσχυον were they able

    He told them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it there, and they were unable to haul it in because of the great number of fish.

    Here: Imperfect tense: they kept straining and kept failing. These were strong, experienced men (ἰσχύς means physical strength), and they still could not lift it.

Acts · 6

  1. Acts 6:10 ἴσχυον they were able

    but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

    Here: 'They did not have the strength.' The past tense used here pictures an ongoing state. Debate after debate, they kept finding they were not strong enough.

  2. Acts 15:10 ἰσχύσαμεν were able

    Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?

    Here: Aorist tense, which here sums up the whole history as one fact: 'we did not have the strength.' The root idea is physical strength, which fits the picture of a load.

  3. Acts 19:16 ἴσχυσεν he prevailed

    Then the man with the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. The attack was so violent that they ran out of the house naked and wounded.

  4. Acts 19:20 ἴσχυεν.¶ was prevailing.

    So the word of the Lord powerfully continued to spread and prevail.

    Here: 'Kept prevailing, kept winning out.' It picks up v.16, where the evil spirit 'overpowered' (ischusen) the seven exorcists. Now it is the word that overpowers.

  5. Acts 25:7 ἴσχυον they were able

    When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they could not prove.

    Here: 'They did not have the strength to', and the form describes an ongoing state: all through the hearing they kept being unable. It quietly sets their lack of strength against the weight of what they alleged.

  6. Acts 27:16 ἰσχύσαμεν we were able

    Passing to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we barely managed to secure the lifeboat.

Galatians · 1

  1. Galatians 5:6 ἰσχύει has power

    For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. What matters is faith expressing itself through love.

    Here: A word for strength and also for legal validity ('to be in force'). Circumcision does not *accomplish* anything or *count* as a qualification in Christ. The present tense states a standing fact.

Philippians · 1

  1. Philippians 4:13 ἰσχύω I have strength

    I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

    Here: 'I am strong enough for' or 'I am equal to'. Paul is talking about the strength to cope with every situation, good or bad. There is no separate verb 'do' in the Greek.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 9:17 ἰσχύει it is in force

    because a will does not take effect until the one who made it has died; it cannot be executed while he is still alive.

James · 1

  1. James 5:16 ἰσχύει prevails

    Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.

    Here: 'Has strength, can do', as in the KJV's 'availeth'. The present tense states a general truth.

Revelation · 1

  1. Revelation 12:8 ἴσχυσεν, he had [enough] strength,

    But the dragon was not strong enough, and no longer was any place found in heaven for him and his angels.

    Here: 'He was [not] strong enough' or 'he did [not] prevail'. The verb looks at the battle as a single finished event: the dragon's strength failed in this contest. In the singular the subject is the dragon of v. 7.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.