δύναμαι (dunamai)
dunamai
be able
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 198 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb dunamai expresses the capacity to do something, covering ability through personal strength, favorable circumstances, or permission. In the New Testament, it appears frequently in the Gospels, such as when Jesus questions whether one can fast while the bridegroom is present (Mark 2:19) or when Nicodemus marvels at how a man can be born again (John 3:4). It functions as the standard Greek equivalent for power and capability.
Its usage extends beyond mere physical strength to include legal right or opportunity. For instance, Paul notes that believers cannot partake in both the table of demons and the table of the Lord (1 Corinthians 10:21), highlighting a limit imposed by circumstance rather than ability. The word also appears absolutely, describing inherent power, as when Paul affirms God’s ability to save completely (Hebrews 7:25).
Translators render dunamai with various English verbs like "can," "could," or "be able to," depending on the tense and context. This flexibility reflects its broad scope, which ranges from simple possibility to significant authority. The term anchors biblical discussions of human limitation and divine power alike.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word dunamai reminds us that ability in Scripture is not just about physical strength or personal skill. It covers what we can do by our own power, what circumstances allow, and what permission grants. When Jesus asks if the blind men believe He is able to heal them, He is pointing to a capacity that comes from God alone (Matthew 9:28). This shifts our focus from our own limits to the source of true power.
Even when we feel weak or unable, this word highlights that God’s strength is available. Jesus notes that no one can serve two masters because the nature of loyalty does not allow for divided devotion (Matthew 6:24). This clarity helps us understand where our limits lie and where God’s provision begins. We are invited to rest in the knowledge that He is able to do what we cannot.
Ultimately, dunamai anchors our faith in the reality that God’s power exceeds all human limitation. Whether it is about healing, salvation, or daily endurance, the capacity belongs to Him. This assurance allows us to face challenges with peace, knowing that His ability is sufficient for every need we bring before Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 198 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- is able49×
- you are able15×
- being able13×
- are able11×
- was able9×
- to be able7×
- will be able6×
- he is able6×
- they were able5×
- is being able5×
- You are able5×
- I am able5×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- δύναται64×
- δύνασθε22×
- ἐδύνατο11×
- δύνασθαι8×
- δύναμαι6×
- δύνανται5×
- δυνάμενος5×
- δυνάμεθα5×
- δύνασαί4×
- δυνήσεται4×
- δυνάμενον4×
- ἠδύνατο3×
Key Verses
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Matthew 9:28
When he had come into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They told him, “Yes, Lord.”
Jesus directly links the ability to heal with faith in His divine identity, showing that capacity flows from who He is.
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Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon.
The word defines a structural impossibility of divided loyalty, clarifying that serving God and wealth are mutually exclusive paths.
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Matthew 19:25
When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
The disciples use this term to express human impossibility regarding salvation, setting the stage for Jesus to reveal divine possibility.
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Matthew 3:9
Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
John the Baptist uses it to show that God’s power is not limited by human lineage or natural birth, but by His sovereign will.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does dunamai mean in the New Testament?
How is dunamai different from dunamis?
Why does Jesus ask if we are able in Matthew 9:28?
Does dunamai imply human limitation?
Every Occurrence (198 verses across 19 books)
Matthew 24 verses
Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to…
Matthew 5:14“You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.
Matthew 5:36Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black.
Matthew 6:24“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one…
Matthew 6:27“Which of you by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan?
Matthew 7:18A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.
Matthew 8:2Behold, a leper came to him and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.”
Matthew 9:15Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will…
Matthew 9:28When he had come into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do…
Matthew 10:28Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy…
Matthew 12:29Or how can one enter into the house of the strong man and plunder his goods, unless he first bind the strong man? Then…
Matthew 12:34You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth…
Matthew 16:3In the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to…
Matthew 17:16So I brought him to your disciples, and they could not cure him.”
Matthew 17:19Then the disciples came to Jesus privately, and said, “Why weren’t we able to cast it out?”
Matthew 19:12For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by…
Matthew 19:25When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
Matthew 20:22But Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be…
Matthew 22:46No one was able to answer him a word, neither did any man dare ask him any more questions from that day forward.
Matthew 26:9For this ointment might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”
Matthew 26:42Again, a second time he went away and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup can’t pass away from me unless I drink…
Matthew 26:53Or do you think that I couldn’t ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?
Matthew 26:61and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.’”
Matthew 27:42“He saved others, but he can’t save himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now, and we…