δύναμις (dunamis)
dunamis
power
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 116 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek word dunamis refers to inherent power, ability, or strength that resides in a thing by virtue of its nature. In the New Testament, it appears 116 times, with significant usage in Luke’s writings and Paul’s letters. It describes not just physical force, but the capacity to act, whether that is moral excellence, financial resources, or the raw energy behind a miracle.
While often translated simply as "power," dunamis carries a specific nuance of potentiality becoming actualized action. This distinguishes it from exousia, which denotes authority or the right to rule. For instance, Paul describes the gospel as "the power of God" (Romans 1:16), emphasizing its active, transformative effect rather than merely its legal standing. The word also appears in phrases like "mighty works," linking divine ability directly to visible deeds.
A striking feature of dunamis is its application to both the miraculous and the mundane. It describes the power of God raising Jesus from the dead (Romans 1:4) but also refers to the "power" or influence of wealth in passages like Revelation 18:3. In secular papyri, it was a common term for magical or religious force, yet Scripture redirects this concept toward the character of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit, as seen in Acts 1:8 where believers are promised power to be witnesses.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word dunamis points to power that is inherent and active, not just a title or a right. In Scripture, it describes the energy behind miracles, the influence of wealth, and the transformative effect of the gospel. When Paul calls the gospel "the power of God," he means it has the capacity to change lives from the inside out, rather than simply holding legal authority.
This potential becomes actualized action in the life of a believer. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come with power so his followers could be witnesses (Acts 1:8). This is not about personal strength but about divine ability flowing through ordinary people. It reminds us that our faith is grounded in a God who acts, raising Christ from the dead and empowering the church today.
Whether in the mundane or the miraculous, dunamis shows us a God who does not remain distant. He enters into history and into our lives, offering strength when we are weak. This assurance invites us to trust in His active presence, knowing that the same power that raised Jesus is available to sustain us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 116 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- power60×
- miracles10×
- [the] power9×
- power.6×
- powers3×
- the power2×
- power;2×
- of Power2×
- miraculous powers2×
- work of power1×
- with power,1×
- with power1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- δύναμιν24×
- δυνάμεως20×
- δυνάμει20×
- δυνάμεις17×
- δύναμις14×
- δυνάμει.¶3×
- δύναμίν2×
- δύναμιν·2×
- δύναμιν.2×
- δύναμιν,2×
- δυνάμεσιν2×
- δυνάμεις;2×
Key Verses
-
Mark 5:30
Immediately Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
Jesus perceives power leaving him to heal a woman, showing this force as a tangible resource flowing from his person.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between dunamis and exousia?
How does dunamis relate to the Holy Spirit?
Is dunamis only used for miracles?
Every Occurrence (116 verses across 18 books)
Matthew 13 verses
Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory…
Matthew 7:22Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your…
Matthew 11:20Then he began to denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they didn’t repent.
Matthew 11:21“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done…
Matthew 11:23You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, you will go down to Hades. For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom…
Matthew 13:54Coming into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this…
Matthew 13:58He didn’t do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Matthew 14:2and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptizer. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him.”
Matthew 22:29But Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.
Matthew 24:29“But immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the…
Matthew 24:30and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will…
Matthew 25:15To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his…
Matthew 26:64Jesus said to him, “You have said so. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the…