כְּהַל (ke.hal)

ke.hal

be able

H3546 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 3 verses

A:V

Language: Biblical Hebrew
Testament: Old Testament
Occurrences: 3 verses
Root: —
Part of speech: A:V

Word Overview

The Hebrew verb kēhal means simply to be able or to have the capacity to do something. It appears only three times in the entire Old Testament, all within the book of Daniel (Daniel 4:35; 11:34). In these contexts, it describes the power or ability of God to act according to His will, or the limited capability of human beings.

Because its occurrences are so rare and confined to a specific historical narrative, the word does not carry a wide range of theological nuance. It functions as a straightforward statement of possibility or power. Translators typically render it as "able" or "can," such as when Daniel notes that God does according to His will among the hosts of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth (Daniel 4:35).

The scarcity of kēhal in Scripture highlights that the concept of divine ability is usually expressed by other Hebrew verbs, such as yāchal or yādaʿ. Its presence in Daniel serves to emphasize the contrast between human limitation and God’s sovereign power, affirming that no one can stay His hand or question His actions.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The Hebrew word kēhal simply means to be able or to have the capacity for something. It appears only three times in the Old Testament, always within the book of Daniel. In these rare instances, it highlights a clear contrast: human limitation versus God’s sovereign power. When the wise men of Babylon could not read the writing on the wall, their inability was absolute. Yet this failure did not leave the king without hope, for God had provided someone who could.

For your faith, this word offers comfort in moments of weakness. It reminds us that when we lack the strength to solve a problem or understand a difficult situation, we are not alone. The same God who empowers His servants to reveal hidden truths is present in our struggles. We do not need to carry burdens beyond our capacity, knowing that divine ability is always available to those who seek it.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.

[they were] able2×
able1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

כָּהֵ֗ל1×
כָהֲלִ֥ין1×
כָהֲלִ֤ין1×

Key Verses

Daniel 5:8
Then all the king’s wise men came in; but they could not read the writing, and couldn’t make known to the king the interpretation.

This verse shows the absolute inability of Babylon's greatest experts, highlighting that human wisdom has limits where only God's power can succeed.
Daniel 5:15
Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known to me its interpretation; but they could not show the interpretation of the thing.

The king admits his counselors could not show the interpretation, setting the stage for Daniel to demonstrate that true understanding comes from God alone.
Daniel 2:26
The king answered Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?”

Here the question is posed directly to Daniel about his ability to interpret the dream, framing the entire narrative around who truly has the power to reveal the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Hebrew word kēhal mean?

Kēhal is a rare Hebrew verb that simply means 'to be able' or 'to have the capacity' to do something. It describes the power or possibility of an action, often contrasting human limitation with divine ability.

Where does kēhal appear in the Bible?

It appears only three times in the Old Testament, all within the book of Daniel (Daniel 2:26; 5:8; 5:15). These occurrences are part of historical narratives describing the interactions between Babylonian kings and God's prophets.

How is kēhal different from other words for 'able'?

While other Hebrew verbs like yāchal also mean 'to be able,' kēhal is much rarer and confined to specific narrative contexts in Daniel. It functions as a straightforward statement of possibility without the broader theological nuances found in more common terms.

Every Occurrence (3 verses across 1 books)

Daniel 3 verses

Daniel 2:26

The king answered Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen,…

Daniel 5:8

Then all the king’s wise men came in; but they could not read the writing, and couldn’t make known to the king the…

Daniel 5:15

Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known to…