verb
ischuamō
Greekἰσχύω (ischuō)
Strong’sG2480
I am strong, able
stem ischu-28 times in the New Testamentin 10 of 27 books13 forms occur
Translated as
What it means
ἰσχύω
(< ἰσχύς), [in LXX for חזק, גִּבּוֹר, עצם, etc.;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G2480 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidis-khoo'-o
to have (or exercise) force (literally or figuratively)
Fromfrom G2479;
King Jamesbe able, avail, can do(-not), could, be good, might, prevail, be of strength, be whole, + much work.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Forms in the New Testament
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| ischuamōἰσχύω | happening now · Ipresent active indicative 1st person singular | do | 2× |
| ischuatōἰσχύει | happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular | good | 4× |
| ischuateἴσχυεν | was happening · he/she/itimperfect active indicative 3rd person singular | prevailed | 2× |
| ischualeἴσχυον | was happening · theyimperfect active indicative 3rd person plural | could | 3× |
| ischualiἰσχύσουσιν | will happen · theyfuture active indicative 3rd person plural | able | 1× |
| ischuasaἴσχυσας | happened · youaorist active indicative 2nd person singular | could | 1× |
| ischuataἴσχυσεν | happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular | could | 5× |
| ischuanaἰσχύσαμεν | happened · weaorist active indicative 1st person plural | able | 2× |
| ischuavaἰσχύσατε | happened · yeaorist active indicative 2nd person plural | could | 1× |
| ischualaἴσχυσαν | happened · theyaorist active indicative 3rd person plural | could | 3× |
| ischuarōἰσχύειν | happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive | could | 1× |
| ischuarōtouἰσχύοντος | happening now · of, belonging topresent active participle genitive singular masculine | able | 1× |
| ischuarōtoisἰσχύοντες | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine | well | 2× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 86, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 24 occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | ischuamō2×ἰσχύω | ischuame | ischuami | ischuama | ischuamē | ischuamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | ischuasō | ischuase | ischuasi | ischuasa1×ἴσχυσας | ischuasē | ischuaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | ischuatō4×ἰσχύει | ischuate2×ἴσχυεν | ischuati | ischuata5×ἴσχυσεν | ischuatē | ischuatelē |
| we 1st person plural | ischuanō | ischuane | ischuani | ischuana2×ἰσχύσαμεν | ischuanē | ischuanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | ischuavō | ischuave | ischuavi | ischuava1×ἰσχύσατε | ischuavē | ischuavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | ischualō | ischuale3×ἴσχυον | ischuali1×ἰσχύσουσιν | ischuala3×ἴσχυσαν | ischualē | ischualelē |
May, might — subjunctive mood, no occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | ischuameiō | ischuameia | ischuameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | ischuaseiō | ischuaseia | ischuaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | ischuateiō | ischuateia | ischuateiē |
| we 1st person plural | ischuaneiō | ischuaneia | ischuaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | ischuaveiō | ischuaveia | ischuaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | ischualeiō | ischualeia | ischualeiē |
Commands — imperative mood, no occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | ischuasōr | ischuasar | ischuasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | ischuatōr | ischuatar | ischuatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | ischuavōr | ischuavar | ischuavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | ischualōr | ischualar | ischualēr |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | ischuamoiō | ischuamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | ischuasoiō | ischuasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | ischuatoiō | ischuatoia |
| we 1st person plural | ischuanoiō | ischuanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | ischuavoiō | ischuavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | ischualoiō | ischualoia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 1 occurrence
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | ischuarō1×ἰσχύειν | ischuari | ischuara | ischuarē |
Used as an adjective — participle, 3 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | ischuarōtos3× | ischuaritos | ischuaratos | ischuarētos |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
ischu is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Words built on the same stem
Where it appears
28 occurrences, every one of them listed
ischuamō“do”happening now · Ipresent active indicative 1st person singular2×
Luke 16:3“strong enough”legata de en heauto tos oikonomos; Tinem poiameia hoti tos kurios mu afairetō tan oikonomian apo mu? skaptarō ouk ischuamō, epaitarō aischunemō;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.
Philippians 4:13“do”panteim ischuamō en to endunamarōto min.I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
ischuatō“good”happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular4×
Matthew 5:13“good”Vis avō tem halatem tau gēau; ean de tem halatem mōrainiteia, en tine haliziti? eis oudenem ischuatō ēti ei mē balliratem exō katapatirō hupo toiu anthrōpoiu.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.
Galatians 5:6“counts”en gar Christo Iēso oute peritomas tinem ischuatō oute akrobustias, alla pistias dia agapau energerōtas.For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. What matters is faith expressing itself through love.
Hebrews 9:17“in force”diathēkas gar epi nekroi bebaias, epei mēpote ischuatō hote zōatō tos diatitheratos.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 5:16“powerful”exomologevōr oun allēloi tain hamartain kai euchevōr huper allēloiu, hopōs iiveia. pollem ischuatō deēsias dikaiou energerōtas.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.
ischuate“prevailed”was happening · he/she/itimperfect active indicative 3rd person singular2×
Mark 5:4“strong enough”dia tem auton pollakis pedai kai halusiai dirē kai diaspirē hupo autou tain halusiain kai tain pedain suntribirē, kai oudenos ischuate auton damazara;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.
Acts 19:20“prevailed”houtōs kata kratem tou kuriou tos logos auxanate kai ischuate.So the word of the Lord powerfully continued to spread and prevail.
ischuale“could”was happening · theyimperfect active indicative 3rd person plural3×
John 21:6“able”tos de legata autoi; Ballavar eis teim dexeim mereim teu ploieu tem diktuem, kai heuriskavi. ballala oun, kai ouketi autem helkara ischuale apo teu plētheu toiu ichthoiu.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.
Acts 6:10“could”kai ouk ischuale anthistanara ta sofia kai te pneume he lalate.but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.
Acts 25:7“could”paragineratou de autou periistanala auton tois apo Hierosolumeiu katabainarētois Ioudaiois, polleim kai barueim aitiōmeim kataferarōtois heim ouk ischuale apodeiknuara,When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they could not prove.
ischuali“able”will happen · theyfuture active indicative 3rd person plural1×
Luke 13:24“able”Agōnizevōr eiserchara dia tau stenau thurau, hoti pollois, legamō vi, zētali eiserchara kai ouk ischuali,“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.
ischuasa“could”happened · youaorist active indicative 2nd person singular1×
Mark 14:37“could”kai erchetō kai heuriskatō autoin katheudarōtoin, kai legatō to Petro; Simōnor, katheudasō? ouk ischuasa henan hōran grēgorara?Then Jesus returned and found them sleeping. “Simon, are you asleep?” He asked. “Were you not able to keep watch for one hour?
ischuata“could”happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular5×
Luke 6:48“could”homoios atō anthrōpo oikodomarōto oikian hos skaptata kai bathunata kai tithata themelion epi tan petran; plēmmurau de gineratau prosrēgnuata tos potamos ta oikia ekeina, kai ouk ischuata saleuara autan dia tem kalōs oikodomirē autan.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.
Luke 8:43“could”kai gunaikas arōtas en rusia haimeu apo eteiu dōdeka, hotinas iatroi prosanaliskaratas holon ton bion ouk ischuata apo oudeneu therapeuira,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.
Luke 14:30“able”legarōtois hoti Houtos tos anthrōpos archeta oikodomarō kai ouk ischuata ektelara.saying, ‘This man could not finish what he started to build.’
Acts 19:16“prevailed”kai efalleratos tos anthrōpos epi autoin en ho ate tem pneumem tem ponērem katakurieuaratos amfoteroiu ischuata kata autoiu, hōste gumnoin kai traumatizirētoin ekfeugara ek tou oikou ekeinou.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.
Revelation 12:8“prevail”kai ouk ischuata, oude topos heuriskita autoiu ēti en to ourano.But the dragon was not strong enough, and no longer was any place found in heaven for him and his angels.
ischuana“able”happened · weaorist active indicative 1st person plural2×
Acts 15:10“able”nun oun tinem peirazavō ton theon, epitithara zugon epi ton trachēlon toiu mathētoiu hon oute tois patērois nu oute nis ischuana bastazara?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?
Acts 27:16“able”nēsiem de tinem hupotrecharatois kalirōtem Kaudem ischuana molis perikratois ginera tau skafau,Passing to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we barely managed to secure the lifeboat.
ischuava“could”happened · yeaorist active indicative 2nd person plural1×
Matthew 26:40“could”kai erchetō pros toin mathētoin kai heuriskatō autoin katheudarōtoin, kai legatō to Petro; Houtōs ouk ischuava henan hōran grēgorara meta mu?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.
ischuala“could”happened · theyaorist active indicative 3rd person plural3×
Mark 9:18“could”kai hopou ean auton katalambateia rēgnuatō auton, kai afrizatō kai trizatō toin odontoin kai xērainitō; kai legama toi mathētoi su hina autem ekballaleia, kai ouk ischuala.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.”
Luke 14:6“could”kai ouk ischuala antapokrinira pros houteim.And they were unable to answer these questions.
Luke 20:26“able”kai ouk ischuala epilambera tou rēmeu enantion tou laou, kai thaumazaratois epi ta apokrisia autou sigala.And they were unable to trap Him in His words before the people. And amazed at His answer, they fell silent.
ischuarō“could”happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive1×
Matthew 8:28“could”Kai ercharatou autou eis tem peran eis tan chōran toiu Gadarēnoiu hupantala auto duo daimonizerōtois ek teiu mnēmeieiu exercherōtois, chalepois liōs hōste mē ischuarō tinon parerchara dia tau hodau ekeinau.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.
ischuarōtou“able”happening now · of, belonging topresent active participle genitive singular masculine1×
Luke 14:29“able”hina mēpote titharatou autou themelion kai mē ischuarōtou ektelara pantois tois theōrarōtois archeleia auto empaizarōOtherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone who sees it will ridicule him,
ischuarōtois“well”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine2×
Matthew 9:12“well”tos de akouaratos legata; Ouk chreian echalō tois ischuarōtois iatrou alla tois kakōs echarōtois.On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
Mark 2:17“well”kai akouaratos tos Iēsus legatō autoi hoti Ouk chreian echalō tois ischuarōtois iatrou alla tois kakōs echarōtois; ouk erchama kalara dikaioin alla hamartōloin.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.”