Power Words

1849 -- power ejxousiva - denotes authority. From the meaning of leave or permission, or liberty of doing as one pleases, it passed to that of the ability or strength with which one is endued, then to that of the power of authority, the right to exercise power.

2032 -- heavenlies ejpouravnioV - heavenly, what pertains to, or is in, heaven

2479 -- might ijscuvV - denotes might, strength, power

2888 - rulers kosmokravtwr - denotes a ruler of this world

2904 -- power kravtoV force, - strength, might, more especially manifested power

<1,,436,anthistemi> -- "to set against" (anti, "against," histemi, "to cause to stand"), used in the Middle (or Passive) Voice and in the intransitive 2nd aorist and perfect Active, signifying "to withstand, oppose, resist," is translated "to resist" in Mat_5:39; Act_6:10, AV (RV, "withstand"); Rom_9:19, AV (RV, "withstandeth"); Rom_13:2 (2nd and 3rd parts; for 1st part, see No. 3), AV (RV, "withstandeth" and "withstand"); Gal_2:11, RV (AV, "withstood"); 2Ti_3:8 (2nd part), AV (RV, "withstand"); Jam_4:7; 1Pe_5:9, AV (RV, "withstand"); "to withstand" in Act_13:8; Eph_6:13; 2Ti_3:8 (1st part); 2Ti_4:15.

<2,,478,antikathistemi> -- "to stand firm against" (anti, "against," kathistemi, "to set down," kata), is translated "ye have (not) resisted" in Heb_12:4. In the Sept., Deu_31:21; Jos_5:7; Mic_2:8.

<4,,496,antipipto> -- lit., and primarily, "to fall against or upon" (anti, "against," pipto, "to fall"), then, "to strive against, resist," is used in Act_7:51 of "resisting" the Holy Spirit.

<3,,498,antitasso> -- anti, "against," tasso, "to arrange," originally a military term, "to range in battle against," and frequently so found in the papyri, is used in the Middle Voice signifying "to set oneself against, resist," (a) of men, Act_18:6, "opposed themselves;" elsewhere "to resist," of resisting human potentates, Rom_13:2; (b) of God, Jam_4:6; Jam_5:6, negatively, of leaving persistent evildoers to pursue their self-determined course, with eventual retribution; 1Pe_5:5.

<1,,746,arche> -- "beginning, government, rule," is used of supramundane beings who exercise rule, called "principalities;" (a) of holy angels, Eph_3:10, the Church in its formation being to them the great expression of "the manifold (or "much-varied") wisdom of God;" Col_1:16; (b) of evil angels, Rom_8:38; Col_2:15, some would put this under (a), but see SPOIL, B. No. 4; (a) and (b) are indicated in Col_2:10. In Eph_1:21, the RV renders it "rule" (AV, "principality") and in Tit_3:1, "rulers" (AV, "principalities"). In Jud_1:6, RV, it signifies, not the first estate of fallen angels (as AV), but their authoriative power, "their own" indicating that which had been assigned to them by God, which they left, aspiring to prohibited conditions.

<1,,758,archon> -- "a ruler, chief, prince," is translated "rulers," e.g., in 1Co_2:6, 1Co_2:8, RV (AV, "princes"); "ruler," Rev_1:5 (AV, "prince").

<A-1,Verb,950,bebaioo> -- "to make firm, establish, make secure" (the connected adjective bebaios signifies "stable, fast, firm"), is used of "confirming" a word, Mar_16:20; promises, Rom_15:8; the testimony of Christ, 1Co_1:6; the saints by the Lord Jesus Christ, 1Co_1:8; the saints by God, 2Co_1:21 ("stablisheth"); in faith, Col_2:7; the salvation spoken through the Lord and "confirmed" by the Apostles, Heb_2:3; the heart by grace, Heb_13:9 ("stablished").

<B-1,Noun,951,bebaiosis> -- akin to A, No. 1, is used in two senses (a) "of firmness, establishment," said of the "confirmation" of the Gospel, Phi_1:7; (b) "of authoritative validity imparted," said of the settlement of a dispute by an oath to produce confidence, Heb_6:16. The word is found frequently in the papyri of the settlement of a business transaction.

<B-1,Verb,1410,dunamai> -- "to be able, to have power," whether by virtue of one's own ability and resources, e.g., Rom_15:14; or through a state of mind, or through favorable circumstances, e.g., 1Th_2:6; or by permission of law or custom, e.g., Act_24:8, Act_24:11; or simply "to be able, powerful," Mat_3:9; 2Ti_3:15, etc.

<A-1,Noun,1411,dunamis> -- is (a) "power, ability," physical or moral, as residing in a person or thing; (b) "power in action," as, e.g., when put forth in performing miracles. It occurs 118 times in the NT. It is sometimes used of the miracle or sign itself, the effect being put for the cause, e.g., Mar_6:5, frequently in the Gospels and Acts. In 1Co_14:11 it is rendered "meaning;" "force" would be more accurate. Cp., the corresponding verbs, B.1,2,3 and the adjective C.1, below.

<B-2,Verb,1412,dunamoo> -- "to make strong, confirm," occurs in Col_1:11 (some authorities have the 1st aorist or momentary tense, in Heb_11:34 also). Cp. endunamoo, "to enable, strengthen."

<A-4,Noun,1413,dunastes> -- akin to dunamis, "power," (Eng., "dynasty,") signifies "a potentate, a high officer;" in Act_8:27, of a high officer, it is rendered "of great authority;" in Luk_1:52, RV, "princes, (AV, "the mighty"); in 1Ti_6:15 it is said of God ("Potentate").

<B-3,Verb,1414,dunateo> -- signifies "to be mighty, to show oneself powerful," Rom_4:14; 2Co_9:8; 2Co_13:3.

<A-1,Adjective,1415,dunatos> -- "powerful, mighty," is translated "strong," in Rom_15:1, where the "strong" are those referred to in ch. 14, in contrast to "the weak in faith," those who have scruples in regard to eating meat and the observance of days; 2Co_12:10, where the strength lies in bearing sufferings in the realization that the endurance is for Christ's sake; 2Co_13:9, where "ye are strong" implies the good spiritual condition which the Apostle desires for the church at Corinth in having nothing requiring his exercise of discipline (contrast No. 2 in 1Co_4:10).

<B-1,Verb,1743,endunamoo> -- "to make strong" (en, "in," dunamis, "power"), "to strengthen," is rendered "waxed strong" in Rom_4:20, RV (AV, "was strong"); "be strong," Eph_6:10; "were made strong," Heb_11:34.

<1,,1753,energeia> -- (Eng., "energy") is used (1) of the "power" of God, (a) in the resurrection of Christ, Eph_1:19; Col_2:12, RV, "working" (AV, "operation"); (b) in the call and enduement of Paul, Eph_3:7; Col_1:29; (c) in His retributive dealings in sending "a working of error" (AV, "strong delusion") upon those under the rule of the Man of Sin who receive not the love of the truth, but have pleasure in unrighteousness, 2Th_2:11; (2) of the "power" of Christ (a) generally, Phi_3:21; (b) in the church, individually, Eph_4:16; (3) of the power of Satan in energizing the Man of Sin in his "parousia," 2Th_2:9, "coming."

<A-2,Noun,1849,exousia> -- denotes "authority" (from the impersonal verb exesti, "it is lawful"). From the meaning of "leave or permission," or liberty of doing as one pleases, it passed to that of "the ability or strength with which one is endued," then to that of the "power of authority," the right to exercise power, e.g., Mat_9:6; Mat_21:23; 2Co_10:8; or "the power of rule or government," the power of one whose will and commands must be obeyed by others, e.g., Mat_28:18; Joh_17:2; Jud_1:25; Rev_12:10; Rev_17:13; more specifically of apostolic "authority," 2Co_10:8; 2Co_13:10; the "power" of judicial decision, Joh_19:10; of "managing domestic affairs," Mar_13:34. By metonymy, or name-change (the substitution of a suggestive word for the name of the thing meant), it stands for "that which is subject to authority or rule," Luk_4:6 (RV, "authority," for the AV "power"); or, as with the English "authority," "one who possesses authority, a ruler, magistrate," Rom_13:1-3; Luk_12:11; Tit_3:1; or "a spiritual potentate," e.g., Eph_3:10; Eph_6:12; Col_1:16; Col_2:10, Col_2:15; 1Pe_3:22. The RV usually translates it "authority."

<B-1,Verb,1850,exousiazo> -- "to exercise authority" (akin to A, No. 2), is used (a) in the Active Voice, Luk_22:25, RV, "have authority" (AV, "exercise authority"), of the "power" of rulers; 1Co_7:4 (twice), of marital relations and conditions; (b) in the Passive Voice, 1Co_6:12, to be brought under the "power" of a thing; here, this verb and the preceding one connected with it, exesti, present a paronomasia, which Lightfoot brings out as follows: "all are within my power; but I will not put myself under the power of any one of all things."

<A-2,Verb,1991,episterizo> -- "to make to lean upon, strengthen" (epi, "upon," sterix, "a prop, support"), is used of "confirming" souls, Act_14:22; brethren, Act_15:32; churches, Act_15:41; disciples, Act_18:23, in some mss. ("stablishing," RV, "strengthening," AV); the most authentic mss. have sterizo in Act_18:23.

<A-2,Adjective,2032,epouranios> -- "heavenly," what pertains to, or is in, heaven (epi, in the sense of "pertaining to," not here, "above"), has meanings corresponding to some of the meanings of ouranos, A, No. 1. It is used (a) of God the Father, Mat_18:35; (b) of the place where Christ "sitteth at the right hand of God" (i.e., in a position of Divine authority), Eph_1:20; and of the present position of believers in relationship to Christ, Eph_2:6; where they possess "every spiritual blessing," Eph_1:3; (c) of Christ as "the Second Man," and all those who are related to Him spirtually, 1Co_15:48; (d) of those whose sphere of activity or existence is above, or in contrast to that of earth, of "principalities and powers," Eph_3:10; of "spiritual hosts of wickedness," Eph_6:12, RV, "in heavenly places," for AV, "in high places;" (e) of the Holy Spirit, Heb_6:4; (f) of "heavenly things," as the subjects of the teaching of Christ, Joh_3:12, and as consisting of the spiritual and "heavenly" sanctuary and "true tabernacle" and all that appertains thereto in relation to Christ and His sacrifice as antitypical of the earthly tabernacle and sacrifices under the Law, Heb_8:5; Heb_9:23; (g) of the "calling" of believers, Heb_3:1; (h) of heaven as the abode of the saints, "a better country" than that of earth, Heb_11:16, and of the spiritual Jerusalem, Heb_12:22; (i) of the kingdom of Christ in its future manifestation, 2Ti_4:18; (j) of all beings and things, animate and inanimate, that are "above the earth," Phi_2:10; (k) of the resurrection and glorified bodies of believers, 1Co_15:49; (l) of the "heavenly orbs," 1Co_15:40 ("celestial," twice, and so rendered here only).

<B-6,Verb,2141,euporeo> -- lit, "to journey well" (eu, "well," poreo, "to journey"), hence, "to prosper," is translated "according to (his) ability," in Act_11:29.

<B-2,Verb,2175,katexousiazo> -- kata, "down," intensive, and No. 1, "to exercise authority upon," is used in Mat_20:25; Mar_10:42.

<B-5,Verb,2192,echo> -- "to have," is translated "your ability" in 2Co_8:11, and "ye may be able" in 2Pe_1:15, and is equivalent to the phrase "to have the means of."

<C-2,Adjective,2425,hikanos> -- translated "able," is to be distinguished from dunatos. While dunatos means "possessing power," hikanos, primarily, "reaching to," has accordingly the meaning "sufficient." When said of things it signifies "enough," e.g., Luk_22:38; when said of persons, it means "competent," "worthy," e.g. 2Co_2:6, 2Co_2:16; 2Co_3:5; 2Ti_2:2.

<B-1,Verb,2476,histemi> -- (a) transitively, denotes "to cause to stand, to set;" in the Passive Voice, "to be made to stand," e.g., Mat_2:9, lit., "was made to stand;" so Luk_11:18; Luk_19:8 (Col_4:12 in some mss.); in Rev_13:1 the RV follows the best texts, "he stood" (not as AV, "I stood"); the reference is to the Dragon. In the Middle Voice, "to take one's stand, place oneself," e.g., Rev_18:15; (b) intransitively, in the 2nd aorist and perfect Active, "to stand, stand by, stand still," e.g., Mat_6:5; Mat_20:32, "stood still;" in Luk_6:8, "stand forth" and "stood forth;" metaphorically, "to stand firm," Joh_8:44 (negatively), in the truth (see No. 7); Rom_5:2, in grace; 1Co_15:1, in the gospel; Rom_11:20, "by thy faith," RV; 2Co_1:24, "by faith" (marg., "by your faith"); of steadfastness, 1Co_7:37; Eph_6:11, Eph_6:13-14; Col_4:12 [some mss. have the Passive, see (a)].

<A-2,Adjective,2478,ischuros> -- "strong, mighty," is used of (a) persons: (1) God, Rev_18:8; (2) angels, Rev_5:2; Rev_10:1; Rev_18:21; (3) men, Mat_12:29 (twice) and parallel passages; Heb_11:34, AV, "valiant" (RV, "mighty"); Rev_6:15 (in the best texts; some have No. 1); Rev_19:18, "mighty;" metaphorically, (4) the church at Corinth, 1Co_4:10, where the Apostle reproaches them ironically with their unspiritual and self-complacent condition; (5) of young men in Christ spiritually strong, through the Word of God, to overcome the evil one, 1Jo_2:14; of (b) things: (1) wind, Mat_14:30 (in some mss.), "boisterous;" (2) famine, Luk_15:14; (3) things in the mere human estimate, 1Co_1:27; (4) Paul's letters, 2Co_10:10; (5) the Lord's crying and tears, Heb_5:7; (6) consolation, Heb_6:18; (7) the voice of an angel, Rev_18:2 (in the best texts; some have megas, "great"); (8) Babylon, Rev_18:10; (9) thunderings, Rev_19:6.

<A-2,Noun,2479,ischus> -- connected with ischo and echo, "to have, to hold" (from the root ech, signifying "holding"), denotes "ability, force, strength;" "ability" in 1Pe_4:11, AV (RV, "strength"). In Eph_1:19 and Eph_6:10, it is said of the strength of God bestowed upon believers, the phrase "the power of His might" indicating strength afforded by power. In 2Th_1:9, "the glory of His might" signifies the visible expression of the inherent personal power of the Lord Jesus. It is said of angels in 2Pe_2:11 (cp., Rev_18:2, AV, "mightily"). It is ascribed to God in Rev_5:12; Rev_7:12. In Mar_12:30, Mar_12:33; Luk_10:27 it describes the full extent of the power wherewith we are to love God.

<B-4,Verb,2480,ischuo> -- akin to A, No. 2, "to be strong, to prevail," indicates a more forceful strength or ability than dunamai, e.g., Jam_5:16, where it is rendered "availeth much" (i.e., "prevails greatly").

<3,,2888,kosmokrator> -- denotes "a ruler of this world" (contrast pantokrator, "almighty"). In Greek literature, in Orphic hymns, etc., and in rabbinic writings, it signifies a "ruler" of the whole world, a world lord. In the NT it is used in Eph_6:12, "the world rulers (of this darkness)," RV, AV, "the rulers (of the darkness) of this world." The context ("not against flesh and blood") shows that not earthly potentates are indicated, but spirit powers, who, under the permissive will of God, and in consequence of human sin, exercise satanic and therefore antagonistic authority over the world in its present condition of spiritual darkness and alienation from God. The suggested rendering "the rulers of this dark world" is ambiguous and not phraseologically requisite. Cp. Joh_12:31; Joh_14:30; Joh_16:11; 2Co_4:4.

<B-2,Verb,2901,krataioo> -- "to strengthen" (akin to kratos, "strength"), is rendered (a) "to wax strong," Luk_1:80; Luk_2:40; "be strong," 1Co_16:13, lit., "be strengthened;" "to be strengthened," Eph_3:16 (Passive Voice in each place).

<A-4,Noun,2904,kratos> -- is translated "power" in the RV and AV in 1Ti_6:16; Heb_2:14; in Eph_1:19 (last part); Eph_6:10, AV, "power" (RV, "strength"):

<A-3,Verb,2964,kuroo> -- "to make valid, ratify, impart authority or influence" (from kuros, "might," kurios, "mighty, a head, as supreme in authority"), is used of spiritual love, 2Co_2:8; a human covenant, Gal_3:15. In the Sept., see Gen_23:20, e.g.

<A-5,Verb,3315,mesiteuo> -- "to act as a mediator, to interpose," is rendered "confirmed," in the AV of Heb_6:17 (marg., and RV, "interposed").

<A-4,Verb,4300,prokuroo> -- pro, "before," and No. 3, "to confirm or ratify before," is said of the Divine confirmation of a promise given originally to Abraham, Gen. 12, and "confirmed" by the vision of the furnace and torch, Gen. 15, by the birth of Isaac, Gen. 21, and by the oath of God, Gen. 22, all before the giving of the Law, Gal_3:17.

<2,,4732,stereoo> -- "to make firm, or solid" (akin to stereos, "hard, firm, solid;" cp. Eng., "stereotype"), is used only in Acts, (a) physically, Act_3:7, "received strength;" Act_3:16, "hath made strong;" (b) metaphorically, of establishment in the faith, Act_16:5, RV, "strengthened," for AV, "established."

<1,,4741,sterizo> -- "to fix, make fast, to set" (from sterix, "a prop"), is used of "establishing" or "stablishing" (i.e., the confirmation) of persons; the Apostle Peter was called by the Lord to "establish" his brethren, Luk_22:32, translated "strengthen;" Paul desired to visit Rome that the saints might be "established," Rom_1:11; cp. Act_8:23; so with Timothy at Thessalonica, 1Th_3:2; the "confirmation" of the saints is the work of God, Rom_16:25, "to stablish (you);" 1Th_3:13, "stablish (your hearts);" 2Th_2:17, "stablish them (in every good work and word);" 1Pe_5:10, "statblish;" the means used to effect the "confirmation" is the ministry of the Word of God, 2Pe_1:12, "are established (in the truth which is with you);" James exhorts Christians to "stablish" their hearts, Jam_5:8; cp. Rev_3:2, RV.