Lexical Summary
dunamis: Power, strength, ability, might, miracle
Original Word:δύναμις
Part of Speech:Noun, Feminine
Transliteration:dunamis
Pronunciation:DOO-nah-mis
Phonetic Spelling:(doo'-nam-is)
KJV: ability, abundance, meaning, might(-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle(-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work
NASB:power, miracles, powers, ability, miraculous powers, miracle, strength
Word Origin:[fromG1410 (δύναμαι - can)]
1. force
2. (specially) miraculous power
3. (usually by implication) a miracle itself
{literally or figuratively}
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
ability, power, strength
Fromdunamai; force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself) -- ability, abundance, meaning, might(-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle(-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.
see GREEKdunamai
HELPS Word-studies
1411dýnamis (from1410/dýnamai, "able, havingability") – properly, "ability to perform" (L-N); for the believer,power to achieve by applying the Lord'sinherent abilities. "Power through God's ability" (1411/dýnamis) is needed in every scene of life to really grow in sanctification and prepare for heaven (glorification).1411 (dýnamis) is a very important term, used 120 times in the NT.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
dunamaiDefinition(miraculous) power, might, strength
NASB Translationability (4), meaning (1), mightily (1), mighty (1), miracle (2), miracles (17), miraculous powers (3), power (83), powers (6), strength (2), wealth (1).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1411: δύναμιςδύναμις,
δυνάμεως,
ἡ; (from
Homer down); the
Sept. for
חַיִל,
גְּבוּרָה,
עֹז,
כֹּחַ,
צָבָא (an army, a host);
strength, ability, power;
a. universally, "inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth":Luke 1:17;Acts 4:7;1 Corinthians 4:20;2 Corinthians 4:7;2 Corinthians 12:9 (ἡδύναμιςἐνἀσθένειατελεῖται (RGτελειοῦται));;1 Thessalonians 1:5;Hebrews 7:16;Hebrews 11:34;Revelation 1:16;Revelation 17:13;ἰδίᾳδυνάμει,Acts 3:12;μεγάληδυνάμει,Acts 4:33;ἑκάστῳκατάτήνἰδίανδύναμιν,Matthew 25:15;ὑπέρδύναμιν, beyond our power,2 Corinthians 1:8;ἐνδυνάμει namely,ὤν, endued with power,Luke 4:36;1 Corinthians 15:43; so in the phraseἔρχεσθαιἐνδυνάμει,Mark 9:1;powerfully,Colossians 1:29;2 Thessalonians 1:11; contextually, equivalent toevidently,Romans 1:4;ἐνδυνάμεισημείωνκαίτεράτων, through the power which I exerted upon their souls by performing miracles,Romans 15:19;δύναμιςεἰςτί,Hebrews 11:11;δύναμιςἐπίτάδαιμόνιακαίνόσουςθεραπεύειν,Luke 9:1;ἡδύναμιςτῆςἁμαρτίαςὁνόμος, sin exercises its power (upon the soul) through the law, i. e. through the abuse of the law,1 Corinthians 15:56;τῆςἀναστάσεωςτοῦΧριστοῦ, the power which the resurrection of Christ has, for instructing, reforming, elevating, tranquilizing, the soul,Philippians 3:10;τῆςεὐσεβείας, inhering in godliness and operating upon souls,2 Timothy 3:5;δυνάμειςμέλλοντοςαἰῶνος (seeαἰών, 3),Hebrews 6:5;τόπνεῦματῆςδυνάμεως (seeπνεῦμα, 5),1 Peter 4:14 Lachmann;2 Timothy 1:7;δύναμις is used of the power of angels:Ephesians 1:21 (cf. Meyer at the passage])2 Peter 2:11; of the power of the devil and evil spirits,1 Corinthians 15:24;τοῦἐχθροῦ, i. e. of the devil,Luke 10:19;τοῦδράκοντος,Revelation 13:2; angels, as excelling in power, are calledδυνάμεις (cf. (Philo de mutat. nora. § 8δυνάμειςἀσωματοι) Meyer as above;Lightfoot onColossians 1:16; seeἄγγελος):Romans 8:38;1 Peter 3:22.ἡδύναμιςτοῦΘεοῦ, universally,the power of God:Matthew 22:29;Mark 12:24;Luke 22:69;Acts 8:10;Romans 1:20;Romans 9:17;1 Corinthians 6:14;δύναμιςὑψίστου,Luke 1:35;ἡδύναμις, especially in doxologies, the kingly power of God,Matthew 6:13Rec.;Revelation 4:11;Revelation 7:12;Revelation 11:17;Revelation 12:10;Revelation 15:8;Revelation 19:1; and the abstract for the concrete (asהַגְּבוּרָה in Jewish writings; cf. Buxtorf Lex. talm. col. 385 (p. 201f, Fischer edition)) equivalent toὁδυνατός,Matthew 26:64;Mark 14:62;δύναμιςτοῦΘεοῦ is used of the divine power considered as acting upon the minds of men,1 Corinthians 2:5;2 Corinthians 6:7;Ephesians 3:7, 20; (2 Timothy 1:8;1 Peter 1:5);εἰςτινα,2 Corinthians 13:4 (butWH in brackets);Ephesians 1:19;ἐνδύεσθαιδύναμινἐξὕψους,Luke 24:49; by metonymy, things or persons in which God's saving power shows its efficacy are calledδυνάμειςΘεοῦ: thus,ὁΧριστός,1 Corinthians 1:24;ὁλόγοςτοῦσταυροῦ,1 Corinthians 1:18;τόεὐαγγέλιον, with the additionεἰςσωτηρίανπαντί, etc.Romans 1:16 (cf.Winer's Grammar, § 36, 3 b.).δύναμις is ascribed to Christ, now in one sense and now in another: a power to heal disease proceeds from him,Mark 5:30;Luke 5:17;Luke 6:19;Luke 8:46 the kingly power of the Messiah is his,Matthew 24:30; (Mark 13:26);Luke 21:27;2 Peter 1:16;Revelation 5:12;ἄγγελοιτῆςδυνάμεωςαὐτοῦ (seeἄγγελος, 2), ministering to his power,2 Thessalonians 1:7 (Winer's Grammar, § 34, 3 b. note); metaphysical (or essential) power, viz. that which belongs to him asὁθεῖοςλόγος, in the expressionτόῤῆματῆςδυνάμεωςαὐτοῦ, the word uttered by his power, equivalent to his most powerful will and energy,Hebrews 1:3; moral power, operating on the soul,2 Corinthians 12:9RG; and calledἡθείααὐτοῦδύναμις in2 Peter 1:3;ἡδύναμιςτοῦκυρίου, the power of Christ invisibly present and operative in Christian church formally assembled,1 Corinthians 5:4.δύναμιςτοῦἁγίουπνεύματος:Acts 1:8 (Winer's Grammar, 125 (119));πνεῦμαἅγιονκαίδύναμις,Acts 10:38;ἀπόδειξιςπνεύματοςκαίδυνάμεως (seeἀπόδειξις, b.),1 Corinthians 2:4;ἐντῇδυνάμειτοῦπνεύματος, under or full of the power of the Holy Spirit,Luke 4:14;ἐνδυνάμειπνεύματοςἁγίου, by the power and influence of the Holy Spirit,Romans 15:13; by the power which, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, I exerted upon their souls,Romans 15:19.b. specifically,the power of performing miracles:Acts 6:8;πᾶσαδύναμις, every kind of power of working miracles (with the addition ofκαίσημείοιςκαίτέρασι),2 Thessalonians 2:9; plural: (Matthew 13:54;Matthew 14:2;Mark 6:14);1 Corinthians 12:28;Galatians 3:5;ἐνεργήματαδυνάμεων,1 Corinthians 12:10; by metonymy, of the cause for the effect,a mighty work (cf.Winers Grammar, 32;Trench, § xci.):δύναμινποιεῖν,Mark 6:5;Mark 9:39; so in the plural,Mark 6:2Luke 19:37; joined withσημεῖα,Acts 8:13; withσημεῖακαίτέρατα,Acts 2:22;2 Corinthians 12:12;Hebrews 2:4 (?);ποιεῖνδυνάμεις,Matthew 7:22; ();Acts 19:11;γίνονταιδυνάμεις,Matthew 11:20f, 23;Luke 10:13.c.moral power and excellence of soul:1 Corinthians 4:19;2 Corinthians 4:7;Ephesians 3:16;Colossians 1:11.
d.the power and influence which belong to riches; (pecuniaryability),wealth:τοῦστρήνους, 'riches ministering to luxury' (Grotius),Revelation 18:3;κατάδύναμινκαίὑπέρ (others,δύναμιν, according to their means, yea, beyond their means,2 Corinthians 8:3; (in this sense, forחַיִל, theSept.Deuteronomy 8:17;Ruth 4:11; not infrequent Greek writings, asXenophon, Cyril 8, 4, 34; an. 7, 7, 21 (36)).
e.power and resources arising from numbers:Revelation 3:8.
f.power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts, (so, both in singular and in plural, often in Greek writings fromHerodotus,Thucydides,Xenophon, on; in theSept. and in Apocrypha); hence,δυνάμειςτοῦοὐρανοῦ, thehost of heaven, Hebraistically thestars:Matthew 24:29;Luke 21:26; andδυνάμειςἐντοῖςοὐρανοῖς,Mark 13:25; equivalent toהַשָּׁמַיִםצְבָא,2 Kings 17:16;2 Kings 23:4;Isaiah 34:4;Jeremiah 8:2;Daniel 8:10, etc. (cf.σαβαώθ).
g. Like the Latinvis andpotestas, equivalent to the (force i. e.)meaning of a word or expression:1 Corinthians 14:11; (Plato, Crat., p. 394 h.;Polybius 20, 9, 11;Dionysius Halicarnassus 1, 68; Dio Cuss. 55, 3; others). [SYNONYMS:βία,δύναμις,ἐνέργεια,ἐξουσία,ἰσχύς,κράτοςβία,force, effective, often oppressive power, exhibiting itself in single deeds of violence;δύναμις,power, natural ability, general and inherent;ἐνέργεια,working, power in exercise, operative power;ἐξουσία, primarily liberty of action; then,authority — either as delegated power, or as unrestrained, arbitrary power;ἰσχύς,strength, power (especially physical) as an endowmentκράτος,might, relative and manifested power — in the N. T. chiefly of God;τῷκράτειτῆςἰσχύος,Ephesians 6:10,τήνἐνέργειαντῆςδυναμμεως,Ephesians 3:7,τήνἐνέργειαντοῦκράτουςτῆςἰσχύος,Ephesians 1:19. Cf.Schmidt, chapter 148;Lightfoot onColossians 1:16; Meyer onEphesians 1:19.]
Topical Lexicon
Divine Omnipotence and Creative Authorityδύναμις foremost reveals the limitless ability of God.Romans 1:20 teaches that “His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made,” anchoring omnipotence in creation itself.Revelation 4:11 extols the same truth: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things.” Every later use of δύναμις rests on this foundational display of God’s ability to call the universe into existence and sustain it by “the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3).
Messianic Power in the Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ
The Gospels repeatedly pair Jesus with δύναμις.Luke 4:14 records that He returned to Galilee “in the power of the Spirit,” whileLuke 5:17 notes that “the power of the Lord was present for Him to heal the sick.” His miracles are “mighty works” (Matthew 11:20-23;Mark 6:2). Even the hemorrhaging woman felt power flow from Him (Mark 5:30). The transfiguration promise—“some standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power” (Mark 9:1)—looks ahead to resurrection and Pentecost, confirming Him as the power-bearing Messiah.
Power Displayed in Miracles and Signs
Acts opens with the pledge, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you” (Acts 1:8), and continues by depicting healing at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:12), extraordinary miracles through Paul (Acts 19:11), and the apostles’ testimony given “with great power” (Acts 4:33). Such signs authenticate the gospel, never standing alone, but always pointing to Christ’s lordship.
The Gospel as the Power of God for Salvation
Paul’s theology centers on δύναμις.Romans 1:16 declares, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” The message, not mere persuasion, carries divine efficacy.1 Corinthians 1:18 affirms that “to us who are being saved it is the power of God,” contrasting human wisdom with supernatural enablement (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).
Resurrection and Eschatological Power
Jesus “was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4). That same power will raise believers’ bodies in glory (1 Corinthians 15:43) and overthrow every opposing authority at His return (1 Corinthians 15:24). Cosmic upheavals are foretold: “the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Matthew 24:29), and the Son of Man will appear “with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30).
Power Bestowed on Believers through the Holy Spirit
New-covenant life is Spirit-empowered life.Ephesians 3:16 prays that believers be “strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being.”Colossians 1:11 envisions being “strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might.” The Spirit’s enabling touches witness (1 Thessalonians 1:5), endurance (2 Timothy 1:7-8), and service (Ephesians 3:20).
Spiritual Gifts and “Powers” in the Church
δύναμις titles a category of gifts: “to another the working of miracles” (literally “powers,”1 Corinthians 12:10). God appoints “miracles” in the church (1 Corinthians 12:28-29) to edify the body and advance the mission.Galatians 3:5 reminds the Galatians that God “supplies you with the Spirit and works miracles among you,” grounding charismatic activity in faith, not works of law.
Apostolic Authority and Ministry Effectiveness
Paul labored “with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me” (Colossians 1:29). His ambition was to fulfill his calling “by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God” (Romans 15:19). The kingdom, he asserted, “is not a matter of talk but of power” (1 Corinthians 4:20). Apostolic weakness only magnified Christ’s strength (2 Corinthians 12:9-10; 13:4).
Angelic and Demonic Powers
δυνάμεις can denote supernatural ranks. Jesus is now “far above all rule and authority and power” (Ephesians 1:21) and has angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him (1 Peter 3:22). Believers wrestle against these unseen forces (implied inColossians 2:15), but Christ’s triumph guarantees ultimate victory.
Counterfeit and Misused Power
Scripture warns of deceptive displays: the lawless one’s coming is “in accordance with the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder” (2 Thessalonians 2:9). Simon the Samaritan boasted that he was “the Great Power of God” (Acts 8:10) until confronted by apostolic truth. A form of godliness may “deny its power” (2 Timothy 3:5), calling for discernment and separation.
Praise and Doxology of Power
Heaven responds in worship: “Salvation and glory and power belong to our God” (Revelation 19:1). The sevenfold doxology includes “power” (Revelation 5:12; 7:12), culminating in eternal acknowledgment that all might is God’s.
Pastoral and Practical Implications
1. Proclamation—Confidence rests not in human eloquence but in the inherent power of the gospel.
2. Personal Holiness—Weakness becomes the arena for Christ’s empowering grace.
3. Corporate Worship—Songs and prayers rightly ascribe power to God, nurturing reverent dependence.
4. Mission—Evangelism and mercy ministry advance by the same power that raised Jesus, ensuring hope amid opposition.
5. Eschatology—Future expectations of resurrection and consummation flow from God’s proven power in history.
Thus δύναμις threads through Scripture as the pulsating energy of God’s own life—revealed in creation, embodied in Christ, bestowed by the Spirit, operative in the church, opposed by evil, and destined to triumph in the new heavens and new earth.
Forms and Transliterations
δυναμει δυνάμει δυναμεις δυνάμεις δύναμεις δυναμεσι δυνάμεσι δυναμεσιν δυνάμεσιν δυναμεων δυνάμεων δυναμεως δυνάμεως δυνάμεώς δύναμεως δυναμιν δύναμιν δύναμίν δυναμις δύναμις δύναμίς dunamei dunameis dunameon dunameōn dunameos dunameōs dunamesi dunamesin dunamin dunamis dynamei dynámei dynameis dynámeis dynameon dynameōn dynámeon dynámeōn dynameos dynameōs dynámeos dynámeōs dynamesi dynámesi dynamesin dynámesin dynamin dýnamin dýnamín dynamis dýnamisLinks
Interlinear Greek •Interlinear Hebrew •Strong's Numbers •Englishman's Greek Concordance •Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •Parallel Texts
