Pronunciation Guide: ah-doo-nah-TEH-oh

Basic Definition

Strong’s G101: ἀδυνατέω (adynateō) expresses the state of being powerless, unable, or impossible. It combines the negative prefix ‘a-‘ with the root meaning “power” or “ability,” literally meaning “to be unable” or “to lack the power to accomplish something.” This word powerfully conveys human limitation in contrast to divine omnipotence.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Verb
• Root Words: From ἀ- (negative prefix) + δυνατός (powerful, possible)
• Language Origin: Koine Greek
• Primary Usage: Found in narrative and teaching passages
• Literary Context: Often used in contexts discussing human limitations versus divine power

ἀδυνατέω Morphology:

• ἀδυνατῶ (present active indicative, 1st person singular) – I am unable
• ἀδυνατεῖ (present active indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she/it is unable
• ἀδυνατοῦμεν (present active indicative, 1st person plural) – we are unable
• ἀδυνατήσει (future active indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she/it will be unable

Origin & History

The word ἀδυνατέω emerges from classical Greek literature where it described physical weakness or political powerlessness. Xenophon used it in his “Hellenica” to describe cities that were unable to defend themselves against stronger opponents. In medical writings of Hippocrates, it described patients who were powerless to perform certain physical functions.

In the transition to Koine Greek, the word broadened to encompass any form of inability or impossibility, whether physical, mental, or circumstantial. This semantic development prepared it perfectly for its theological usage in the New Testament, where it often appears in contexts contrasting human limitations with divine power.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• To be unable or powerless to do something
• To lack the ability or strength required
• To find something impossible
• To be incapable of accomplishing a task
• To fail due to inherent inability

ἀδυνατέω Translation Options:

• “To be unable” – Best captures the basic meaning of powerlessness
• “To be impossible” – Appropriate when emphasizing absolute impossibility
• “To lack power/ability” – Useful when focusing on the absence of capacity
• “To fail in ability” – Helpful when highlighting the gap between requirement and capability
• “To be powerless” – Effective when contrasting with divine power

Biblical Usage of ἀδυνατέω

In the New Testament, ἀδυνατέω appears at crucial moments where human inability confronts divine omnipotence. Its most famous occurrence is in Matthew 17:20, where Jesus addresses the disciples’ inability to heal, connecting their powerlessness to their lack of faith. The word serves to highlight the contrast between human limitations and God’s unlimited power.

The Septuagint employs ἀδυνατέω in contexts where human capability reaches its limits, particularly in passages emphasizing God’s sovereign power to accomplish what humans cannot. This usage pattern establishes a theological framework where human inability becomes the backdrop for displaying divine capability.

• “And He said to them, ‘Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, nothing will be impossible [ἀδυνατήσει] to you.'” Matthew 17:20
• “For nothing will be impossible [ἀδυνατήσει] with God.” Luke 1:37

Cultural Insights into ἀδυνατέω

In the Greco-Roman world, inability or powerlessness carried significant social stigma. The concept of ἀδυνατέω was often associated with social and political weakness, making its theological usage particularly powerful. When the New Testament authors employed this term, they were intentionally subverting cultural expectations by presenting human inability not as a shameful condition to be hidden, but as an opportunity for divine power to be displayed.

The word carried special resonance in first-century Jewish culture, where the ability to perform miracles was seen as a sign of divine approval and authority. Jesus’ teaching about faith and impossibility in Matthew 17:20 would have challenged both Greek and Jewish cultural assumptions about power, ability, and divine activity.

Theological Significance of ἀδυνατέω

The theological importance of ἀδυνατέω lies in its role in expressing the fundamental relationship between human limitation and divine omnipotence. It serves as a linguistic bridge between our finite nature and God’s infinite power, reminding us that what is impossible with man is possible with God.

This word plays a crucial role in New Testament theology by establishing a pattern: human inability becomes the stage upon which God’s power is displayed. Whether in the context of miracle-working, salvation, or spiritual transformation, ἀδυνατέω points to our deep need for divine intervention and highlights God’s gracious provision of power through faith.

The use of ἀδυνατέω in Scripture helps establish the theological truth that our limitations are not obstacles to God’s work but rather opportunities for His power to be displayed. This understanding transforms our view of weakness from a source of shame to a potential vessel for divine glory.

Personal Application

When we encounter our own limitations—whether in ministry, personal growth, or life challenges—the biblical usage of ἀδυνατέω reminds us that these moments of impossibility are precisely where God’s power can be most clearly displayed. Our recognition of what is impossible for us becomes an invitation to experience what is possible with God.

This word challenges us to view our limitations not as endpoints but as starting points for experiencing God’s power. When we reach the end of our ability, we’re actually arriving at the beginning of God’s demonstration of His unlimited power in our lives.

Related to ἀδυνατέω

• δύναμις (dynamis) [DOO-nah-mis] – power, ability, the positive counterpart showing what God can do. See G1411
• ἀσθενέω (astheneō) [as-then-EH-oh] – to be weak, emphasizing physical rather than general inability. See G770
• ἐξουσία (exousia) [ex-oo-SEE-ah] – authority, right, relates to delegated power rather than inherent inability. See G1849
• ἰσχύω (ischuō) [is-KHOO-oh] – to be strong, capable, the opposite of being unable. See G2480

Did you Know?

• The same root word gives us the English word “dynamic,” though ἀδυνατέω represents its opposite—the absence of power or ability. This linguistic connection helps us understand how the ancient Greeks thought about power and its absence.
• In ancient Greek medical texts, ἀδυνατέω was used to describe patients who were completely incapacitated, helping us understand the total nature of the inability it describes in theological contexts.
• The word appears at pivotal moments in both the Annunciation to Mary and the disciples’ failure to heal, highlighting its theological significance in demonstrating the contrast between human limitation and divine possibility.

Remember This

Where human inability (ἀδυνατέω) ends, God’s unlimited power begins, transforming our impossibilities into displays of His glory.