Original Word: ἰσχύω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: ischuó
Pronunciation: is-khoo'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (is-khoo'-o)
Definition: To be strong, to have power, to prevail, to be able.
Meaning: I have strength, am strong, am in full health and vigor, am able; meton: I prevail.

Word Origin: From the root word ἰσχύς (ischus), meaning "strength" or "might."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H3581 (koach): Often translated as "strength" or "power," similar in meaning to "ischuó."

- H1369 (gibbor): Meaning "mighty" or "strong," used to describe warriors or heroes.

Usage: The verb "ischuó" conveys the idea of possessing strength or power, whether physical, moral, or spiritual. It often implies the ability to overcome obstacles or to exert influence effectively. In the New Testament, it is used to describe both physical strength and the inner strength that comes from faith and reliance on God.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, strength and power were highly valued traits, often associated with physical prowess, military might, and political influence. The New Testament writers, however, frequently reframe these concepts to emphasize spiritual strength and the power that comes from God. This reflects a counter-cultural perspective that values inner fortitude and divine empowerment over worldly power.

Cognate: 2480 isxýō – properly, embodied strength that "gets into the fray" (action), i.e. engaging the resistance. For the believer, 2480 (isxýō) refers to the Lord strengthening them with combative, confrontive force to achieve all He gives faith for. That is, facing necessary resistance that brings what the Lord defines is success (His victory, cf. 1 Jn 5:4). Accordingly, faith (4102 /pístis) and 2480 (isxýō) are directly connected (Js 5:16). See 2479 (isxys).

Js 5:15,16 (Gk text): "¹⁵And the prayer characterized by faith (4102 /pístis) will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed sins with present effects, it will be forgiven him. ¹⁶Therefore, openly confess these sins to one another, and pray for the benefit of one another, for the purpose of being supernaturally healed. Very combative (engaging, overcoming, 2480 /isxýō) is the specific (urgent) request of a divinely-approved person who is energized (by God)."

[Here the believer seeks to make petitions (1162 /déēsis) in faith – i.e. which are in accord with God's inbirthings (the persuasion of His will).]

Word Origin
from ischus
Definition
to be strong, have power
NASB Translation
able (5), am...strong enough (1), been able (1), can (1), can do (1), could (8), force (1), good (1), healthy (2), means (1), overpowered (1), prevailing (1), strong enough (3), unable* (2).

STRONGS NT 2480: ἰσχύω

ἰσχύω; imperfect ἴσχυον; future ἰσχύσω; 1 aorist ἴσχυσα; (ἰσχύς); the Sept. for חָזַק, אָמֵץ, עָצַם, etc.; to be strong, i. e.:

1. to be strong in body, to be robust, to be in sound health: οἱ ἰσχύοντες, as a substantive, Matthew 9:12; Mark 2:17 (Sophocles Tr. 234; Xenophon, Cyril 6, 1, 24; joined with ὑγιαίνειν, id. mem. 2, 7, 7).

2. to have power (from Aeschylus down), i. e.

a. to have a power evinced in extraordinary deeds, i. e. to exert, wield, power: so of the gospel, Acts 19:20; Hebraistically, to have strength to overcome: οὐκ ἴσχυσαν (A. V. prevailed not i. e.) succumbed, were conquered (so יָכֹל לֹא, Genesis 32:26 (25)), Revelation 12:8; κατά τίνος, against one, i. e. to use one's strength against one, to treat him with violence, Acts 19:16.

b. equivalent to to be of force, avail (German gelten): Hebrews 9:17; τί, Galatians 5:6, and Rec. in Galatians 6:15.

c. to be serviceable: εἰς τί (A. V. good for), Matthew 5:13.

d. followed by an infinitive to be able, can: Matthew 8:28; Matthew 26:40; Mark 5:4; (Mark 9:18 (infinitive to be supplied)); Mark 14:37; Luke 6:48; Luke 8:43; (); ; John 21:6; Acts 6:10; Acts 15:10; Acts 25:7; Acts 27:16 (Plutarch, Pomp. 58). with the accusative, πάντα, Philippians 4:13; πολύ, James 5:16. (Compare: ἐνισχύω, ἐξισχύω, ἐπισχύω, κατισχύω.)

be able, prevail, be of strength

From ischus; to have (or exercise) force (literally or figuratively) -- be able, avail, can do(-not), could, be good, might, prevail, be of strength, be whole, + much work.

see GREEK ischus

ἐκτελέσαι ίσχυε ισχυει ισχύει ἰσχύει ισχυειν ισχύειν ἰσχύειν ισχυεν ίσχυεν ἴσχυεν ισχύετε ισχυκός ισχυκότες ισχυον ίσχυον ἴσχυον ισχύοντα ισχυοντες ισχύοντες ἰσχύοντες ισχύοντι ισχυοντος ισχύοντος ἰσχύοντος ισχύουσαν ίσχυσα ισχύσαι ισχυσαμεν ισχύσαμεν ἰσχύσαμεν ισχυσαν ίσχυσαν ἴσχυσαν ισχυσας ισχύσας ίσχυσας ἴσχυσας ισχυσατε ισχύσατε ἰσχύσατε ισχυσάτωσαν ίσχυσε ισχύσει ισχύσεις ισχυσεν ίσχυσεν ἴσχυσεν ισχύση ισχύσητε ισχυσουσιν ισχύσουσιν ἰσχύσουσιν ισχυω ισχύω ἰσχύω ισχύων ektelesai ischuei ischuein ischuen ischuo ischuō ischuon ischuontes ischuontos ischusamen ischusan ischusas ischusate ischusen ischusousin ischyei ischýei ischyein ischýein ischyen íschyen ischyo ischyō ischýo ischýō ischyon íschyon ischyontes ischýontes ischyontos ischýontos ischysamen ischýsamen ischysan íschysan ischysas íschysas ischysate ischýsate ischysen íschysen ischysousin ischýsousinInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts