Can (Canst, Could, Cannot) - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

Can (Canst, Could, Cannot)

[ 1,,G1410, dunamai ]
See ABILITY, B, No. 1.

[ 2,,G2480, ischuo ]
is translated I can do" in Philippians 4:13; See ABLE, B. No. 4.

[ 3,,G2192, echo ]
"to have," is translated "could" in Mark 14:8, lit., "she hath done what she had;" in Luke 14:14, for the AV, "cannot," the RV has "they have not wherewith;" in Acts 4:14, "could say nothing against" is, lit., "had nothing to say against;" in Hebrews 6:13, "he could swear" is, lit., "He had (by none greater) to swear." See ABLE, HAVE.

[ 4,,G1097, ginosko ]
"to know," is so rendered in the RV of Matthew 16:3, "ye know how to," for AV, "ye can" (dunamai is used in the next sentence). This verb represents knowledge as the effect of experience. In Acts 21:37, for "canst thou speak Greek?" the RV has "dost ..." See ALLOW, KNOW.

[ 5,,G1492, oida ]
"to know by perception," is the word in Pilate's remark "make it as sure as ye can" (marg. "sure, as ye know"), Matthew 27:65. The phrases "cannot tell," "canst not tell," etc. are in the RV rendered "know not," etc., Matthew 21:27; Mark 11:33; Luke 20:7; John 3:8; John 8:14; John 16:18; 2 Corinthians 12:2-3. See KNOW.

[ 6,,G1510, esti ]
meaning "it is," is translated "we cannot," in Hebrews 9:5, lit., "it is not possible (now to speak);" so in 1 Corinthians 11:20; See margin.

[ 7,,G1735, endechomai ]
"to accept, admit, allow of," is used impersonally in Luke 13:33, "it can (not) be," i.e., it is not admissible.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words