δύναμις π

δύναμις, εως, ἡ (Hom.+; loanw. in rabb.) gener. ‘capability’, with emphasis on function.

① potential for functioning in some way, power, might, strength, force, capability

ⓐ general, λαμβάνειν δ. receive power Ac 1:8 (cp. Epict. 1, 6, 28; 4, 1, 109; Tat. 16, 1 δραστικωτέρας δ.); ἰδίᾳ δ. by one’s own capability 3:12. Of kings τὴν δύναμιν καὶ ἐξουσίαν αὐτῶν τῷ θηρίῳ διδόασιν Rv 17:13 (cp. Just., A I, 17, 3 βασιλικῆς δ.).—Of God’s power (Nicol. Dam.: 90 Fgm. 66, 33 Jac. θεῶν δ., Diod S 1, 20, 6 τοῦ θεοῦ τὴν δύναμιν of Osiris’ function as benefactor to humanity; 5, 71, 6; 27, 12, 1; 34 + 35 Fgm. 28, 3; Dio Chrys. 11 [12], 70, 75; 84; 23 [40], 36; Herm. Wr. 14, 9 ὁ θεὸς …, ἡ [ᾧ v.l.] πᾶσα δύναμις τοῦ ποιεῖν πάντα; PGM 4, 641; 7, 582; 12, 250; LXX; Aristobulus in Eus., PE 13, 12, 4; 7 [Fgm. 4, ln. 22 p. 164; ln. 84 p. 172]; EpArist; Jos., Ant. 8, 109; 9, 15; SibOr 3, 72; Just., A I, 32, 11 al.) Mt 22:29; Mk 12:24; Lk 22:69; Ro 1:16, 20 (Jos., C. Ap. 2, 167 God is known through his δ.); 9:17 (Ex 9:16); 1 Cor 1:18, 24; 2:5; 6:14; 2 Cor 4:7; 6:7; 13:4; Eph 3:7; 2 Ti 1:8; 1 Pt 1:5; Rv 1:16; 11:17; 12:10; 15:8; cp. 2 Cor 12:9a; Rv 5:12; 1 Cl 11:2; 33:3; Dg 7:9; 9:1f; δ. ὑψίστου Lk 1:35. In doxology (1 Ch 29:11f; on the doxol. in the Lord’s Prayer HSchumaker, Cath. World 160, ’45, 342–49) Mt 6:13 v.l.; D 8:2; 9:4; 10:5. Cp. Rv 4:11; 7:12; 19:1.—IMg 3:1; ISm 1:1; Hv 3, 3, 5; m 5, 2, 1; PtK 2. Hence God is actually called δ. (Philo, Mos. 1, 111, Mut. Nom. 29; Ath. 16, 2) Mt 26:64; Mk 14:62 (cp. Wsd 1:3; 5:23 and Dalman, Worte 164f). Christ possesses a θεία δ. (this expr. in Aristot., Pol. 4 [7], 4, 1326a 32; PGM 12, 302 al.; s. Orig., C. Cels. 3, 40, 20 al.; Did., Gen. 60, 8; s. θεῖος 1a) 2 Pt 1:3; cp. 1:16 and 1 Cor 5:4; of Christ’s potential to achieve someth. through Paul 2 Cor 12:9b (cp. SEG XXXIV, 1308, 5f [50 B.C.–50 A.D.]). In Hs 9, 26, 8, the potential associated with the women in black leads to destruction. δ. leaves Christ at his death GPt 5:19 (s. LVaganay, L’Évangile de Pierre 1930, 108; 254ff). ἐν τῇ τοῦ κυρίου δ. AcPlCor 2:39.— Power of the Holy Spirit (Jos., Ant. 8, 408; Just., D. 87, 4f al.) Lk 4:14; Ac 1:8; Ro 15:13, 19 (ἐν δ. πν. [θεοῦ]); Hm 11:2, 5. ἐν ἀποδείξει πνεύματος καὶ δυνάμεως 1 Cor 2:4; cp. ἐγείρεται ἐν δ. 15:43, foll. by σῶμα πνευμάτικον. δυνάμει κραταιωθῆναι be strengthened in power (i.e. with ability to function) by the Spirit Eph 3:16. Hence the Spirit given the Christian can be called πνεῦμα δυνάμεως, i.e. in contrast to an unenterprising spirit, πνεῦμα δειλίας, God offers one that functions aggressively, 2 Ti 1:7; cp. 1 Pt 4:14 v.l.; AcPl Ha 8, 25/BMM 32f/Ox 1602, 39. The believers are ἐν πάσῃ δ. δυναμούμενοι equipped w. all power Col 1:11; cp. Eph 1:19; 3:20 (for Eph 1:19 cp. 1QH 14:23; 11:29 al.; for Eph 3:16, 6:10 cp. 1QH 7:17, 19; 12:35; 1QM 10:5; see KKuhn, NTS 7, ’61, 336); esp. the apostles and other people of God Lk 24:49; Ac 4:33; 6:8; cp. AcPl Ha 6, 21. ἐν πνεύματι καὶ δ. Ἠλίου Lk 1:17.—Of the devil’s destructive capability Lk 10:19; cp. Rv 13:2. ἡ δύναμις τῆς ἁμαρτίας ὁ νόμος what gives sin its power to function is the law 1 Cor 15:56.

ⓑ specif., the power that works wonders (SEG VIII, 551, 39 [I B.C.]; POxy 1381, 206ff; PGM 4, 2449; 12, 260ff; Just., D. 49, 8 κρυφία δ.; s. JZingerle, Heiliges Recht 1926, 10f; JRöhr, D. okkulte Kraftbegriff im Altertum 1923, 14f) Mt 14:2; Mk 6:14; Hv 1, 3, 4. ἔχρισεν αὐτὸν ὁ θεός δυνάμει (God endowed him to perform miracles) Ac 10:38 (Dio Chrys. 66 [16], 10 of Jason: χρισάμενος δυνάμει τινί, λαβὼν παρὰ τῆς Μηδείας; Diod S 4, 51, 1 τ. τρίχας δυνάμεσί τισι χρίσασα=she anointed her hair with certain potions; 4, 51, 4; 17, 103, 4 ὁ σίδηρος κεχριμένος ἦν φαρμάκου δυνάμει=with a poisonous potion. Diod S 1, 97, 7 a powerful medium=φάρμακον; s. ἐξουσία 7; also RAC II 415–58). τὴν ἐξ αὐτοῦ δ. ἐξελθοῦσαν potency emanated from him Mk 5:30; cp. Lk 8:46; δ. παρʼ αὐτοῦ ἐξήρχετο 6:19; cp. 5:17; perh. also (but s. 3 below) Gal 3:5; 1 Cor 12:28f (on the pl. δυνάμεις s. X., Cyr. 8, 8, 14; Herm. Wr. 13, 8 al.; on this ADieterich, E. Mithraslit. 1903, 46f; cp. PKöhn VI, 245, 18 Athena; for parallels and lit. s. Ptocheia [=ASP 31] ’91, 55). ἐν δ. with power, powerful(ly) (TestJob 47:9; Synes., Ep. 90 p. 230d τοὺς ἐν δ.) Mk 9:1; Ro 1:4; Col 1:29; 2 Th 1:11; μετὰ δυνάμεως Mt 24:30; Mk 13:26; Lk 21:27.—κατὰ δύναμιν w. gen. (Lucian, Imag. 3) by the power of Hb 7:16. Hebraist.=δυνατός (but readily understood in the Greek world as a defining gen., e.g. λόγου ἄνοια=vocal frenzy Soph. Antig. 603; s. Judg 3:29; 20:46 [ἄνδρες δυνάμεως B =ἄνδρες δυνατοί A]; Wsd 5:23): τῷ ῥήματι τῆς δ. αὐτοῦ by his powerful word 1:3; μετʼ ἀγγέλων δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ w. messengers of his power i.e. angels who exercise Jesus’ power 2 Th 1:7 (unless this is to be rendered with KJV et al. his mighty angels) (cp. En 20:1; GrBar 1:8; 2:6); μὴ ἔχων δ. powerless Hv 3, 11, 2; m 9:12. ἰσχυρὰν δ. ἔχειν be very powerful m 5, 2, 3; cp. 9:11; ἐν ποίᾳ δ.; by what power? (s. under 5) Ac 4:7. ὕψος δυνάμεως pride in (one’s) power B 20:1.—Effectiveness in contrast to mere word or appearance 1 Cor 4:19f; 1 Th 1:5. ἔχοντες μόρφωσιν εὐσεβείας, τὴν δὲ δύναμιν αὐτῆς ἠρνημένοι they have the outward appearance of piety, but deny its function 2 Ti 3:5 (cp. Jos., Ant. 13, 409 τὸ ὄνομα τ. βασιλείας εἶχεν, τ. δὲ δύναμιν οἱ Φαρισαῖοι=[Alexandra] bore the title queen, but the Pharisees were in control). δ. πίστεως the power of faith in contrast to verbal profession IEph 14:2. Sim. δ. w. ἐξουσία (Dio Chrys. 11 [12], 65) potent authority i.e. the word of Jesus is not only authoritative but functions effectively ἐν ἐξουσίᾳ, for the unclean spirits depart Lk 4:36; 9:1.—W. ἰσχύς 2 Pt 2:11 (Ath. 24, 2); w. ἐνέργεια Hm 6, 1, 1 (cp. Galen X, 635); τὴν δ. τῆς ἀναστάσεως the effectiveness of his (Christ’s) resurrection, which brings about the resurrection of the believers Phil 3:10.—Of the peculiar power inherent in a thing (of the healing power of medicines since Hippocr.; cp. Diod S 1, 20, 4; 1, 97, 7; 17, 103, 4; Plut., Mor. 157d al.; Dio Chrys. 25 [42], 3; Galen, Comp. Med. XIII 707 K.). δ. πυρός Hb 11:34 (Diod S 15, 50, 3 δ. τοῦ φωτός=the intensity of the light).

② ability to carry out someth., ability, capability (cp. Democrit, Fgm. B 234; Pla., Philb. 58d; cp. Aristot., Metaph. 4, 12, 1019a 26; Epict. 2, 23, 34; 4 Km 18:20; Ruth 3:11; Jos., Ant. 10, 54; Just., D. 4, 1) δύναμιν εἰς καταβολὴν σπέρματος Hb 11:11 (s. entry καταβολή). κατὰ δύναμιν according to ability (Diod S 14, 81, 6 v.l.; SIG 695, 9; 44 [129 B.C.]; PGM 4, 650; POxy 1273, 24; BGU 1050, 14; Sir 29:20; Jos., Ant. 3, 102; Just., A II, 13, 6; also ὅση δ. A I, 13, 1; 55, 8 al.; ὡς δ. μου D. 80, 5) 2 Cor 8:3a; ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὴν ἰδίαν δ. to each according to his special capability (cp. SIG 695, 55) Mt 25:15; AcPl Ha 7, 17. Opp. beyond one’s ability ὑπὲρ δύναμιν (Demosth. 18, 193; Appian, Bell. Civ. 2, 1 §3; 2, 13 §49; POxy 282, 8; Sir 8:13) 2 Cor 1:8 or παρὰ δ. (Thu. 3, 54, 4; PPetr II, 3b, 2 [III B.C.]; POxy 1418, 3; Jos., Ant. 14, 378) 8:3b.

③ a deed that exhibits ability to function powerfully, deed of power, miracle, wonder (Ael. Aristid. 40, 12 K.=5 p. 59 D.: δυνάμεις ἐμφανεῖς; 42, 4 K.=6 p. 64 D. al.; Eutecnius 4 p. 41, 13; POxy 1381, 42; 90f τ. δυνάμεις ἀπαγγέλλειν; Steinleitner, nos. 3, 7f and 17; 8, 10 [restored] al.; Ps 117:15; Just., A I, 26, 22 al.) w. σημεῖα 2 Th 2:9; also in pl. Ac 2:22; 2 Cor 12:12; Hb 2:4; in this sense δ. stands mostly in pl. δυνάμεις Mt 7:22; 11:20f, 23; 13:54, 58; Mk 6:2; 9:39; Lk 10:13; 19:37; Ac 8:13; 19:11; 1 Cor 12:10, 28f; Gal 3:5 (on the two last pass. s. 1b above); Hb 6:5. Sg. Mk 6:5.

④ someth. that serves as an adjunct of power, resource μικρὰν ἔχειν δ. have few resources Rv 3:8. Also wealth (X., An. 7, 7, 36, Cyr. 8, 4, 34; Dt 8:17f) ἐκ τῆς δ. τοῦ στρήνους fr. the excessive wealth Rv 18:3. Esp. of military forces (Hdt. et al. very oft.; cp. OGI ind. VIII; LXX; Jos., Ant. 18, 262; Just., D 131, 3), even of the heavenly bodies thought of as armies δ. τῶν οὐρανῶν the armies of heaven (Is 34:4 v.l.; 4 Km 17:16; Da 8:10 Theod.; En 18:14) Mt 24:29; Lk 21:26; cp. Mk 13:25.

⑤ an entity or being, whether human or transcendent, that functions in a remarkable manner, power as a personal transcendent spirit or heavenly agent/angel ([cp. Pla., Crat. 438c] Aristot., Met. 4, 12, 1019a, 26 divinities δυνάμεις [likewise TestAbr A 14 p. 94, 21=Stone p. 36] λέγονται; Eth. Epic. col. 9, 16, w. θεοι; Porphyr., Abst. 2, 2 p. 133 Nauck δαίμοσιν ἢ θεοῖς ἤ τισι δυνάμεσιν θῦσαι; Sallust. 15 p. 28, 15 αἱ ἄνω δυνάμεις; Herm. Wr. 1, 26; 13, 15; Synes., Ep. 57 p. 191b; PGM 4, 3051; 4 Macc 5:13; Philo, Conf. Lingu. 171, Mut. Nom. 59) Ro 8:38; 1 Cor 15:24; Eph 1:21; 1 Pt 3:22; αἱ δ. τοῦ σατανᾶ IEph 13:1. (Cp. αἱ πονηραὶ δ., διάβολος καὶ οἱ ἄγγελοι αὐτοῦ Did., Gen. 45, 4.) θεὸς ἀγγέλων καὶ δ. MPol 14:1 (cp. the ins in FCumont, Étud. syr. 1917, p. 321, 5 ὁ θεὸς τ. δυνάμεων=BCH 26, 1902, 176; Just., D. 85, 6 ἄγγελοι … καὶ δ.)—Desig. of a personal divine being as a power (i.e. an effective intermediary or expression; s. DDD 509–16) of the most high God (Ael. Aristid. 37, 28 K.=2 p. 27 D.: Athena as δ. τοῦ Διός; Just., A I, 14, 5 δ. θεοῦ ὁ λόγος αὐτοῦ ἦν; cp. 23, 2; Tat. 5, 1) οὗτός ἐστιν ἡ δύναμις τοῦ θεοῦ ἡ καλουμένη μεγάλη this man is what is called the Great Power of God Ac 8:10 (cp. ins of Saïttaï in Lydia εἷς θεὸς ἐν οὐρανοῖς μέγας Μὴν οὐράνιος, μεγάλη δύναμις τοῦ ἀθανάτου θεοῦ: ILydiaKP 110; PGM 4, 1275ff ἐπικαλοῦμαί σε τὴν μεγίστην δύναμιν τὴν ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ὑπὸ κυρίου θεοῦ τεταγμένην. S. New Docs 1, 107. Cp. HKippenberg, Garizim u. Synagoge: RVV ’71, 122–24.—GWetter, ‘D. Sohn Gottes’ 1916, 8f; WSpiegelberg, Die ägypt. Gottheit der ‘Gotteskraft’: Ztschr. f. äg. Sprache 57, 1922, 145ff; FPreisigke, D. Gotteskraft der frühchristl. Zeit 1922).

⑥ the capacity to convey thought, meaning (Pla., Crat. 394b; Polyb. 20, 9, 11; Dionys. Hal. 1, 68; Dio Chrys. 19 [36], 19; Cass. Dio 55, 3; Philo, Congr. Erud. Gr. 125; Just., D. 125, 1 ἡ δ. τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ ὀνόματος; 138, 1 ὀγδόης ἡμέρας … δυνάμει … πρώτης) of language 1 Cor 14:11; of stones Hv 3, 4, 3; cp. 3, 8, 6f.—OSchmitz, D. Begriff δ. bei Pls: ADeissmann Festschr. 1927, 139–67; WGrundmann, D. Begriff d. Kraft in d. ntl. Gedankenwelt ’32; Dodd 16–20; EFascher, Dynamis Theou: ZTK n. s. 19, ’38, 82–108; LBieler, Δύναμις u. ἐξουσία: Wiener Studien 55, ’38, 182–90; AForster, The Mng. of Power for St. Paul, ATR 32, ’50, 177–85; MBarré, CBQ 42, ’80, 216–27 (contrast w. ‘weakness’ in Qumran lit.)—DELG. Lampe s.v. δύναμις VI B and VII. RAC IV 441–51. EDNT. M-M. TW.

δῠνᾰμις (-ις, -ιν)

δύνᾰμις [ῠ], ἡ, gen. εως, [dialect] Ion. ιος, [dialect] Ion. dat. δυνάμι: ([etym.] δύναμαι):—

A power, might, in Hom., esp. of bodily strength,

εἴ μοι δ. γε παρείη Od. 2.62

, cf. Il.8.294;

οἵη ἐμὴ δ. καὶ χεῖρες Od.20.237

;

ἡ δ. τῶν νέων Antipho 4.3.2

, etc.: generally, strength, power, ability to do anything, πὰρ δύναμιν beyond one's strength, Il.13.787; in Prose,

παρὰ δ. τολμηταί Th.1.70

, etc.;

ὑπὲρ δ. D.18.193

; opp. κατὰ δ. as far as lies in one, Hdt.3.142, etc. (

κὰδ δ. Hes.Op. 336

);

εἰς δύναμιν Cratin. 172

, Pl.R. 458e, etc.;

πρὸς τὴν δ. Id.Phdr. 231a

.

2 outward power, influence, authority, A.Pers. 174 (anap.), Ag. 779 (lyr.);

καταπαύσαντα τὴν Κύρου δ. Hdt.1.90

;

δυνάμει προὔχοντες Th.7.21

, etc.; ἐν δ. εἶναι, γενέσθαι, X.HG4.4.5, D.13.29.

3 force for war, forces,

δ. ἀνδρῶν Hdt.5.100

, cf. Pl.Mx. 240d, Plb.1.41.2, LXX Ge.21.22, OGI139.8 (ii B. C.); μετὰ δυνάμεων ἱκανῶν Wilcken Chr.10 (ii B. C.), etc.;

δ. καὶ πεζὴ καὶ ἱππικὴ καὶ ναυτική X.An.1.3.12

; πέντε δυνάμεσι πεφρουρημένον, of the five projecting rows of sarissae in the phalanx, Ascl.Tact.5.2,al.

4 a power, quantity,

χρημάτων δ. Hdt.7.9

.ά.

5 means,

κατὰ δύναμιν Arist.EE 1243b12

; opp. παρὰ δ., 2 Ep.Cor.8.3;

κατὰ δ. τῶν ὑπαρχόντων BGU1051.17

(Aug.).

II power, faculty, capacity,

αἱ ἀμφὶ τὸ σῶμα δ. Hp.VM14

;

αἱ τοῦ σώματος δυνάμεις Pl.Tht. 185e

;

ἡ τῆς ὄψεως δ. Id.R. 532a

;

ἡ τῶν λεγόντων δ. D.22.11

: c. gen. rei, capacity for,

τῶν ἔργων Arist.Pol. 1309a35

;

τοῦ λέγειν Id.Rh. 1362b22

; τοῦ λόγου, τῶν λόγων, Men.578, Alex.94;

δ. στρατηγική Plb.1.84.6

;

δ. ἐν πραγματείᾳ Id.2.56.5

;

δ. συνθετική D.H.Comp.2

: abs., any natural capacity or faculty, that may be improved and may be used for good or ill, Arist.Top. 126a37, cf. MM 1183b28.

2 elementary force, such as heat, cold, etc., Hp.VM16, Arist.PA 646a14; ἡ τοῦ θερμοῦ δ.ib. 650a5;

θερμαντικὴ δ. Epicur.Fr.60

, cf. Polystr.p.23 W.

b property, quality,

ἰδίην δύναμιν καὶ φύσιν ἔχειν Hp.VM13

, cf. Nat.Hom.5, Vict.1.10; esp. of the natural properties of plants, etc., αἱ δ. τῶν φυομένων, τῶν σπερμάτων, X.Cyr.8.8.14, Thphr.HP8.11.1; productive power,

τῆς γῆς Id.Oec.16.4

;

μετάλλων Id.Vect.4.1

: generally, function, faculty, δύναμις φυσική, ζωική, ψυχική, Gal.10.635; περὶ φυσικῶν δ., title of work by Galen.

c in pl., agencies, ὑπάρχειν ἐν τῇ φύσει τὰς τοιαύτας δυνάμεις (sc. the gods) Polystr.p.10 W.

d function, meaning, of part in whole, Id.p.17 W.

e in Music, function, value, of a note in the scale,

δ. ἐστι τάξις φθόγγου ἐν συστήματι Cleonid.Harm.14

, cf. Aristox.Harm.p.69M.; μέση κατὰ δύναμιν, opp. κατὰ θέσιν, Ptol. Harm.2.5.

3 faculty, art, or craft, Pl.R. 532d, Arist.Metaph. 1018a30, EN 1094a10, Arr.Epict.1.1.1; δ. σκεπτική the doctrine of the Sceptics, S.E.M.7.1.

4 a medicine, Timostr.7, etc.;

δ. ἁπλαῖ Hp.Decent.9

, Aret.CD1.4, etc.;

δ. πολυφάρμακοι Plu.2.403c

, Gal.13.365: in pl., collection of formulae or prescriptions, Orib.10.33.

b action of medicines, περὶ τῆς ἁπλῶν φαρμάκων δ., title of work by Galen; also, potency, δυνάμει θερμά, ψυχρά, Id.1.672, al.

5 magically potent substance or object, PMag.Leid.V.8.12: in pl., magical powers, Hld.4.7.

III force or meaning of a word, Lys.10.7, Pl. Cra. 394b, Diog.Oen.12, Phld.Sign.31, etc.

b phonetic value of sounds or letters, Plb.10.47.8, D.H.Comp.12, Luc.Jud.Voc.5, etc.

2 worth or value of money, Th.6.46,2.97, Plu.Lyc.9, Sol. 15.

IV capability of existing or acting, potentiality, opp. actuality ([etym.] ἐνέργεια), Arist.Metaph. 1047b31, 1051a5, etc.: hence δυνάμει as Adv., virtually,

ὕστερον ὂν τῇ τάξει, πρότερον τῇ δυνάμει.. ἐστί D.3.15

; opp. ἐνεργείᾳ, Arist.APo. 86a28, al.; opp. ἐντελεχείᾳ, Id.Ph. 193b8, al.

V Math., power,

κατὰ μεταφορὰν ἡ ἐν γεωμετρίᾳ λέγεται δ. Id.Metaph. 1019b33

; usu. second power, square, κατὰ δύναμιν in square, Pl.Ti. 54b, cf. Theol.Ar.11, etc.: chiefly in dat., [εὐθεῖα] δυνάμει ἴση a line the square on which is equal to an area, ἡ BA ἐλάσσων ἐστὶν ἢ διπλασίων δυνάμει τῆς AK the square on BA is less than double of the square on AK, Archim.Sph.Cyl.2.9: εὐθεῖαι δ. σύμμετροι commensurable in square, Euc.10Def.2; ἡ δυνάμει δεκάς the series 12 + 22... + 102, Theol.Ar.64.

b square number, Pl.Ti. 32a.

c square of an unknown quantity (x2), Dioph.Def.2, al.

2 square root of a number which is not a perfect square, surd, opp. μῆκος, Pl. Tht. 147d.

3 product of two numbers, ἡ ἀμφοῖν (sc. τριάδος καὶ δυάδος)

δ. ἑξάς Ph.1.3

, cf. Iamb.in Nic.p.108 P.; δυνάμει in product, Hero Metr.1.15, Theol.Ar.33.

VI concrete, powers, esp. of divine beings,

αἱ δ. τῶν οὐρανῶν LXX Is.34.4

, cf. 1 Ep.Pet.3.22, al., Ph.1.587, Corp.Herm.1.26, Porph.Abst.2.34: sg., Act.Ap.8.10, PMag.Par.1.1275; πολυώνυμος δ., of God, Secund.Sent.3.

VII manifestation of divine power, miracle, Ev.Matt.11.21, al., Buresch Aus Lydien 113, etc.

δύναμις

power: fem nom sg

δυνάμῑς, δύναμις

power: fem acc pl (epic doric ionic aeolic)

-εως ⁺ ἡ N 3 76-150-63-112-189=590 Gn 21,22.32; 26,26; Ex 6,26; 7,4

power, might, strength Dt 6,5; ability Dt 16,17; outward power, influence, authority Jos 4,24; force for war, army, host Gn 21,22; power, heavenly host 2 Chr 18,18; power, personal supernatural spirit or angel 4 Mc 5,13

υἱοὶ δυνάμεων mighty men 1 Sm 10,26

*2 Sm 23,36 ἀπὸ δυνάμεως of the army-צבא/מ for MT צבה/מ from Zobah; *Jb 11,6 δύναμιν power -עלם^I for MT תעלמות עלם^II secrets, see also 28,11; *Jb 40,10 δύναμιν power-גבורה for MT גבה height, eminence; *Ct 2,7 δυνάμεσι the powers, the hosts-צבאות צבא for MT צבאות צביא gazelle, see also Ct 3,5;

*Dn^Th 8,9 τὴν δύναμιν the host-צבא for MT צבי the fairest (of all lands)

Cf. LARCHER 1983, 171-172; SCHOLTISSEK 1993, 81-85; TOV 1976b, 531-532; WEVERS 1990, 132;

→NIDNTT; TWNT

δύναμις

power: fem nom /voc /acc dual (attic epic)

δυνάμεϊ, δύναμις

power: fem dat sg (epic)

δύναμις

power: fem dat sg (attic ionic)

δύναμις

power: fem nom /voc pl (attic epic)

δύναμις

power: fem nom /acc pl (attic)

δύναμις

power: fem gen pl (epic doric ionic aeolic)

δύναμις

power: fem nom /voc /acc dual (epic ionic)

δύναμις

power: fem dat pl

δύναμις

power: fem dat pl

δύναμις

power: fem nom /voc /acc dual (doric aeolic)

δύναμις

power: fem acc pl (epic doric ionic aeolic)

δύναμις

power: fem nom /voc pl (epic doric ionic aeolic)

δύναμις

power: fem gen sg (epic doric ionic aeolic)

δύναμις

power: fem acc sg

μέγας, μεγάλη, μέγα (Hom.+) comp. μείζων and beside it, because of the gradual disappearance of feeling for its comp. sense, μειζότερος 3J 4 (APF 3, 1906, 173; POxy 131, 25; BGU 368, 9; ApcSed 1:5 [cp. J 15:13]; s. B-D-F §61, 2; W-S. §11, 4; Mlt-H. 166; Gignac II 158). Superl. μέγιστος (2 Pt 1:4).

① pert. to exceeding a standard involving related objects, large, great

ⓐ of any extension in space in all directions λίθος Mt 27:60; Mk 16:4. δένδρον Lk 13:19 v.l. (TestAbr B 3 p. 107, 6 [Stone p. 62]). κλάδοι Mk 4:32. Buildings 13:2. Fish J 21:11. A mountain (Tyrtaeus [VII B.C.], Fgm. 4, 8 D.²; Ps.-Aristot., Mirabilia 138; Theopomp. [IV B.C.]: 115 Fgm. 78 Jac.) Rv 8:8. A star vs. 10. A furnace 9:2 (ParJer 6:23). A dragon (Esth 1:1e; Bel 23 Theod.) 12:3, 9. ἀετός (Ezk 17:3; ParJer 7:18 [RHarris; om. Kraft-Purintun]) vs. 14. μάχαιρα a long sword 6:4. ἅλυσις a long chain 20:1. πέλαγος AcPl Ha 7, 23 (first hand).

ⓑ with suggestion of spaciousness ἀνάγαιον a spacious room upstairs Mk 14:15; Lk 22:12. θύρα a wide door 1 Cor 16:9. A winepress Rv 14:19 (ληνός μ. ‘trough’ JosAs 2:20); χάσμα a broad chasm (2 Km 18:17) Lk 16:26. οἰκία (Jer 52:13) 2 Ti 2:20.

ⓒ with words that include the idea of number ἀγέλη μ. a large herd Mk 5:11. δεῖπνον a great banquet, w. many invited guests (Da 5:1 Theod.; JosAs 3:6) Lk 14:16. Also δοχὴ μ. (Gen 21:8) Lk 5:29; GJs 6:2.

ⓓ of age (Jos., Ant. 12, 207 μικρὸς ἢ μέγας=‘young or old’); to include all concerned μικροὶ καὶ μεγάλοι small and great (PGM 15, 18) Rv 11:18; 13:16; 19:5, 18; 20:12. μικρῷ τε καὶ μεγάλῳ Ac 26:22. ἀπὸ μικροῦ ἕως μεγάλου (Gen 19:11; 4 Km 23:2; 2 Ch 34:30; POxy 1350) 8:10; Hb 8:11 (Jer 38:34). μέγας γενόμενος when he was grown up 11:24 (Ex 2:11). ὁ μείζων the older (O. Wilck II, 144, 3 [128 A.D.]; 213, 3; 1199, 2; LXX; cp. Polyb. 18, 18, 9 Σκιπίων ὁ μέγας; 32, 12, 1) Ro 9:12; 13:2 (both Gen 25:23).

② pert. to being above average in quantity, great πορισμός a great means of gain 1 Ti 6:6. μισθαποδοσία rich reward Hb 10:35.

③ pert. to being above standard in intensity, great δύναμις Ac 4:33; 19:8 D. Esp. of sound: loud φωνή Mk 15:37; Lk 17:15; Rv 1:10; φωνῇ μεγάλῃ (LXX; TestAbr A 5 p. 82, 20f [Stone p. 12]; ParJer 2:2; ApcMos 5:21) Mt 27:46, 50; Mk 1:26; 5:7; 15:34; Lk 4:33; 8:28; 19:37; 23:23 (Φωναῖς μεγάλαις), 46; J 11:43; Ac 7:57, 60; 8:7; Rv 5:12; 6:10 al.; μεγ. φωνῇ (ParJer 5:32); Ac 14:10; 16:28; μεγ. τῇ φωνῇ (ParJer 9:8; Jos., Bell. 6, 188) 14:10 v.l.; 26:24; ἐν φωνῇ μ. Rv 5:2. μετὰ σάλπιγγος μεγάλης with a loud trumpet call Mt 24:31. κραυγή (Ex 11:6; 12:30) Lk 1:42; Ac 23:9; cp. μεῖζον κράζειν cry out all the more Mt 20:31. κοπετός (Gen 50:10) Ac 8:2.—Of natural phenomena: ἄνεμος μ. a strong wind J 6:18; Rv 6:13. λαῖλαψ μ. (Jer 32:32) Mk 4:37. βροντή (Sir 40:13) Rv 14:2. χάλαζα Rv 11:19; 16:21a. χάλαζα λίαν μ. σφόδρα AcPl Ha 5, 7. σεισμὸς μ. (Jer 10:22; Ezk 3:12; 38:19; Jos., Ant. 9, 225) Mt 8:24; 28:2; Lk 21:11a; Ac 16:26. γαλήνη μ. a deep calm Mt 8:26; Mk 4:39; φῶς μ. a bright light (JosAs 6:3; ParJer 9:18 [16]; Plut., Mor. 567f: a divine voice sounds forth from this light; Petosiris, Fgm. 7, ln. 39 τὸ ἱερὸν ἄστρον μέγα ποιοῦν φῶς) Mt 4:16a; GJs 19:2 (Is 9:1). καῦμα μ. intense heat Rv 16:9 (JosAs 3:3).—Of surprising or unpleasant events or phenomena of the most diverse kinds (ἀπώλεια Dt 7:23; θάνατος Ex 9:3; Jer 21:6; κακόν Philo, Agr. 47) σημεῖα (Dt 6:22; 29:2) Mt 24:24; Lk 21:11b; Ac 6:8. δυνάμεις 8:13. ἔργα μ. mighty deeds (cp. Judg 2:7) Rv 15:3. μείζω τούτων greater things than these J 1:50 (μείζονα v.l.); cp. 5:20; 14:12. διωγμὸς μ. a severe persecution Ac 8:1; θλῖψις μ. (a time of) great suffering (1 Macc 9:27) Mt 24:21; Ac 7:11; Rv 2:22; 7:14. πειρασμός AcPl Ha 8, 22. πληγή (Judg 15:8; 1 Km 4:10, 17 al.; TestReub 1:7; TestSim 8:4; Philo, Sacr. Abel. 134) 16:21b. θόρυβος GJs 21:1; AcPl Ha 1, 28f (restored, s. AcPlTh [Aa I 258, 6]) λιμὸς μ. (4 Km 6:25; 1 Macc 9:24) Lk 4:25; Ac 11:28; ἀνάγκη μ. Lk 21:23; πυρετὸς μ. a high fever (s. πυρετός) 4:38.—Of emotions: χαρά great joy (Jon 4:6; JosAs 3:4; 4:2 al.; Jos., Ant. 12, 91) Mt 2:10; 28:8; Lk 2:10; 24:52. φόβος great fear (X., Cyr. 4, 2, 10; Menand., Fgm. 388 Kö.; Jon 1:10, 16; 1 Macc 10:8; TestAbr B 13 p. 117, 18 [Stone p. 82]; JosAs 6:1; GrBar 7:5) Mk 4:41; Lk 2:9; 8:37; Ac 5:5, 11; AcPl Ha 3, 33. θυμὸς μ. fierce anger (1 Macc 7:35) Rv 12:12. μείζων ἀγάπη greater love J 15:13. λύπη profound (Jon 4:1; 1 Macc 6:4, 9, 13; TestJob 7:8) Ro 9:2. σκυθρωπία AcPl Ha 7, 36. πίστις firm Mt 15:28. ἔκστασις (cp. Gen 27:33; ParJer 5:8, 12) Mk 5:42.

④ pert. to being relatively superior in importance, great

ⓐ of rational entities: of God and other deities θεός (SIG 985, 34 θεοὶ μεγάλοι [LBlock, Megaloi Theoi: Roscher II 2523–28, 2536–40; SCole, Theoi Megaloi, The Cult of the Great Gods at Samothrace ’84]; 1237, 5 ὀργὴ μεγάλη τ. μεγάλου Διός; OGI 50, 7; 168, 6; 716, 1; PStras 81, 14 [115 B.C.] Ἴσιδος μεγάλης μητρὸς θεῶν; POxy 886, 1; PTebt 409, 11; 22 ὁ θεὸς μ. Σάραπις, al.; PGM 4, 155; 482; 778 and oft.; 3052 μέγ. θεὸς Σαβαώθ; 5, 474; Dt 10:17 al. in LXX; En 103:4; 104:1; Philo, Cher. 29 al.; Jos., Ant. 8, 319; SibOr 3, 19; 71 al.—Thieme 36f) Tit 2:13 (Christ is meant). Ἄρτεμις (q.v.) Ac 19:27f, 34f (cp. Ael. Aristid. 48, 21 K.=24 p. 471 D. the outcry: μέγας ὁ Ἀσκληπιός); s. New Docs 1, 106 on this epithet in ref. to deities. Simon the magician is called ἡ δύναμις τ. θεοῦ ἡ καλουμένη μεγάλη Ac 8:10b (s. δύναμις 5). The angel Michael Hs 8, 3, 3; cp. 8, 4, 1.—Of people who stand in relation to the Divinity or are otherw. in high position: ἀρχιερεύς (s. ἀρχιερεύς 2a and ἱερεύς aβ.—ἀρχ. μέγ. is also the appellation of the priest-prince of Olba [s. PECS 641f] in Cilicia: MAMA III ’31 p. 67, ins 63; 64 [I B.C.]) Hb 4:14. προφήτης (Sir 48:22) Lk 7:16. ποιμήν Hb 13:20. Gener. of rulers: οἱ μεγάλοι the great ones, those in high position Mt 20:25; Mk 10:42. Of people prominent for any reason Mt 5:19; 20:26; Mk 10:43; Lk 1:15, 32; Ac 5:36 D; 8:9 (MSmith, HWolfson Festschr., ’65, 741: μ. here and Lk 1:32 may imply a messianic claim).—μέγας in the superl. sense (2 Km 7:9.—The positive also stands for the superl., e.g. Sallust. 4 p. 6, 14, where Paris calls Aphrodite καλή=the most beautiful. Diod S 17, 70, 1 πολεμία τῶν πόλεων=the most hostile [or especially hostile] among the cities) Lk 9:48 (opp. ὁ μικρότερος).—Comp. μείζων greater of God (Ael. Aristid. 27, 3 K.=16 p. 382 D.; PGM 13, 689 ἐπικαλοῦμαί σε, τὸν πάντων μείζονα) J 14:28; Hb 6:13; 1J 3:20; 4:4. More prominent or outstanding because of certain advantages Mt 11:11; Lk 7:28; 22:26f; J 4:12; 8:53; 13:16ab; 1 Cor 14:5. More closely defined: ἰσχύϊ καὶ δυνάμει μείζων greater in power and might 2 Pt 2:11. μεῖζον τοῦ ἱεροῦ someth. greater than the temple Mt 12:6. μείζων with superl. mng. (Ps.-Apollod., Epit. 7, 8 Wagner: Ὀδυσσεὺς τρεῖς κριοὺς ὁμοῦ συνδέων … καὶ αὐτὸς τῷ μείζονι ὑποδύς; Appian, Bell. Civ. 2, 87 §366 ἐν παρασκευῇ μείζονι= in the greatest preparation; Vett. Val. 62, 24; TestJob 3:1 ἐν μείζονι φωτί) Mt 18:1, 4; 23:11; Mk 9:34; Lk 9:46; 22:24, 26.

ⓑ of things: great, sublime, important μυστήριον (GrBar 1:6; 2:6; ApcMos 34; Philo, Leg. All. 3, 100 al.; Just., A I, 27, 4) Eph 5:32; 1 Ti 3:16. Of the sabbath day that begins a festival period J 19:31; MPol 8:1b. Esp. of the day of the divine judgment (LXX; En 22:4; ApcEsdr 3:3 p. 27, 7 Tdf.; Just., D. 49, 2 al.; cp. TestAbr A 13 p. 92, 11 [Stone p. 32]) Ac 2:20 (Jo 3:4); Jd 6; Rv 6:17; 16:14. Of Paul’s superb instructional ability μ̣ε̣γάλῃ καθ̣[ηγήσει] AcPl Ha 6, 30f.—μέγας in the superl. sense (Plut., Mor. 35a w. πρῶτος; Himerius, Or. 14 [Ecl. 15], 3 μέγας=greatest, really great; B-D-F §245, 2; s. Rob. 669) ἐντολή Mt 22:36, 38. ἡμέρα ἡ μ. τῆς ἑορτῆς the great day of the festival J 7:37 (cp. Lucian, Pseudolog. 8 ἡ μεγάλη νουμηνία [at the beginning of the year]); Mel., P. 79, 579; 92, 694 ἐν τῇ μ. ἐορτῇ; GJs 1:2; 2:2 (s. deStrycker on 1:2). Of Mary’s day of parturition ὡς μεγάλη ἡ σήμερον ἡμέρα what a great day this is GJs 19:2. μείζων as comp. (Chion, Ep. 16, 8 philosophy as νόμος μείζων=higher law; Sir 10:24) J 5:36; 1J 5:9. μ. ἁμαρτία J 19:11 (cp. schol. on Pla. 189d ἁμαρτήματα μεγάλα; Ex 32:30f). τὰ χαρίσματα τὰ μείζονα the more important spiritual gifts (in the sense Paul gave the word) 1 Cor 12:31. As a superl. (Epict. 3, 24, 93; Stephan. Byz. s.v. Ὕβλαι: the largest of three cities is ἡ μείζων [followed by ἡ ἐλάττων, and finally ἡ μικρά=the smallest]. The comparative also performs the function of the superlative, e.g. Diod S 20, 22, 2, where πρεσβύτερος is the oldest of 3 men) Mt 13:32; 1 Cor 13:13 (by means of the superl. μ. Paul singles out from the triad the one quality that interests him most in this connection, just as Ael. Aristid. 45, 16 K. by means of αὐτός at the end of the θεοί singles out Sarapis, the only one that affects him).—The superl. μέγιστος, at times used by contemporary authors, occurs only once in the NT, where it is used in the elative sense very great, extraordinary (Diod S 2, 32, 1) ἐπαγγέλματα 2 Pt 1:4.—On the adv. usage Ac 26:29 s. ὀλίγος 2bβ.—Neut. pl. μεγάλα ποιεῖν τινι do great things for someone Lk 1:49 (cp. Dt 10:21). λαλεῖν μεγάλα καὶ βλασφημίας utter proud words and blasphemies Rv 13:5 (Da 7:8; cp. En 101:3). ἐποίει μεγ̣[ά]λα καὶ [θα]υ̣[μά]σ̣ι̣α̣ (Just., A I, 62, 4) (Christ) proceeded to perform great and marvelous deeds AcPl Ha 8, 33/BMM verso 6.

⑤ pert. to being unusual, surprising, neut. μέγα εἰ … θερίσομεν; is it an extraordinary thing (i.e. are we expecting too much = our colloquial ‘is it a big deal’) if we wish to reap? 1 Cor 9:11. οὐ μέγα οὖν, εἰ it is not surprising, then, if 2 Cor 11:15 (on this constr. cp. Pla., Menex. 235d; Plut., Mor. 215f; Gen 45:28; s. AFridrichsen, ConNeot 2, ’36, 46).—B. 878f; 1309. DELG. M-M. TW. Sv.

πλοῦτος, ου, ὁ (s. prec. four entries; Hom.+) Paul, who also uses the masc., in eight passages (2 Cor 8:2; Eph 1:7; 2:7; 3:8, 16; Phil 4:19; Col 1:27; 2:2) has in the nom. and acc. the neuter τὸ πλοῦτος (AcPh 109 [Aa II/2, 42, 5]; Is 29:2 [acc. to SA; s. Thackeray 159]); Tdf., Proleg. 118; W-H., app. 158; B-D-F §51, 2; Mlt-H. 127; Gignac II 100; ‘wealth, riches’.

① abundance of many earthly goods, wealth (Iren. 1, 8, 3 [Harv. I 71, 9]; Orig., C. Cels. 3, 9, 8; καὶ τὰ ἀνθρώπινα Did., Gen. 150, 8) Mt 13:22; Mk 4:19; Lk 8:14; 1 Ti 6:17; Js 5:2; Rv 18:17; 1 Cl 13:1 (Jer 9:22); Hv 3, 6, 5b; 6b; m 10, 1, 4; Hs 1:8; 2:5, 7f (τὸ πλ.); ApcPt 15, 30. Leading souls (astray) Hv 3, 6, 6a (restored). πλ. τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου 3, 6, 5a. πολυτέλεια πλούτου m 8:3; 12, 2, 1. γαυριᾶν ἐν τῷ πλούτῳ glory in wealth 1, 1, 8. Also γαυροῦσθαι ἐν τῷ πλ. 3, 9, 6. ἐπιλάθου τοῦ πλούτου καὶ τοῦ κάλλους σου AcPl Ha 2, 21; πλ. καταναλίσκεται 2, 24f; the restoration in 9, 9 is based on 2:24f.—OSchilling, Reichtum u. Eigentum in der altkirchl. Lit. 1908 (p. ix–xii for lit.); ETroeltsch, D. Soziallehren der christl. Kirchen u. Gruppen 1912; MWeber, D. Wirtschaftsethik der Weltreligionen: Archiv f. Sozialwissensch. 44, 1918, 52ff; FHauck, Die Stellung des Urchristentums zu Arbeit u. Geld 1921; ELohmeyer, Soziale Fragen im Urchristentum 1921; HGreeven, D. Hauptproblem der Sozialethik in der neueren Stoa u. im Urchristentum ’35 (slavery, property, marriage); KBornhäuser, D. Christ u. s. Habe nach dem NT ’36; HvCampenhausen, D. Askese im Urchristentum ’49. Cp. πτωχός 1.

② plentiful supply of someth., a wealth, abundance, fig. ext. of 1, w. gen. of thing (Pla., Euthyphr. 12a π. τῆς σοφίας; Theoph. Ant. 2, 12 [p. 130, 6] τῆς σοφίας τοῦ θεοῦ) τῆς ἁπλότητος; 2 Cor 8:2. τῆς δόξης Ro 9:23; Eph 1:18; 3:16; Col 1:27. τῆς πληροφορίας 2:2. τῆς χάριτος Eph 1:7; 2:7. τῆς χρηστότητος Ro 2:4 (Simplicius In Epict. p. 12, 7 πλοῦτος τῆς αὐτοῦ [God] ἀγαθότητος). The genitives in Ro 11:12, πλ. κόσμου, πλ. ἐθνῶν are different: (an) abundance (of benefits) for the world, for the gentiles. Of that which God or Christ possesses in boundless abundance: βάθος πλούτου vs. 33 (s. βάθος 2 and cp. Jos., Bell. 6, 442 ὁ πλοῦτος ὁ βαθύς).—Phil 4:19.—Eph 3:8; Rv 5:12 (w. δύναμις, σοφία, ἰσχύς, τιμή, δόξα, εὐλογία. Cp. Aristot., Pol. 1323a, 37f πλοῦτος, χρήματα, δύναμις, δόξα; Herodas 1, 28 πλοῦτος, δύναμις, δόξα; Crantor [IV/III B.C.]: FPhGr III 148 πλοῦτος κ. δόξα; Diod S 4, 74, 1 πλ. κ. δόξα).—μείζονα πλ. ἡγησάμενος τῶν Αἰγύπτου θησαυρῶν τὸν ὀνειδισμὸν τοῦ Χριστοῦ he considered the reproach suffered on behalf of the Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt Hb 11:26.—TESchmidt, Hostility to Wealth in Philo of Alexandria: JSNT 19, ’83, 85–97; for other lit. s. πένης. B. 772. DELG. M-M. TW. Sv.