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ἀδύνατος

adýnatos

G102 predicate adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Not able, powerless or incapable (of something); lacking strength, ability, or capacity — often describing what cannot be done or what is impossible, whether due to inherent limitation, external constraint, or contextual impossibility. The term is used both of persons ('powerless, incapable') and situations or actions ('impossible, not feasible').

Semantic Range

unable, incapable, powerless, impossible, not feasible, ineffectual, weak, impotent

Root / Etymology

From the alpha privative ἀ- (not) and δυνατός (powerful, able, possible), literally 'not able, not possible.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἀδύνατος appears from the 5th century BCE, most often with the meaning 'powerless, unable,' applied both to people and to things. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek (including the Septuagint and New Testament), the term frequently takes on the sense 'impossible', especially in statements about what cannot be done or what cannot occur (cf. Luke 18:27; Hebrews 6:4). In medical or physical contexts it can denote 'weak' or 'impotent'. The term is sometimes contrasted with δυνατός ('able, possible') or with other synonyms for power/capacity (e.g., ἰσχύω). Standard English translations often split ἀδύνατος between 'impossible', 'incapable', or 'powerless', but the precise nuance is context dependent. The term does not always indicate absolute impossibility, but can denote practical or contextual incapacity as well. In the Septuagint, it is used for instances where the Hebrew suggests inability or impossibility, widening its semantic domain beyond classical usage. In the New Testament, it sometimes carries a strong sense of what God alone is able to do (impossible for humans, possible for God).

Translation Consistency

primary "impossible" 8 occurrences

Most existing renderings use “impossible” (8 of 10) and it naturally covers both actions/situations and states of incapacity—conveying that something cannot be done or is beyond ability. It provides a consistent, natural English adjective for all forms of G102.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"powerless" (1x) "powerless ones" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from Α (as a negative particle) and δυνατός; unable, i.e. weak (literally or figuratively); passively, impossible:--could not do, impossible, impotent, not possible, weak.

Root Family

ἀδύνατος (adýnatos) — unable, powerless, incapable, impossible

Root δυνατ- to be able, to have power, to be possible (negated: to lack power or ability)

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G102-02 ἀδύνατόν adunaton ADJ.P NOM N SG impossible impossible thing impossible thing 8
G102-01 ἀδύνατα adunata ADJ.S NOM N PL which are impossible impossible things impossible things 1
G102-03 ἀδύνατος adunatos ADJ.P NOM M SG impotent powerless powerless 1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G102-02 Matthew 19:26 ἀδύνατόν adunaton ADJ.P NOM N SG is impossible impossible thing impossible thing
G102-02 Mark 10:27 ἀδύνατον adunaton ADJ.P NOM N SG impossible impossible thing impossible thing
G102-01 Luke 18:27 ἀδύνατα adunata ADJ.S NOM N PL which are impossible impossible things impossible things
G102-03 Acts 14:8 ἀδύνατος adunatos ADJ.P NOM M SG impotent powerless powerless
G102-02 Romans 8:3 ἀδύνατον adunaton ADJ.S ACC N SG impossible impossible thing impossible thing
G102-02 Romans 15:1 ἀδυνάτων adunaton ADJ.S GEN M PL weak impossible thing powerless ones
G102-02 Hebrews 6:4 ἀδύνατον adunaton ADJ.P NOM N SG impossible impossible thing impossible thing
G102-02 Hebrews 6:18 ἀδύνατον adunaton ADJ.P NOM N SG it is impossible impossible thing impossible thing
G102-02 Hebrews 10:4 ἀδύνατον adunaton ADJ.P NOM N SG impossible impossible thing impossible thing
G102-02 Hebrews 11:6 ἀδύνατον adunaton ADJ.P NOM N SG impossible impossible thing impossible thing
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