← G2424 G2426 →

ἱκανός

hikanós

G2425 attributive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Having reached an adequate or suitable measure, thus: sufficient (in amount or degree); adequate; able or capable (as in possessing requisite ability or qualification); fit or worthy (as in meeting a standard or requirement). The word often conveys a sense of suitability, adequacy, or the possession of required qualities for a task or status.

Semantic Range

sufficient, adequate, enough (of quantity or time); able, competent, qualified, fit, worthy (as of a person or character); many, much (in number or amount); considerable (in size or duration)

Root / Etymology

Formed from the verb ἱκνέομαι ('to come, arrive at, reach'). Shares a root with ἥκω, 'to have come, be present', suggesting the idea of 'having reached' a state or amount. The notion is of something having attained what is needed or required.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἱκανός described something sufficient, adequate, or deserving—such as a sufficient amount of resources, or a person qualified for a particular responsibility. By the Hellenistic and Koine periods, its application broadened to both quantitative (e.g., 'many', 'much', 'sufficient') and qualitative (e.g., 'worthy', 'fit', 'capable') senses. In the Septuagint, ἱκανός often translates Hebrew words for 'enough' or 'many.' In the New Testament, it can describe sufficiency in number, time, or qualification (e.g., 'many,' 'long,' or 'worthy/capable'), but does not inherently imply moral worthiness. English translations vary widely ('worthy', 'sufficient', 'many', 'able', etc.), not capturing the unified Greek concept of 'having reached the requisite state'—whether of number, time, quality, or fitness. Contrasts with ἄξιος, which more often refers to worth or value, and with πλῆθος or πολύς, which emphasize quantity alone.

Translation Consistency

primary "sufficient" 28 occurrences

Most common and natural English rendering of ἱκανός in its primary senses (sufficient/adequate/fit). It covers quantity, degree, and suitability (e.g. sufficient in number, sufficient to do something, sufficient qualification) and preserves consistency across all forms.

Alternatives (12 occurrences):
"many" (5x) "adequate ones" (2x) "great" (2x) "considerable" (1x) "large number" (1x) "long while" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ( or , akin to ἥκω) (to arrive); competent (as if coming in season), i.e. ample (in amount) or fit (in character):--able, + content, enough, good, great, large, long (while), many, meet, much, security, sore, sufficient, worthy.

Root Family

ἱκαν- (hikanós) — to reach, to be sufficient, to be adequate, to be fit

Root ἱκαν- to reach, to be sufficient, to be adequate, to be fit
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G2426 ἱκανότης sufficiency
G2427 ἱκανόω to the one having empowered

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2425-08 ἱκανὸν ikanon ADJ.S ACC N SG sufficient a sufficient amount a sufficient amount 12
G2425-09 ἱκανὸς ikanos ADJ.P NOM M SG worthy adequate is sufficient 10
G2425-06 ἱκανοὶ ikanoi ADJ.P NOM M PL many sufficient ones many 5
G2425-02 ἱκαναί ikanai ADJ.A NOM F PL many adequate ones sufficient ones 2
G2425-04 ἱκανὰς ikanas ADJ.A ACC F PL many sufficient (feminine plural, accusative) many 2
G2425-05 ἱκανῷ ikano ADJ.A DAT M SG long to a sufficient one sufficient 2
G2425-10 ἱκανοῦ ikanou ADJ.A GEN M SG considerable time of sufficient measure of sufficient measure 2
G2425-11 ἱκανούς ikanous ADJ.A ACC M PL many adequate ones adequate ones 2
G2425-01 ἱκανὰ ikana ADJ.A ACC N PL large sufficient things sufficient 1
G2425-03 ἱκαναῖς ikanais ADJ.A DAT F PL many to sufficient ones sufficient days 1

Occurrences in Scripture

40 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2425-09 Matthew 3:11 ἱκανὸς ikanos ADJ.P NOM M SG worthy adequate is sufficient
G2425-09 Matthew 8:8 ἱκανὸς ikanos ADJ.P NOM M SG worthy adequate is sufficient
G2425-01 Matthew 28:12 ἱκανὰ ikana ADJ.A ACC N PL large sufficient things sufficient
G2425-09 Mark 1:7 ἱκανὸς ikanos ADJ.P NOM M SG worthy adequate is sufficient
G2425-10 Mark 10:46 ἱκανοῦ ikanou ADJ.A GEN M SG great of sufficient measure of sufficient measure
G2425-08 Mark 15:15 ἱκανὸν ikanon ADJ.S ACC N SG sufficient a sufficient amount sufficient
G2425-09 Luke 3:16 ἱκανὸς ikanos ADJ.P NOM M SG worthy adequate is sufficient
G2425-09 Luke 7:6 ἱκανός ikanos ADJ.P NOM M SG worthy adequate is sufficient
G2425-09 Luke 7:12 ἱκανὸς ikanos ADJ.S NOM M SG considerable adequate is sufficient
G2425-05 Luke 8:27 ἱκανῷ ikano ADJ.A DAT M SG long to a sufficient one sufficient
G2425-08 Luke 8:32 ἱκανῶν ikanon ADJ.A GEN M PL many a sufficient amount many
G2425-11 Luke 20:9 ἱκανούς ikanous ADJ.A ACC M PL sufficient adequate ones adequate ones
G2425-08 Luke 22:38 ἱκανόν ikanon ADJ.P NOM N SG enough a sufficient amount a sufficient amount
G2425-08 Luke 23:8 ἱκανῶν ikanon ADJ.A GEN M PL sufficient a sufficient amount a sufficient amount
G2425-07 Luke 23:9 ἱκανοῖς ikanois ADJ.A DAT M PL many to sufficient ones sufficient
G2425-05 Acts 8:11 ἱκανῷ ikano ADJ.A DAT M SG sufficient to a sufficient one sufficient
G2425-02 Acts 9:23 ἱκαναί ikanai ADJ.A NOM F PL many adequate ones sufficient ones
G2425-04 Acts 9:43 ἱκανὰς ikanas ADJ.A ACC F PL many sufficient (feminine plural, accusative) many
G2425-09 Acts 11:24 ἱκανὸς ikanos ADJ.A NOM M SG considerable adequate considerable
G2425-08 Acts 11:26 ἱκανόν ikanon ADJ.A ACC M SG great a sufficient amount a large number
G2425-06 Acts 12:12 ἱκανοὶ ikanoi ADJ.P NOM M PL many sufficient ones many
G2425-08 Acts 14:3 ἱκανὸν ikanon ADJ.S ACC M SG considerable a sufficient amount a sufficient amount
G2425-11 Acts 14:21 ἱκανοὺς ikanous ADJ.S ACC M PL many adequate ones adequate ones
G2425-08 Acts 17:9 ἱκανὸν ikanon ADJ.S ACC N SG pledge a sufficient amount a sufficient amount
G2425-04 Acts 18:18 ἱκανὰς ikanas ADJ.A ACC F PL many sufficient (feminine plural, accusative) many
G2425-06 Acts 19:19 ἱκανοὶ ikanoi ADJ.S NOM M PL many sufficient ones sufficient ones
G2425-08 Acts 19:26 ἱκανὸν ikanon ADJ.A ACC M SG a great a sufficient amount a sufficient amount
G2425-02 Acts 20:8 ἱκαναὶ ikanai ADJ.A NOM F PL many adequate ones sufficient ones
G2425-08 Acts 20:11 ἱκανόν ikanon ADJ.S ACC M SG a long while a sufficient amount a long while
G2425-09 Acts 20:37 ἱκανὸς ikanos ADJ.P NOM M SG great adequate great
G2425-08 Acts 22:6 ἱκανὸν ikanon ADJ.A ACC N SG great a sufficient amount great
G2425-03 Acts 27:7 ἱκαναῖς ikanais ADJ.A DAT F PL many to sufficient ones sufficient days
G2425-10 Acts 27:9 ἱκανοῦ ikanou ADJ.A GEN M SG considerable time of sufficient measure of sufficient time
G2425-08 Romans 15:23 ἱκανῶν ikanon ADJ.S GEN M PL many a sufficient amount a sufficient amount
G2425-06 1 Corinthians 11:30 ἱκανοί ikanoi ADJ.S NOM M PL many sufficient ones many
G2425-09 1 Corinthians 15:9 ἱκανὸς ikanos ADJ.P NOM M SG fit adequate is sufficient
G2425-08 2 Corinthians 2:6 ἱκανὸν ikanon ADJ.P NOM N SG sufficient a sufficient amount a sufficient amount
G2425-09 2 Corinthians 2:16 ἱκανός ikanos ADJ.P NOM M SG sufficient adequate is sufficient
G2425-06 2 Corinthians 3:5 ἱκανοί ikanoi ADJ.P NOM M PL adequate sufficient ones sufficient
G2425-06 2 Timothy 2:2 ἱκανοὶ ikanoi ADJ.P NOM M PL able sufficient ones sufficient ones
← G2424 Greek Lexicon G2426 →