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יָכֹל

𐤉𐤊𐤋

yâkôl

H3201 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To be able, to have capacity, power, or ability to do or accomplish something. The word is used both in reference to physical capability and mental, legal, or moral ability, including the notion of being able to endure, withstand, or prevail in various situations. It may refer to overcoming opposition or obstacles, prevailing in a contest or struggle, or possessing the strength necessary for a task.

Semantic Range

to be able, can, could, be capable, have power, be permitted, endure, sustain, overcome, prevail, attain, succeed

Root / Etymology

From the root יכל, which is associated with ability, capacity, strength, or power, especially in the sense of being capable of (successfully) doing, enduring, or achieving something. The verbal forms reflect states of ability or the act of prevailing.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Israelite texts, יָכֹל is used across the biblical period in a broad range of contexts, from descriptions of God's limitless ability ('is anything too hard for YHWH?') to human incapacity ('they could not prevail'). Its usage is not restricted to physical strength but includes intellectual, strategic, emotional, legal, or moral capacity. In legal passages, it can refer to permissibility ('may'), but the core idea is always the presence or absence of real capacity or capability rather than legal right. The term is contrasted with words like יכולת (noun form) and similar verbs meaning 'to be strong' or 'to endure', though יָכֹל emphasizes the ability inherent in the subject rather than the outcome or mere endurance. The standard English translation as 'can' or 'able' generally captures the main sense, but in narratives, it often carries the nuance of prevailing against odds or achieving despite obstacles.

Translation Consistency

primary "be able" 0 occurrences

yâkôl primarily expresses ability, capacity, and the power to prevail or endure. “Be able” is the most natural, flexible English rendering that covers present/past/future ability, permission, and endurance senses (e.g. is able, was able, will be able, able to endure), matching the common usage across the SILEX range and existing translations.

Alternatives (50 occurrences):
"able" (47x) "prevailed" (2x) "ability" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (fuller) יָכוֹל; a primitive root; to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might); be able, any at all (ways), attain, can (away with, (-not)), could, endure, might, overcome, have power, prevail, still, suffer.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

יכול (Yukhal) — to be able, be capable, have power, prevail

Root יכול to be able, have capacity, endure, prevail
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3116 יוּכַל and Yukal
H3202 יְכֵל he was able

Word Forms

25 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3201-21 יוּכַל֙ yukhal HVqi3ms able he is able he is able 39
H3201-08 אוּכַ֛ל ukhal HVqi1cs I am able I am able I will be able 33
H3201-15 יָכְל֧וּ yakhelu HVqp3cp they could they were able they were able 28
H3201-05 תּוּכָ֔ל tukhal HVqi2ms you can you are able you are able 25
H3201-16 יָכֹ֥ל yakhol HVqp3ms he could he was able he was able 14
H3201-04 נוּכַ֛ל nukhal HVqi1cp we are able we are able we will be able 11
H3201-23 יוּכְל֛וּ yukhelu HVqi3mp they will be able they will be able they will be able 11
H3201-07 תּוּכְל֣וּ tukhelu HVqi2mp you are able you are able you are able 3
H3201-09 וַ/תּוּכָֽל vatukhal HC/Vqw2ms and have prevailed and you were able and you prevailed 3
H3201-17 יָכֹ֑לְתִּי yakholeti HVqp1cs I have prevailed I was able I was able 3

Occurrences in Scripture

194 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3201-15 Genesis 13:6 יָֽכְל֖וּ yakhelu HVqp3cp they were able they were able they were able
H3201-21 Genesis 13:16 יוּכַ֣ל yukhal HVqi3ms can be able he is able he is able
H3201-05 Genesis 15:5 תּוּכַ֖ל tukhal HVqi2ms you are able you are able you are able
H3201-08 Genesis 19:19 אוּכַל֙ ukhal HVqi1cs can I am able I will be able
H3201-08 Genesis 19:22 אוּכַל֙ ukhal HVqi1cs I can I am able I will be able
H3201-04 Genesis 24:50 נוּכַ֛ל nukhal HVqi1cp we can we are able we will be able
H3201-04 Genesis 29:8 נוּכַל֒ nukhal HVqi1cp we can we are able we will be able
H3201-17 Genesis 30:8 יָכֹ֑לְתִּי yakholeti HVqp1cs I have prevailed I was able I have prevailed
H3201-08 Genesis 31:35 אוּכַל֙ ukhal HVqi1cs I can I am able I will be able
H3201-16 Genesis 32:26 יָכֹל֙ yakhol HVqp3ms he could he was able he was able
H3201-09 Genesis 32:29 וַ/תּוּכָֽל vatukhal HC/Vqw2ms and have prevailed and you were able and you prevailed
H3201-04 Genesis 34:14 נוּכַל֙ nukhal HVqi1cp can/are able we are able we will be able
H3201-14 Genesis 36:7 יָֽכְלָ֜ה yakhelah HVqp3fs could she was able it was able
H3201-15 Genesis 37:4 יָכְל֖וּ yakhelu HVqp3cp could they were able they were able
H3201-24 Genesis 43:32 יוּכְל֜וּ/ן yukhelun HVqi3mp/Sn could they are able they will be able
H3201-24 Genesis 44:1 יוּכְל֖וּ/ן yukhelun HVqi3mp/Sn they are able they are able they will be able
H3201-21 Genesis 44:22 יוּכַ֥ל yukhal HVqi3ms can he is able he is able
H3201-04 Genesis 44:26 נוּכַ֖ל nukhal HVqi1cp we are able we are able we will be able
H3201-04 Genesis 44:26 נוּכַ֗ל nukhal-2 HVqi1cp we are able we are able we will be able
H3201-16 Genesis 45:1 יָכֹ֨ל yakhol HVqp3ms could he was able he was able
H3201-15 Genesis 45:3 יָכְל֤וּ yakhelu HVqp3cp could they were able they were able
H3201-21 Genesis 48:10 יוּכַ֖ל yukhal HVqi3ms he could he is able he was able
H3201-14 Exodus 2:3 יָכְלָ֣ה yakhelah HVqp3fs could she she was able she was able
H3201-15 Exodus 7:21 יָכְל֣וּ yakhelu HVqp3cp could they were able they were able
H3201-15 Exodus 7:24 יָֽכְלוּ֙ yakhelu HVqp3cp could they they were able they were able
H3201-18 Exodus 8:14 יָכֹ֑לוּ yakholu HVqp3cp they were able they were able they were able
H3201-15 Exodus 9:11 יָכְל֣וּ yakhelu HVqp3cp could they were able they were able
H3201-21 Exodus 10:5 יוּכַ֖ל yukhal HVqi3ms will be able he is able it is able
H3201-15 Exodus 12:39 יָֽכְלוּ֙ yakhelu HVqp3cp they could they were able they were able
H3201-15 Exodus 15:23 יָֽכְל֗וּ yakhelu HVqp3cp they could they were able they were able
H3201-05 Exodus 18:18 תוּכַ֥ל tukhal HVqi2ms you will be able you are able you are able
H3201-12 Exodus 18:23 וְ/יָֽכָלְתָּ֖ veyakhaleta HC/Vqq2ms you will be able and you were able and you will be able
H3201-21 Exodus 19:23 יוּכַ֣ל yukhal HVqi3ms able he is able it is able
H3201-05 Exodus 33:20 תוּכַ֖ל tukhal HVqi2ms you can you are able you are able
H3201-16 Exodus 40:35 יָכֹ֣ל yakhol HVqp3ms was able he was able he was able
H3201-15 Numbers 9:6 יָכְל֥וּ yakhelu HVqp3cp they could they were able they were able
H3201-08 Numbers 11:14 אוּכַ֤ל ukhal HVqi1cs am able I am able am able
H3201-16 Numbers 13:30 יָכ֥וֹל yakhol HVqa we are able he was able we are able
H3201-04 Numbers 13:30 נוּכַ֖ל nukhal HVqi1cp to overcome we are able we will be able
H3201-04 Numbers 13:31 נוּכַ֖ל nukhal HVqi1cp we are able we are able we will be able
H3201-20 Numbers 14:16 יְכֹ֣לֶת yekholet HVqc ability to be able ability
H3201-08 Numbers 22:6 אוּכַל֙ ukhal HVqi1cs I-shall-be-able I am able I will be able
H3201-08 Numbers 22:11 אוּכַ֛ל ukhal HVqi1cs I may be able I am able I may be able
H3201-08 Numbers 22:18 אוּכַ֗ל ukhal HVqi1cs I am able I am able I will be able
H3201-08 Numbers 22:37 אוּכַ֖ל ukhal HVqi1cs am I able I am able am I able
H3201-02 Numbers 22:38 הֲ/יָכ֥וֹל hayakhol HTi/Vqa am I able to be able? am I able
H3201-08 Numbers 22:38 אוּכַ֖ל ukhal HVqi1cs to be able I am able I will be able
H3201-08 Numbers 24:13 אוּכַ֗ל ukhal HVqi1cs I could I am able I will be able
H3201-08 Deuteronomy 1:9 אוּכַ֥ל ukhal HVqi1cs I am able I am able I will be able
H3201-08 Deuteronomy 7:17 אוּכַ֖ל ukhal HVqi1cs can I I am able I will be able
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