"not to be able; to be impossible, Mt. 17:20; Lk. 1:37*"
Definition and meaning
not to be able; to be impossible, Mt. 17:20; Lk. 1:37*
In the original Greek the word is written: ἀδυνατέω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of adynateo (G101) across the King James Bible.
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
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Common questions
Strong's G101 (adynateo) is a Greek word that means: not to be able; to be impossible, Mt. 17:20; Lk. 1:37* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.
The word adynateo (G101) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G101 is adynateo, a Greek word defined as: not to be able; to be impossible, Mt. 17:20; Lk. 1:37*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
adynateo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.