"to be strong, be well, be in good health, Mt. 9:12; to have power, be able, Mt. 8:28; 26:40; to have power or efficiency, avail, be valid, Gal. 5:6; Heb. 9:17; to be of service, be serviceable, Mt. 5:13; meton. to prevail, Acts 19:16; Rev. 12:8"
Definition and meaning
to be strong, be well, be in good health, Mt. 9:12; to have power, be able, Mt. 8:28; 26:40; to have power or efficiency, avail, be valid, Gal. 5:6; Heb. 9:17; to be of service, be serviceable, Mt. 5:13; meton. to prevail, Acts 19:16; Rev. 12:8
In the original Greek the word is written: ἰσχύω
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 ischuo (G2480) across the King James Bible.
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?
He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
Refiner gives you the full lexicon entry, AI-powered verse insight, historical commentary, cross-references, and voice study — all in one place.
Free to start · Disciple $4.99/mo · Shepherd $9.99/mo
Common questions
Strong's G2480 (ischuo) is a Greek word that means: to be strong, be well, be in good health, Mt. 9:12; to have power, be able, Mt. 8:28; 26:40; to have power or efficiency, avail, be valid, Gal. 5:6; Heb. 9:17; to be of service, be serviceable, Mt. 5:... It appears 28 times in the King James Bible.
The word ischuo (G2480) appears 28 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2480 is ischuo, a Greek word defined as: to be strong, be well, be in good health, Mt. 9:12; to have power, be able, Mt. 8:28; 26:40; to have power or efficiency, avail, be valid, Gal. 5:6; H. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
ischuo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.