G1411 — δύναμις (dynamis)¶

Core Data¶

Strong's: G1411
Original: δύναμις
Transliteration: dynamis
Pronunciation: doo'-nam-is
Part of Speech: Feminine noun (n-f)
Root: δύναμαι (G1410) — to be able, have power
Occurrences: 116 unique verses (120 tokens) in NT
First Occurrence: Matt 6:13 — "thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory"
Hapax Legomenon: No

Lexicon Definition¶

Force (literally or figuratively); especially miraculous power, usually by implication a miracle itself. From δύναμαι (to be able).

Semantic Domains¶

Louw-Nida: - 76 — Power, Force - 12 — Supernatural Beings and Powers - 74 — Able, Capable - 37 — Control, Rule - 33 — Communication / Meaning

δύναμις spans inherent force, ability, miracle-working power, cosmic powers, and even communicative force in a few extended uses.

UBS Semantic Domains: - [074] Able, Capable - [076] Power, Force - [037] Control, Rule - [012] Supernatural Beings and Powers - [033] Communication

Translation Distribution (KJV)¶

Translation	Verses	%
power / the power / of power / with power	69	59.5%
mighty works / mighty work / the mighty works	11	9.5%
strength	7	6.0%
powers / the powers	6	5.2%
miracles / by miracles / of miracles / the miracles	6	5.2%
might / with might	4	3.4%
mighty / mightily	3	2.6%
that virtue / virtue	3	2.6%
ability	1	0.9%
abundance	1	0.9%
meaning	1	0.9%
wonderful works / mighty deeds	2	1.7%

Distribution by Book¶

Book	Count	Per 100 Verses
2 Thessalonians	3	6.4
2 Peter	3	4.9
2 Timothy	3	3.6
1 Corinthians	15	3.4
Ephesians	5	3.2
Revelation	12	3.0
2 Corinthians	7	2.7
Colossians	2	2.1
Hebrews	6	2.0
1 Peter	2	1.9
Romans	7	1.6
Mark	10	1.5
Luke	15	1.3
Matthew	13	1.2
1 Thessalonians	1	1.1
Acts	10	1.0
Galatians	1	0.7
Philippians	1	—

Highest density in the Pauline epistles (especially 1–2 Corinthians, Thessalonians), reflecting Paul's sustained theology of divine power in weakness. Revelation (12 occurrences) uses dynamis in doxological formulae. The Synoptics apply it concretely to miraculous works.

Semantic Categories¶

1. God's Inherent Power¶

The word describes God's essential, self-existent force — not merely an attribute but an expression of who he is. - Rom 1:16 — "it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" - 1 Cor 1:24 — "Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God" - 2 Pet 1:3 — "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness" - Rev 4:11 — "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things"

2. The Spirit's Power in Ministry¶

Dynamis as the active force behind apostolic proclamation, miracles, and transformation — closely paired with πνεῦμα (Spirit). - Acts 1:8 — "ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you" - Luke 1:35 — "the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee" - Luke 4:14 — "Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee" - 1 Thess 1:5 — "our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost"

3. Miraculous Works (Mighty Works)¶

Dynamis as a concrete act — a miracle or mighty deed, especially in the Synoptic accounts of Jesus's ministry. - Matt 11:20 — "the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done" - Acts 2:22 — "Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs" - Heb 2:4 — "with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost" - 2 Cor 12:12 — "the signs of an apostle were wrought among you...in signs and wonders, and mighty deeds"

4. Cosmic / Supernatural Rulers¶

In the plural and in eschatological contexts, δυνάμεις refers to heavenly or supernatural powers — either angelic or demonic. - Eph 1:21 — "Far above all principality, and power (dynamis), and might, and dominion" - Rom 8:38 — "nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers (dynameis)...shall separate us from the love of God" - Matt 24:29 — "the powers of the heavens shall be shaken" - 1 Pet 3:22 — "angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him"

5. Human Capacity / Ability¶

Dynamis used of finite human resources — a person's strength, financial means, or ability. - Matt 25:15 — "to every man according to his several ability (dynamis)" - 2 Cor 8:3 — "to their power (dynamis), yea, and beyond their power, they were willing" - Rev 3:8 — "thou hast a little strength (dynamis), and hast kept my word" - 2 Tim 3:5 — "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof"

Common Collocations¶

Word	Strong's	Co-occurrences	Typical Pattern
θεός (theós)	G2316	37x (32%)	"power of God" — divine dynamis
πᾶς (pâs)	G3956	26x (22%)	"all power," "all might"
πνεῦμα (pneûma)	G4151	17x (15%)	"power of the Spirit"
δόξα (dóxa)	G1391	14x (12%)	"glory and power" — doxological pairs
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs)	G2424	14x (12%)	power wielded by or given through Jesus
κύριος (kýrios)	G2962	14x (12%)	"power of the Lord"
ἐξουσία (exousía)	G1849	9x (8%)	listed alongside dynamis in power catalogs
σημεῖον (sēmeîon)	G4592	8x (7%)	"signs and mighty works" — miracle vocabulary

Word Family / Cognates¶

G1410 δύναμαι (dynamai) — root verb: to be able, to have power (210 verses)
G1412 δυναμόω (dynamoō) — to empower, strengthen (2 verses; Col 1:11; Heb 11:34)
G1413 δυνάστης (dynastēs) — potentate, powerful ruler (3 verses; Luke 1:52; Acts 8:27; 1 Tim 6:15)
G1414 δυνατέω (dynateō) — to be powerful (3 verses; Rom 14:4; 2 Cor 9:8; 13:3)
G1415 δυνατός (dynatos) — able, powerful, possible (32 verses)
G0102 ἀδύνατος (adynatos) — impossible, unable, weak (10 verses) — negative form

Synonyms¶

The clearest overlaps returned by search_relationships.py are: - G2479 ἰσχύς (ischys) — strength, might - G1849 ἐξουσία (exousia) — authority / power; overlaps in power catalogues though it stresses delegated right - G2904 κράτος (kratos) — might, dominion - G1753 ἐνέργεια (energeia) — operative working / power

Antonyms¶

G769 ἀσθένεια (astheneia) — weakness; the clearest lexical opposite returned by search_relationships.py

Easily Confused Words¶

Word	Strong's	Shared Translation	Key Difference
ἐξουσία (exousía)	G1849	"power," "powers"	exousía = delegated authority, legal right; dynamis = inherent force, miraculous energy
κράτος (krátos)	G2904	"power" (6v)	krátos = dominion, power in exercise/display; dynamis = intrinsic force or capability
ἰσχύς (ischýs)	G2479	"strength," "might"	ischýs = muscular/physical strength; dynamis = capacity for action, miracle-working power

Hebrew Source (via LXX)¶

Greek δύναμις is one of the primary LXX renderings of several Hebrew force/army terms:

Hebrew Source	Strong's	Co-occ	PMI Score	Notes
חַיִל (chayil)	H2428	134	26.17	army, strength, valor — most frequent bridge
צָבָא (tsaba)	H6635	134	20.73	host, army, warfare
עֹז (oz)	H5797	24	13.09	strength, might
גִּבּוֹר (gibbor)	H1368	26	11.44	mighty man, hero, warrior
גְּבוּרָה (gebura)	H1369	—	—	might, heroic deeds (also rendered dynamis in LXX)

The LXX background explains why δύναμις carries military/host connotations in OT-influenced NT phrases like "Lord of powers (dynameis)" (reflecting YHWH Tseba'oth / LORD of hosts).