ability be physical, moral, constitutional, or dependent on external authority; usually of man
Gn 13:16
(
J
)
+
, but also of gods
2 Ch 32:13
,
15
, and of
י׳
Nu 14:16
(JE),
Dt 9:28 Je 44:2
2; occasionally of inanimate things
Am 7:10 Gn 36:7
(
P
),
Ct 8:7 Ec 1:15
(×2), etc.:
a.
usually
sq. inf.
c.
לְ
(122 times),
Gn 31:35
I am not able to rise up;
45:1
Joseph was not able to restrain himself
,
v
3 48:1
0;
Ex 7:21
,
24
were not able to drink
,
12:39 Jos 24:19
(all
E
);
Gn 13:16
if a man can number the dust
,
19:19
,
22
;
43:32
;
44:22
,
26
(×2) Ex 10:
5;
19:23
(all
J
),
Gn 15:5 Ex 15:23 Nu 11:14
(all JE)
+
10 times JE;
Dt 7:17
+
10 times
D
;
Gn 13:6
they could not dwell together
,
34:14
;
36:7 Ex 9:11
;
40:35 Nu 9:6 Jos 9:19
(all
P
);
1 S 3:2
;
6:20 1 K 9:21
(on
||
2 Ch 8:8
and text of
Ju 1:19
v. Bu
RS 8),
Am 7:10 Ho 5:13 Zp 1:18 Je 6:1
0;
11:11
;
13:23
;
18:6
;
19:11
+.
•
b.
sq. inf.
without
לְ
(27 times; not
P
):
Gn 37:4 Ex 2:
3;
18:18
,
23
(all
E
),
Gn 24:50
;
44:1
(
J
),
Nu 22:37
,
38
(JE),
Dt 1:9
;
7:22
;
14:24
;
22:29 Ju 8:3 Je 49:1
0,
23 Hb 1:13 Is 46:
2;
47:11
,
12
;
57:20 La 1:14
ψ 18:39
;
36:13
;
78:20 Pr 30:21 Jb 4:
2;
33:5
.
•
c.
c.
inf.
implic., always neg.,
Gn 29:8
go and feed them; and they said,
We are not able, cannot
(
J
),
Ex 8:14
(
P
),
Is 29
;
11 Je 20:9
ψ 21:12
Jon 1:1
3.
d.
c.
neg.
=
may not
(of moral inability):
Gn 43:32
(
J
) the Egyptians
might not eat
bread with the Hebrews;
Ju 21:18
we may not give
them wives; especially
D
,
Dt 7:22
;
12:17
;
14:24
;
16:5
;
17:15
;
22:3
;
28:27
,
35
.
•
e.
be able
,
sq. impf
.:
אוּלַי אוּכַל נַכֶּה
Nu 22:6
(JE)
perchance I am able
(so that)
we smite
(
v. D
i; read perhaps
נוּכַל
for
אוּכַל
Ges
§ 120, 1 b
);
לֹא יוּכְלוּ יִגְּעוּ
La 4:14
they are unable, they touch
=
are unable to touch
(
Dr
§ 163, Obs.)
•
f.
be able
,
sq. pf. consec
., only very late,
אוּכַל וְרָאִיתִי
Est 8:6
(×2), lit. how
shall I be able and see?
—Also in various combinations where English idiom would make it an auxiliary to another verb:
•
g.
able to gain, accomplish:
sq. acc.
לֹא יוּכְלוּ נִקָּיֹון
Ho 8:5
how long
will they be unable
(to gain)
innocence?
כִּי־כֹל תּוּכָ˜ל יָדַעְתִּ˜
Jb 42:2
I know that thou art able
(to do)
all things;
אֵין הַמֶּלֶךְ יוּכַל אֶתְכֶם דָּבָר
Je 38:5
the king is not
(one who is)
able
(to do)
anything with
(
אֶתְכם
for
אִתְּכֶם
v. G
f, i.e.
against
)
you
.
• h. able to endure: לֹא אוּכַל אָוֶן וַעֲצָרָה Is 1:13 I cannot endure iniquity and (with) a solemn assembly , ψ 101:5 . • i. able to reach , sq. לְ , ψ 139:6 it is high,
לֹא אוּכַל לָהּ
I cannot (reach) to it
.
•
5.
prevail:
a.
abs.
prevail, overcome, be victor
Gn 30:8
(
E
),
32:29
(
J
),
Ho 12:5 1 S 26:25 1 K 22:22
=
2 Ch 18:21 Je 20:
7,
11
; of waves
5:22
;
succeed
Is 16:1
2,
Je 3:5
(
VB
hast had thy way
).
b.
sq.
לְ
pers
.,
prevail against, over
Gn 32:26
(
J
),
Nu 13:30
(JE),
Ju 16:5 1 S 17:19 Je 1:1
9;
15:20
;
20:10
;
38:22 Ob 7
ψ 129:2
Est 6:1
3.
c.
once
c.
sf
.,
יְכָלְתִּיו
ψ 13:5
I have prevailed over
SK Studien u. Kritiken . D Deuteronomist in Dt., in other books Deuteronomic author or redactor. Bu circa., Richter u. Samuel;
Gf K. H. Graf.