the Third Week of Advent
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more!
Bible Dictionaries
Can
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words
see ABILITY , B, No. 1.
is translated "I can do" in Philippians 4:13; see ABLE , B. No. 4.
"to have," is translated "could" in Mark 14:8 , lit., "she hath done what she had;" in Luke 14:14 , for the AV, "cannot," the RV has "they have not wherewith;" in Acts 4:14 , "could say nothing against" is, lit., "had nothing to say against;" in Hebrews 6:13 , "he could swear" is, lit., "He had (by none greater) to swear." See ABLE , HAVE.
"to know," is so rendered in the RV of Matthew 16:3 , "ye know how to," for AV, "ye can" (dunamai is used in the next sentence). This verb represents knowledge as the effect of experience. In Acts 21:37 , for "canst thou speak Greek?" the RV has "dost ..." See ALLOW , KNOW.
"to know by perception," is the word in Pilate's remark "make it as sure as ye can" (marg. "sure, as ye know"), Matthew 27:65 . The phrases "cannot tell," "canst not tell," etc. are in the RV rendered "know not," etc., Matthew 21:27; Mark 11:33; Luke 20:7; John 3:8; 8:14; 16:18; 2 Corinthians 12:2,3 . See KNOW.
meaning "it is," is translated "we cannot," in Hebrews 9:5 , lit., "it is not possible (now to speak);" so in 1 Corinthians 11:20; see margin.
"to accept, admit, allow of," is used impersonally in Luke 13:33 , "it can (not) be," i.e., it is not admissible.
These files are public domain.
Vines, W. E., M. A. Entry for 'Can'. Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​ved/​c/can.html. 1940.