What does ἱκανός (hikanós) mean in the Bible?
Hikanos means sufficient, adequate, considerable, capable, or worthy, with the nuance determined by context. John the Baptist says he is not worthy to carry the coming One's sandals.
Greek · G2425
ἱκανός
Sufficient
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ἱκανός G2425
Pronunciation hikanós
What does ἱκανός (hikanós) mean in the Bible?
Hikanos means sufficient, adequate, considerable, capable, or worthy, with the nuance determined by context. John the Baptist says he is not worthy to carry the coming One's sandals.
Reader summary
Full entry for ἱκανός (G2425) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G2425?
The BSB source-word alignment has 40 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include worthy (5), a large (4), many (4), For a long (2), qualified (2).
Where does ἱκανός (hikanós) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 3:11. Its strongest book concentrations include Acts (18), Luke (9), 2 Corinthians (3), Mark (3).
What This Word Actually Means
Hikanos means sufficient, adequate, considerable, capable, or worthy, with the nuance determined by context. John the Baptist says he is not worthy to carry the coming One's sandals. A considerable herd of pigs feeds nearby in Luke. Many believers gather at Mary's house to pray for Peter. Paul describes a bright light around noon during his testimony. Timothy must entrust teaching to faithful people who will be competent to teach others.
The adjective can measure adequacy, quantity, intensity, capability, or fitness. It does not carry one doctrine of sufficiency, nor does it imply self-sufficiency. Sometimes it humbles the speaker before Christ; elsewhere it simply describes enough people, a large number, or proven capacity for service.
How the Bible Uses It
Hikanos evaluates sufficiency across several scales: John is unworthy before Christ, a herd is sizable, many people pray, a light is intense, and trustworthy teachers are competent. The standard and task must be specified.
- Matt.3.11
I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Matthew 3:11 says John is not worthy to carry the sandals of the mightier One. His inadequacy is relational and vocational, magnifying Jesus' superior person and Spirit-giving ministry.
- Luke.8.32
There on the hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding. So the demons begged Jesus to let them enter the pigs, and He gave them permission.
Luke 8:32 mentions a considerable herd of pigs feeding on the hillside. The adjective marks size in the narrative and should not be burdened with a symbolic number the text does not supply.
- Acts.12.12
And when he had realized this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered together and were praying.
Acts 12:12 says many were gathered and praying at Mary's house when Peter arrived after release. The sizable gathering portrays a church persistently interceding even while surprised by the answer.
- Acts.22.6
About noon as I was approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.
Acts 22:6 describes a very bright light flashing around Paul near noon. Its intensity marks the heavenly interruption that redirects his persecuting mission.
- 2Tim.2.2
And the things that you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others as well.
Second Timothy 2:2 tells Timothy to entrust apostolic teaching to faithful people competent to teach others. Adequacy joins reliability, received content, and capacity for multiplication.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It worthy 5× Matthew 3:11, Matthew 8:8, Mark 1:7, Luke 3:16
a large 4× Matthew 28:12, Mark 10:46, Luke 7:12, Luke 8:32
many 4× Acts 9:23, Acts 20:8, Acts 27:7, Romans 15:23
For a long 2× Luke 8:27, Luke 20:9
qualified 2× 2 Corinthians 2:16, 2 Timothy 2:2
. . . 1× Acts 14:21
[is] sufficient 1× 2 Corinthians 2:6
a bright 1× Acts 22:6
a great 1× Acts 11:24
a great number 1× Acts 19:26
a long 1× Luke 23:8
a number 1× Acts 19:19
a number [of you] 1× 1 Corinthians 11:30
bond 1× Acts 17:9
competent 1× 2 Corinthians 3:5
considerable 1× Acts 14:3
enough 1× Luke 22:38
for quite 1× Acts 18:18
great 1× Luke 23:9
large 1× Acts 11:26
long 1× Acts 8:11
many [people] 1× Acts 12:12
much 1× Acts 27:9
openly 1× Acts 20:37
satisfy 1× Mark 15:15
several 1× Acts 9:43
unworthy 1× 1 Corinthians 15:9
vvv 1× Acts 20:11
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 3:11 ἱκανὸς to worthy Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular Matthew 8:8 ἱκανὸς to worthy Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular Matthew 28:12 ἱκανὰ to a large Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural Mark 1:7 ἱκανὸς to worthy Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular Mark 10:46 ἱκανοῦ to a large Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular Mark 15:15 ἱκανὸν to satisfy Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular Luke 3:16 ἱκανὸς to worthy Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular Luke 7:6 ἱκανός to worthy Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular Luke 7:12 ἱκανὸς to a large Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular Luke 8:27 ἱκανῷ to For a long Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Matthew 3:11
Aligned rows 40
Books represented 8
Matthew 3 Mark 3 Luke 9 Acts 18 Romans 1 1 Corinthians 2 2 Corinthians 3 2 Timothy 1
Source forms
ἱκανὸς 8x hikanos Matthew 3:11, Matthew 8:8, Mark 1:7, Luke 3:16
ἱκανὸν 6x hikanon Mark 15:15, Acts 14:3, Acts 17:9, Acts 19:26
ἱκανοὶ 3x hikanoi Acts 12:12, Acts 19:19, 2 Timothy 2:2
ἱκανῶν 3x hikanōn Luke 8:32, Luke 23:8, Romans 15:23
ἱκανὰς 2x hikanas Acts 9:43, Acts 18:18
ἱκανοί 2x hikanoi 1 Corinthians 11:30, 2 Corinthians 3:5
ἱκανόν 2x hikanon Acts 11:26, Acts 20:11
ἱκανός 2x hikanos Luke 7:6, 2 Corinthians 2:16
Parsing patterns
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular 10x Matthew 3:11, Matthew 8:8, Mark 1:7, Luke 3:16
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural 5x Acts 12:12, Acts 19:19, 1 Corinthians 11:30, 2 Corinthians 3:5
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular 4x Acts 11:26, Acts 14:3, Acts 19:26, Acts 20:11
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular 3x Mark 15:15, Acts 17:9, Acts 22:6
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural 3x Luke 8:32, Luke 23:8, Romans 15:23
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Plural 2x Acts 9:43, Acts 18:18
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural 2x Luke 20:9, Acts 14:21
Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular 2x Luke 8:27, Acts 8:11
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Do not use confessed inadequacy to excuse neglect of preparation, character, or teachable growth.
- Do not turn a word meaning "considerable" into speculative symbolism about an unstated number.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not use confessed inadequacy to excuse neglect of preparation, character, or teachable growth.
- Do not turn a word meaning "considerable" into speculative symbolism about an unstated number.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Sufficient or competent, emphasizing adequacy to reach or attain a necessary standard or purpose.
Strong's G2425
Lexical occurrences 40 verses Greek text appearances 41 times 16 shown below Word forms 10 forms 40 references Verse guides 0 guides
Source Gloss
sufficient
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 41 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Matthew 3:11 Adjective Nominative Singular Masculine
ἱκανὸς ikanov
sufficient, worthy, many, much
Read verse Matthew 8:8 Adjective Nominative Singular Masculine
ἱκανὸς ikanov
sufficient, worthy, many, much
Read verse Matthew 28:12 Adjective Accusative Plural Neuter
ἱκανὰ ikana
sufficient, worthy, many, much
Read verse Mark 1:7 Adjective Nominative Singular Masculine
ἱκανὸς ikanov
sufficient, worthy, many, much
Read verse Mark 10:46 Adjective Genitive Singular Masculine
ἱκανοῦ, ikanou
sufficient, worthy, many, much
Read verse Mark 15:15 Adjective Accusative Singular Neuter
ἱκανὸν ikanon
sufficient, worthy, many, much
Read verse Luke 3:16 Adjective Nominative Singular Masculine
ἱκανὸς ikanov
sufficient, worthy, many, much
Read verse Luke 7:6 Adjective Nominative Singular Masculine
ἱκανὸς ikanov
sufficient, worthy, many, much
Read verse Luke 7:11 Adjective Nominative Plural Masculine
ἱκανοί, ikanoi
sufficient, worthy, many, much
Read verse Luke 7:12 Adjective Nominative Singular Masculine
ἱκανὸς ikanov
sufficient, worthy, many, much
Read verse Luke 8:27 Adjective Genitive Plural Masculine
ἱκανῶν, ikanwn
sufficient, worthy, many, much
Read verse Luke 8:32 Adjective Genitive Plural Masculine
ἱκανῶν ikanwn
sufficient, worthy, many, much
Read verse Luke 20:9 Adjective Accusative Plural Masculine
ἱκανούς· ikanouv
sufficient, worthy, many, much
Read verse Luke 22:38 Adjective Nominative Singular Neuter
Ἱκανόν ikanon
sufficient, worthy, many, much
Read verse Luke 23:8 Adjective Genitive Singular Masculine
ἱκανοῦ ikanou
sufficient, worthy, many, much
Read verse Luke 23:9 Adjective Dative Plural Masculine
ἱκανοῖς· ikanoiv
sufficient, worthy, many, much
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 10 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Form patterns 10 Aligned forms 40 Case pattern Nominative (19) Number pattern Singular (20)
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Nominative · Singular · Masculine Matt 3:11 · Matt 8:8 · Mark 1:7 · Luke 3:16 · Luke 7:6 · Luke 7:12 · Acts 11:24 · Acts 20:37 · 1 Cor 15:9 · 2 Cor 2:16 10×
Nominative · Plural · Masculine Acts 12:12 · Acts 19:19 · 1 Cor 11:30 · 2 Cor 3:5 · 2 Tim 2:2 5×
Nominative · Singular · Neuter Luke 22:38 · 2 Cor 2:6 2×
Nominative · Plural · Feminine Acts 9:23 · Acts 20:8 2×
Genitive · Plural · Masculine Luke 8:32 · Luke 23:8 · Rom 15:23 3×
Genitive · Singular · Masculine Mark 10:46 · Acts 27:9 2×
Dative · Singular · Masculine Luke 8:27 · Acts 8:11 2×
Dative · Plural · Masculine Luke 23:9 1×
Dative · Plural · Feminine Acts 27:7 1×
Accusative · Singular · Masculine Acts 11:26 · Acts 14:3 · Acts 19:26 · Acts 20:11 4×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Witnesses
Luke 22:35–38 ἱκανόν hikanós
Enough, sufficient
Showing 1 selected witness from 40 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
ἱκανός is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Hikanos is an evaluative word: something is enough, considerable, intense, fitting, or capable relative to a standard. John the Baptist sees himself as unworthy of the lowliest service beside the coming Christ, not because human dignity is absent but because Jesus is immeasurably greater. Luke uses the same adjective more ordinarily for a sizable herd and a large prayer gathering.
Paul's testimony uses it for brilliant light, while Timothy receives a durable ministry principle: entrusted teaching should pass to faithful, competent people who can teach others. Churches need this contextual range. They should resist both false self-sufficiency and vague claims of inadequacy, assessing character, knowledge, and capacity honestly while remembering that all service remains beneath Christ's worthiness and grace.
Anchor passage
2Tim.2.2
Doctrinal connections
- Christology: John's confessed unworthiness magnifies Jesus' superior identity and ministry.
- Holy Spirit: the mightier One baptizes with the Spirit and fire.
- Prayer: a substantial gathering intercedes together and receives a surprising answer.
- Conversion and calling: heavenly light interrupts Paul's persecution and redirects his life.
- Church leadership: competence includes fidelity to apostolic teaching and ability to teach others.
- Discipleship multiplication: truth is entrusted across generations through reliable, capable servants.
Hikanos can mean sufficient, enough, considerable, worthy, capable, or competent. It may quantify a group or intensity, evaluate fitness for a task, or express worthiness relative to a person.
From Old to New Testament
Moses and prophets confess inadequacy before divine calling, while wisdom values capable and faithful servants. God supplies what His mission requires without erasing the need for tested character and learned skill.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain