OliveGrove
Pressing the Word of God for Deeper Understanding.
Greek · G3756, G1410, G2064 · unreviewed

οὐ δύναμαι ἐλθεῖν

The absolute negative (compare ) adverb; no or not · to be able or possible · to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

These lexicon entries are being actively developed. If you notice missing content, incorrect definitions, or have suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Share a note on our Connect page and include a screenshot if helpful.

Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

οὐ G3756 the absolute negative (compare ) adverb; no or not
Pronunciation ou
Absolute negation of fact, typically with indicative mood; contrasts with μή which negates possibility or commands
Open lexicon entry →
δύναμαι G1410 to be able or possible
Pronunciation dýnamai
Ability from personal power, permission, or circumstance rather than mere possibility
Open lexicon entry →
ἔρχομαι G2064 to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
Pronunciation érchomai
Movement with emphasis on arrival or outcome; distinct from πορεύομαι's focus on the journey itself.
Open lexicon entry →

What does οὐ δύναμαι ἐλθεῖν (ou dynamai elthein) mean in the Bible?

οὐ · δύναμαι · ἔρχομαι is a Greek word meaning "I am not able to come".

Full entry for οὐ δύναμαι ἐλθεῖν (G3756, G1410, G2064) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

I am not able to come
Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Matt 1:25 · Matt 2:18 · Matt 3:11 · Matt 4:4 · Matt 4:7 · Matt 5:14 · Matt 5:17 · Matt 5:18 · Matt 5:20 · Matt 5:21 · Matt 5:26 · Matt 5:27 · Matt 5:33 · Matt 5:36 · Matt 6:1 · Matt 6:5 1537×
Matt 6:26 · Matt 6:30 · Matt 7:22 · Matt 12:3 · Matt 12:5 · Matt 13:55 · Matt 15:17 · Matt 17:24 · Matt 18:33 · Matt 19:4 · Matt 20:15 · Matt 22:31 · Matt 24:2 · Mark 4:21 · Mark 4:38 · Mark 6:3 68×
1605 total occurrences across all forms in the biblical text Morphology: MorphGNT SBLGNT — CC BY-SA 3.0
Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 628 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect
completed 170 ongoing 131 prospective 21 resultant 24 imperative 20 background 8 subjunctive 47 infinitive 51 participle 156
Tense
aorist 356 present 216 future 21 perfect 20 imperfect 8 pluperfect 7
Voice
active 383 middle 245
Mood
indicative 354 participle 156 infinitive 51 subjunctive 47 imperative 20
NT Occurrences
Matthew 2:11 ἐλθόντες aorist active participle participle Matthew 2:2 ἤλθομεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 2:23 ἐλθὼν aorist active participle participle Matthew 2:8 ἐλθὼν aorist active participle participle Matthew 2:9 ἐλθὼν aorist active participle participle Matthew 3:11 ἐρχόμενος present middle participle participle Matthew 3:14 ἔρχῃ present middle indicative ongoing Matthew 3:16 ἐρχόμενον present middle participle participle Matthew 3:7 ἐρχομένους present middle participle participle Matthew 4:13 ἐλθὼν aorist active participle participle Matthew 5:17 ἦλθον aorist active indicative completed Matthew 5:17 ἦλθον aorist active indicative completed Matthew 5:24 ἐλθὼν aorist active participle participle Matthew 6:10 ἐλθέτω aorist active imperative imperative Matthew 7:15 ἔρχονται present middle indicative ongoing Matthew 7:25 ἦλθον aorist active indicative completed Matthew 7:27 ἦλθον aorist active indicative completed Matthew 8:14 ἐλθὼν aorist active participle participle Matthew 8:28 ἐλθόντος aorist active participle participle Matthew 8:29 ἦλθες aorist active indicative completed Matthew 8:7 ἐλθὼν aorist active participle participle Matthew 8:9 Ἔρχου present middle imperative imperative Matthew 8:9 ἔρχεται present middle indicative ongoing Matthew 9:1 ἦλθεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 9:10 ἐλθόντες aorist active participle participle Matthew 9:13 ἦλθον aorist active indicative completed Matthew 9:15 ἐλεύσονται future middle indicative prospective Matthew 9:18 ἐλθὼν aorist active participle participle Matthew 9:18 ἐλθὼν aorist active participle participle Matthew 9:23 ἐλθὼν aorist active participle participle Matthew 9:28 ἐλθόντι aorist active participle participle Matthew 10:13 ἐλθάτω aorist active imperative imperative Matthew 10:23 ἔλθῃ aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Matthew 10:34 ἦλθον aorist active indicative completed Matthew 10:34 ἦλθον aorist active indicative completed Matthew 10:35 ἦλθον aorist active indicative completed Matthew 11:14 ἔρχεσθαι present middle infinitive infinitive Matthew 11:18 ἦλθεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 11:19 ἦλθεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 11:3 ἐρχόμενος present middle participle participle +588 more occurrences

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

John 11 — The Resurrection and the Life, the Raising of Lazarus, and the Plot to Kill Jesus John 14 — The Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Father Revealed in the Son, and the Promise of the Spirit John 18 — The Arrested King: Betrayal, Sovereign Surrender, Denial, Trial, and the Kingdom Not of This World John 19 — The Crucified King: Behold the Man, Behold Your King, It Is Finished, and the Pierced Son John 21 — The Risen Lord Restores, Commissions, Shepherds, and Testifies through His Witness John 6 — The Bread of Life, the Words of Eternal Life, and the Crisis of True Discipleship John 7 — The Feast, the Divided Crowd, and the Living Water of Jesus Luke 7 — The Compassionate Lord Who Heals, Raises, Confirms, and Forgives Mark 10 — The Way of the Servant King: Marriage, Children, Wealth, Cross, Ransom, and Sight Mark 11 — The King Comes to Jerusalem: Fig Tree, Temple Judgment, Faith, Forgiveness, and Authority Mark 13 — Watch and Endure: Temple Judgment, Gospel Witness, Tribulation, the Son of Man, and Readiness Matthew 10 — The Mission of the Twelve, Costly Witness, and Allegiance to Christ Matthew 11 — The Messiah Question, the Rejected Generation, and Rest for the Weary Matthew 14 — The Death of John, the Compassion of Jesus, and the Son of God over Bread, Sea, and Fear Matthew 16 — The Confession of the Christ, the Church Christ Builds, and the Cross-Shaped Way of Discipleship Matthew 23 — Woes upon Hypocritical Leadership and the Lament over Jerusalem Romans 16 — Gospel Partnership, Holy Greeting, False-Teacher Warning, and Doxology to the God Who Establishes

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

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

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

Full license details