Capable
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The term "capable" refers to having the ability, competence, or skill to do something effectively. In the context of the Bible, capability is often linked to the gifts and talents bestowed by God, as well as the empowerment provided by the Holy Spirit to fulfill His purposes.

Biblical Examples of Capability

1. Bezalel and Oholiab: In the construction of the Tabernacle, God endowed Bezalel and Oholiab with the capability to perform skilled work. Exodus 31:3-5 states, "And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in all kinds of craftsmanship, to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every craft."

2. Joseph: Joseph's capability is evident in his administrative skills and ability to interpret dreams, which were crucial in saving Egypt and his family from famine. Genesis 41:39-40 records Pharaoh's acknowledgment: "Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands.'"

3. The Apostles: The apostles were empowered by the Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel and perform miracles. Acts 1:8 highlights this empowerment: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Spiritual Gifts and Capability

The New Testament speaks of spiritual gifts as capabilities given by the Holy Spirit to believers for the edification of the Church. 1 Corinthians 12:7 states, "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." These gifts include wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, and prophecy, among others, and are distributed according to God's will.

Capability and Responsibility

With capability comes responsibility. Jesus' Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) illustrates the expectation that individuals use their God-given abilities for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom. The servant who multiplied his talents was commended, while the one who buried his talent was rebuked.

Dependence on God

While human capability is important, Scripture emphasizes reliance on God for true effectiveness. Philippians 4:13 declares, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." This verse underscores that believers' capabilities are ultimately empowered by Christ.

Moses' Reluctance and God's Assurance

Moses initially doubted his capability to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, citing his lack of eloquence. However, God assured him of divine support. Exodus 4:11-12 records God's response: "The LORD said to him, 'Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him mute or deaf, sighted or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go! I will help you as you speak, and I will teach you what to say.'"

Conclusion

The Bible presents capability as a combination of God-given talents, spiritual gifts, and divine empowerment. Believers are called to use their capabilities responsibly, relying on God's strength to fulfill His purposes.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (a.) Possessing ability, qualification, or susceptibility; having capacity; of sufficient size or strength; as, a room capable of holding a large number; a castle capable of resisting a long assault.

2. (a.) Possessing adequate power; qualified; able; fully competent; as, a capable instructor; a capable judge; a mind capable of nice investigations.

3. (a.) Possessing legal power or capacity; as, a man capable of making a contract, or a will.

4. (a.) Capacious; large; comprehensive.

Greek
3707. horatos -- visible
... visible. From horao; gazed at, ie (by implication) capable of being seen -- visible.
see GREEK horao. (orata) -- 1 Occurrence. 3706, 3707. horatos. 3708 . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3707.htm - 6k

1415. dunatos -- strong, mighty, powerful
... From dunamai; powerful or capable (literally or figuratively); neuter possible --
able, could, (that is) mighty (man), possible, power, strong. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1415.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew
2428. chayil -- strength, efficiency, wealth, army
... Origin from chul Definition strength, efficiency, wealth, army NASB Word Usage able
(5), armies (3), army (82), army* (1), capability (1), capable (3), elite ...
/hebrew/2428.htm - 6k
Library

The Words, Mortale (Capable of Dying), Mortuum (Dead), and ...
... A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants
Chapter 5 [V.] "The Words, Mortale (Capable of Dying), Mortuum (Dead), and ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 5 v name words.htm

Now, to those who are Capable of Understanding Him...
... Chapter XX. Now, to those who are capable of understanding him? Now, to
those who are capable of understanding him, the apostle ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen against celsus/chapter xx now to those.htm

Our Flesh in the Resurrection Capable, Without Losing Its ...
... Chapter LIX."Our Flesh in the Resurrection Capable, Without Losing Its Essential
Identity, of Bearing the Changed Conditions of Eternal Life, or of Death ...
/.../tertullian/on the resurrection of the flesh/chapter lix our flesh in the.htm

Women as Well as Men Capable of Perfection.
... Book IV. Chap. XIX."Women as well as Men Capable of Perfection. In this
perfection it is possible for man and woman equally to share. ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chap xix women as well as.htm

Plato's Inconsistency He Supposes the Soul Self-Existent, yet ...
... Chapter XXIV."Plato's Inconsistency He Supposes the Soul Self-Existent,
Yet Capable of Forgetting What Passed in a Previous State. ...
/.../a treatise on the soul/chapter xxiv platos inconsistency he supposes.htm

Let the Ancient Sages, Then, Make Known their Sayings to those who ...
... Chapter III. Let the ancient sages, then, make known their sayings to those
who are capable of? Let the ancient sages, then, make ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter iii let the ancient.htm

In the Dead who were Raised by Christ we Possess the Highest Proof ...
... Book V Chapter XIII."In the dead who were raised by Christ we possess the highest
proof of the resurrection; and our hearts are shown to be capable of life ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xiii in the dead who.htm

How Even Celestial Powers Above are Capable of Change.
... II. Second Conference of Abbot Moses. Chapter XVI. How even celestial powers
above are capable of change. But that even the powers ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xvi how even celestial.htm

The Occasion of Writing this Work; a Thing May be Capable of Being ...
... A Treatise on the spirit and the letter, Chapter 1 [I.] "The Occasion of Writing
This Work; A Thing May Be Capable of Being Done, and Yet May Never Be Done. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 1 i name occasion.htm

Man Born of Whatever Parentage is Sinful and Capable of Redemption ...
... Book II. Chapter 39 [XXIV.]"Man Born of Whatever Parentage is Sinful and
Capable of Redemption. He then says: "You conclude that ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 39 xxiv man born of.htm

Thesaurus
Capable (10 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Possessing ability, qualification, or susceptibility; having capacity; of
sufficient size or strength; as, a room capable of holding a large number; a ...
/c/capable.htm - 10k

Sensible (15 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Capable of being perceived by the senses; apprehensible through the bodily
organs; hence, also, perceptible to the mind; making an impression upon the ...
/s/sensible.htm - 11k

Incapable (5 Occurrences)
... for the purpose or end in view; not large enough to contain or hold; deficient in
physical strength, mental or moral power, etc.; not capable; as, incapable of ...
/i/incapable.htm - 9k

Incurable (13 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Not capable of being cured; beyond the power
of skill or medicine to remedy; as, an incurable disease. ...
/i/incurable.htm - 10k

Female (95 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A plant which produces only that kind of reproductive organs which are capable
of developing into fruit after impregnation or fertilization; a ...
/f/female.htm - 38k

Marble (5 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A massive, compact limestone; a variety of calcite, capable of being
polished and used for architectural and ornamental purposes. ...
/m/marble.htm - 13k

Possible (133 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Capable of existing or occurring, or of being conceived
or thought of; able to happen; capable of being done; not contrary to ...
/p/possible.htm - 36k

Practical (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Capable of being turned to use or account; useful, in distinction
from ideal or theoretical; as, practical chemistry. 3. (a ...
/p/practical.htm - 7k

Corruptible (7 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Capable of being bribed; subject to decay or impurity. 2. (a.) Capable of
being corrupted, or morally vitiated; susceptible of depravation. ...
/c/corruptible.htm - 8k

Capability (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The quality of being capable; capacity;
capableness; esp. intellectual power or ability. 2. (n ...
/c/capability.htm - 7k

Resources
Why didn't Adam and Eve find it strange that a serpent was talking to them? | GotQuestions.org

Why are people irrational? | GotQuestions.org

Why is it important to believe in biblical inerrancy? | GotQuestions.org

Capable: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Capable (10 Occurrences)

Genesis 47:6
The land of Egypt is before you. Make your father and your brothers dwell in the best of the land. Let them dwell in the land of Goshen. If you know any able men among them, then put them in charge of my livestock."
(See NAS)

Exodus 18:21
But for the rest, take from among the people able men, such as have the fear of God, true men hating profits wrongly made; and put such men over them, to be captains of thousands, captains of hundreds and of fifties and of tens;
(See NIV)

Exodus 18:25
And he made selection of able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, captains of thousands, captains of hundreds and of fifties and of tens.
(See NIV)

1 Chronicles 26:6
Also to Shemaiah his son were sons born, who ruled over the house of their father; for they were mighty men of valor.
(See NIV)

1 Chronicles 26:8
All these were of the sons of Obed-Edom: they and their sons and their brothers, able men in strength for the service; sixty-two of Obed-Edom.
(See NIV)

1 Chronicles 26:30
Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brothers, men of valor, one thousand seven hundred, had the oversight of Israel beyond the Jordan westward, for all the business of Yahweh, and for the service of the king.
(See NAS)

1 Chronicles 26:31
Of the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even of the Hebronites, according to their generations by fathers' houses. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valor at Jazer of Gilead.
(See NIV)

1 Chronicles 26:32
His brothers, men of valor, were two thousand seven hundred, heads of fathers' houses, whom king David made overseers over the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites, for every matter pertaining to God, and for the affairs of the king. Ezra
(See NAS)

Ezra 8:18
According to the good hand of our God on us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen;
(See NIV)

Hosea 8:5
Let Samaria throw out his calf idol! My anger burns against them! How long will it be until they are capable of purity?
(WEB DBY YLT NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Capable

Related Terms

Faculty (1 Occurrence)

Capable (10 Occurrences)

Measure (269 Occurrences)

Weights (14 Occurrences)

Infinite (8 Occurrences)

Measures (50 Occurrences)

Qualify (2 Occurrences)

Large (235 Occurrences)

Incompetent (1 Occurrence)

Fill (126 Occurrences)

Firkin

Feeling (59 Occurrences)

Energy (1 Occurrence)

Daysman (1 Occurrence)

Passion (82 Occurrences)

Power (862 Occurrences)

Priesthood (30 Occurrences)

Bushel (6 Occurrences)

Compass (51 Occurrences)

Cor (1 Occurrence)

Comprehend (9 Occurrences)

Competency (1 Occurrence)

Capability (1 Occurrence)

Ability (34 Occurrences)

Ashamed (131 Occurrences)

Sensitive (2 Occurrences)

Infinitude

Elisha (70 Occurrences)

Accommodation (1 Occurrence)

Noah (55 Occurrences)

Caperberry (1 Occurrence)

Priest (500 Occurrences)

Ark (212 Occurrences)

Baptism (76 Occurrences)

Teaching (372 Occurrences)

Teacher (103 Occurrences)

Teach (172 Occurrences)

Ethics

Quality (14 Occurrences)

Quart (1 Occurrence)

Volition

Virtue (21 Occurrences)

Vigor (11 Occurrences)

Lutheran

Zerubbabel (25 Occurrences)

Know (8133 Occurrences)

Knowledge

Neighbor (123 Occurrences)

Urn (1 Occurrence)

Occupy (25 Occurrences)

Judicially (1 Occurrence)

Level (31 Occurrences)

Live (3203 Occurrences)

Lily-blossoms (2 Occurrences)

Log (12 Occurrences)

Laver (13 Occurrences)

Governor (78 Occurrences)

Gifts (144 Occurrences)

Gallery (2 Occurrences)

Wait (223 Occurrences)

Will (64996 Occurrences)

Wisdom (320 Occurrences)

Infant (14 Occurrences)

Intelligence (45 Occurrences)

Impotent (5 Occurrences)

Insufficient (3 Occurrences)

Individual (12 Occurrences)

Flood (70 Occurrences)

Force (250 Occurrences)

Fire (602 Occurrences)

Fathom (5 Occurrences)

Tolerance (2 Occurrences)

Talent (16 Occurrences)

Receiving (72 Occurrences)

Rows (29 Occurrences)

Receive (350 Occurrences)

Receipt (3 Occurrences)

Reach (63 Occurrences)

Refer (4 Occurrences)

Capability and Readiness for Service
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