BDB3539 [H3201]

Qal Perfect יָכֹל Gen 32:26 + 8 t.; יָכוֺל 1Sam 4:15 + 2 t.; 3 feminine singular יָ˜כְלָה Gen 36:7; Exod 2:3 2 masculine singular וְיָכָלְתָּ֫ Exod 18:23 1 singular יָכֹלְתִּי Gen 30:8 + 2 t.; suffix יְכָלְתִּיו Ps 13:5 3 plural יָכְ֑לוּ Gen 13:6 + 27 t. + Josh 15:63 Qr; יָכֹ֑לוּ Exod 8:14 + 2 t.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יוּכָל Gen 13:16 + 34 t.; יוּכָ֑ל Job 4:2 + 4 t.; וַיֻּכָ֑ל Hos 12:5 3 feminine singular תּוּכַל Amos 7:10 + 2 t.; 2 masculine singular תּוּכַל Gen 15:5 + 16 t.; 1 singular אוּכַל Gen 19:19 + 30 t., etc. (on these Imperfect forms as irregular Qal, see Ges^{«GKC:2»§ 2}, R. 3 Kö^{i. 407} W^{SG 237}; others Hoph`al); Infinitive construct יְכֹ֫לֶת Num 14:16; Deut 9:28 Infinitive absolute יָכוֺל Num 13:20; 2Chr 32:13 יָכֹל Num 22:38; 1Sam 26:25 P 8 t. (not Leviticus), Ezek 3 t.; often J E D Jeremiah, Isa², not seldom in Samuel Kings Chronicles; —

1. be able, to do a thing, whether ability be physical, moral, constitutional, or dependent on external authority; usually of man Gen 13:16 (J) +, but also of gods 2Chr 32:13; 2Chr 32:15, and of ׳י Num 14:16 (JE), Deut 9:28; Jer 44:22 occasionally of inanimate things Amos 7:10; Gen 36:7 (P), Song 8:7; Eccl 1:15 (twice in verse), etc.:
\ \ a. usually followed by infinitive with לְ (122 t.), Gen 31:35 I am not able to rise up; Gen 45:1 Joseph was not able to restrain himself, vGen 45:3; Gen 48:10; Exod 7:21; Exod 7:24 were not able to drink, Exod 12:39; Josh 24:19 (all E); Gen 13:16 if a man can number the dust, Gen 19:19; Gen 19:22; Gen 43:32; Gen 44:22; Gen 44:26 (twice in verse); Exod 10:5; Exod 19:23 (all J), Gen 15:5; Exod 15:23; Num 11:14 (all J E) + 10 t. J E; Deut 7:17 + 10 t. D; Gen 13:6 they could not dwell together, Gen 34:14; Gen 36:7; Exod 9:11; Exod 40:35; Num 9:6; Josh 9:19 (all P); 1Sam 3:2; 1Sam 6:20; 1Kgs 9:21 (on || 2Chr 8:8 and text of Judg 1:19 see Bu^{RS 8}), Amos 7:10; Hos 5:13; Zeph 1:18; Jer 6:10; Jer 11:11; Jer 13:23; Jer 18:6; Jer 19:11 +.
\ \ b. followed by infinitive without לְ (27 t.; not P): Gen 37:4; Exod 2:3; Exod 18:18; Exod 18:23 (all E), Gen 24:50; Gen 44:1 (J), Num 22:37; Num 22:38 (JE), Deut 1:9; Deut 7:22; Deut 14:24; Deut 22:29; Judg 8:3; Jer 49:10; Jer 49:23; Hab 1:13; Isa 46:2; Isa 47:11; Isa 47:12; Isa 57:20; Lam 1:14; Ps 18:39; Ps 36:13; Ps 78:20; Prov 30:21; Job 4:2; Job 33:5.
\ \ c. with infinitive implicit, always negative, Gen 29:8 go and feed them; and they said, We are not able, cannot (J), Exod 8:14 (P), Isa 29:11; Jer 20:9; Ps 21:12; Jonah 1:13.
\ \ d. with negative = may not (of moral inability): Gen 43:32 (J) the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; Judg 21:18 we may not give them wives; especially D, Deut 7:22; Deut 12:17; Deut 14:24; Deut 16:5; Deut 17:15; Deut 22:3; Deut 28:27; Deut 28:35.
\ \ e. be able, followed by imperfect: אוּלַי אוּכַל נַכֶּה Num 22:6 (JE) perchance I am able (so that) we smite (see Di; read perhaps נוּכַל for אוּכַל Ges^{«GKC:120»§ 120}, 1 b); לֹא יוּכְלוּ יִגְּעוּ Lam 4:14 they are unable, they touch = are unable to touch (Dr^{§ 163}, Obs.) feminine be able, followed by perfect consecutive, only very late, אוּכַל וְרָאִיתִי Esth 8:6 (twice in verse), literally 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: followed by acc לֹא יוּכְלוּ נִקָּיוֺן Hos 8:5 how long will they be unable (to gain) innocence? יָדַעְתִּ֯ כִּיכֹֿל תּוּכָ֑ל Job 42:2 I know that thou art able (to do) all things; אֵין הַמֶּלֶךְ יוּכַל אֶתְכֶם דָּבָר Jer 38:5 the king is not (one who is) able (to do) anything with (אֶתְכם for אִתְּכֶם see Gf, i.e. against) you.
\ \ h. able to endure: לֹא אוּכַל אָוֶן וַעֲצָרָה Isa 1:13 I cannot endure iniquity and (with) a solemn assembly, Ps 101:5.
\ \ i. able to reach, followed by לְ, Ps 139:6 it is high, לֹא אוּכַל לָהּ I cannot (reach) to it.

2. prevail:
\ \ a. absolute prevail, overcome, be victor Gen 30:8 (E), Gen 32:29 (J), Hos 12:5; 1Sam 26:25; 1Kgs 22:22 = 2Chr 18:21; Jer 20:7; Jer 20:11 of waves Jer 5:22 succeed Isa 16:12; Jer 3:5 (VB hast had they way).
\ \ b. followed by לְ person, prevail against, over Gen 32:26 (J), Num 13:30 (JE), Judg 16:5; 1Sam 17:9; Jer 1:19; Jer 15:20; Jer 20:10; Jer 38:22; Obad 1:7; Ps 129:2; Esth 6:13.
\ \ c. once with suffix, יְכָלְתִּיו Ps 13:5 I have prevailed over him, + Zech 9:15 (where read וְיָ˜כְלוּם for וְאָֽכְלוּ with ᵐ5 ᵑ7 Klo^{ThLZ 1879. 564} Sta^{ZAW 1881, 18}).

3. absolute have ability, strength, only negative מִשְּׂאֵתוֺ לֹא אוּכָ֑ל Job 31:23 because of his loftiness I have no ability, am inadequate (to anything).