יָכֹל, H3201
To be able, have power; to prevail or overcome; to endure or bear hardship.
A fundamental modal verb in Hebrew expressing capacity, competence, and power. Its most basic function is 'can' or 'be able' -- the ability to perform an action, whether physical, moral, or circumstantial. But this root stretches dramatically: Jacob wrestles with the angel and 'prevails' (Gen 32:28), and Esther asks how she 'can endure' seeing her people destroyed (Esth 8:6). The Swahili translation captures the 'prevail' sense with '-shinda' (to conquer), while Hindi uses a distinct verb for endurance ('sahna' -- to bear), showing that what Hebrew expresses with one versatile root, other languages must split across multiple semantic fields.
Senses
1. be able, can — General ability or capability: 'to be able,' 'can.' This is the overwhelmingly dominant sense (168 occurrences), functioning as the standard Hebrew modal for having the power, permission, or capacity to do something. It appears with infinitive complements: 'I am not able to flee to the mountain' (Gen 19:19), 'the land was not able to bear them' (Gen 13:6). Spanish 'poder,' French 'pouvoir,' and German 'können' all render this straightforwardly as the basic capacity modal. 168×
AR["أستَطيعُ", "أَستَطيعُ", "أَسْتَطيعُ", "أَسْتَطِيعُ", "أَقْدِرُ", "يَقْدِرُوا", "يَقْدِرْ"]·ben["আমি-পারতাম", "আমি-পারব", "আমি-পারি", "পারব", "পারল", "পারল-তারা", "পারি", "পারি-আমি"]·DE["bin-ich-faehig", "ich-bin-faehig", "ich-bin-fähig", "kann-ich", "koennen", "konnten", "vermochte", "waren-able"]·EN["I-am-able", "am-I-able", "am-able", "it-is-sealed", "were-able"]·FR["Je-suis-capable", "am-je-able", "je-am-able", "je-suis-able", "pouvoir", "suis-capable", "étaient-capable"]·heb["אוכל", "יכלו"]·HI["मैं", "मैं-सकता", "मैं-सकता-हूँ", "मैं-सकता-हूं", "मैं-सकती", "मैन-सकोओनग", "सकता", "सकता-मैं", "सकता-हूं", "सकती-मैं", "सके", "सकोओनग", "समर्थ-हूँ"]·ID["Aku-dapat", "aku-dapat", "dapat", "sanggup", "sanggup-aku"]·IT["am-able", "furono-able", "io-am-able", "io-am-capace", "io-sono-able", "pote'", "potere", "sono-io-able"]·jav["Kula-saged", "kawula-saged", "kula-saged", "saged", "saged-kula"]·KO["내-가-할-수-있는", "내가-할-수", "내가-할-수-없다", "내가-할-수-있다", "내가-할-수-있을-것이다", "능하도다", "할-수", "할-수-있다", "할-수-있다-내가", "할-수-있었다", "할수있다"]·PT["poderei", "posso", "puderam", "sou-capaz"]·RU["могли", "могу", "могу-я", "смогу"]·ES["podían", "pudieron", "puedo"]·SW["kufikia", "kukomboa", "kuweza", "naweza", "ninaweza", "niweza", "yuweza"]·TR["kalkabilirim", "yapabildiler", "yapabilir-miyim", "yapabilirim", "yapamam"]·urd["سکتا", "سکتا-میں", "سکتا-ہوں", "سکتا-ہوں-میں", "سکتی-میں", "سکے", "سکے-انہوں-نے", "میں-پا-سکتا", "میں-پڑھ-سکتا", "میں-کر-سکتا", "ہو-سکتا", "ہو-سکتا-میں"]
2. prevail, overcome — To prevail, overcome, or gain mastery over an adversary or obstacle. Jacob's wrestling at Peniel provides the paradigm: 'you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed' (Gen 32:28). In 2 Chronicles 18:21, a spirit says 'I will prevail' in deceiving Ahab. The Swahili '-shinda' and Korean '이기다' both translate this as 'to win/conquer,' confirming a genuine semantic shift from mere ability to competitive triumph. About 20 occurrences carry this sense. 20×
amh["ቻሉህ"]·AR["تَقْدِرُ", "غَلَبْتُ", "قدروا", "قَدَرْتُ-عَلَيْهِ", "قُدرَةً", "وَ-غَلَبُوا", "وَ-غَلَبْتَ", "وَ-قَدَرْتِ", "وَ-نَقْدِرَ", "وَغَلَبَ", "يَسْتَطِيعُونَ", "يَغْلِبُونَ", "يَقدِرونَ", "يَقْدِرُ", "يَقْدِرُوا", "يَقْدِرُونَ"]·ben["আমি-তাকে-পরাজিত-করেছি", "আর-জিতেছ", "এবং-জয়-করেছে", "এবং-জিতল", "এবং-পেরেছ", "ও-আমরা-জয়ী-হব", "ও-তুমি-জয়ী-হলে", "জিতেছি", "তারা-জয়ী-হবে", "পরাস্ত-করেছে", "পারবে", "পারবে-তারা", "পারল", "পারে", "পেরেছে", "সক্ষম-হওয়া", "সক্ষম-হবে", "সমর্থ"]·ces["přemohli"]·dan["overvandt"]·DE["er-konnte", "habe-ich-obsiegt", "ich-haben-prevailed-über-ihn", "koennen", "prevailing", "sie-prevailed", "und-du-kannst", "und-hast-obsiegt", "und-koennen", "und-vermochte", "vermochte", "überwältigten"]·ell["υπερίσχυσαν"]·EN["I-have-prevailed-over-him", "I-prevailed", "and-You-prevailed", "and-prevailed", "and-we-will-prevail", "and-you-have-prevailed", "are-they-able", "have-prevailed", "he-prevailed", "prevail", "prevailing", "they-prevail", "they-prevailed", "they-will-be-able", "they-will-prevail", "you-will-prevail"]·FR["Je-prévalut", "et-pouvoir", "et-tu-avoir-prévalut", "il-prévalut", "ont-prévalu", "pouvoir", "prevailing"]·guj["પરાજિત-કર્યા"]·hat["yo-kapab"]·hau["sun-ci-nasara-kan-ka"]·heb["ו-יוכל", "ו-יכולת", "ו-יכלו", "ו-נוכלה", "ו-תוכל", "יוכלו", "יכול", "יכולתיו", "יכל", "יכלו", "יכלתי", "תוכל"]·HI["और-जीत-लिए", "और-जीत-लिया", "और-जीत-लेंगे", "और-जीता", "और-जीता-है-तू", "और-सफल-हुई-तू", "कौन", "जीती", "जीतेंगे", "जीतेंगे-वे", "तू-जीतेगा", "प्रबल-हुए", "मैंने-उस-पर-प्रबल-हो-गया", "वे-कर-सकते", "वे-प्रबल-हुए", "सका-वह", "सकेंगे", "समर्थ", "समर्थ-होंगे"]·hun["legyőztek"]·ID["akan-menang", "akan-mengalahkan", "aku menang", "aku-mengalahkannya", "dan-Engkau-menang", "dan-engkau-menang", "dan-kamu-berhasil", "dan-kita-dapat-mengalahkannya", "dan-mengalahkan", "dapat-engkau-mengalahkan", "dapat-mereka", "engkau-akan-berhasil", "ia-dapat", "mampu", "mengalahkan", "mereka-mampu", "mereka-mengalahkan"]·IT["e-potere", "e-potrai", "e-tu-avere-prevailed", "egli-prevailed", "hanno-prevalso", "io-prevailed", "pote'", "potere", "prevailing"]·jav["badhé-saged-unggul", "kawirangan-sanget", "kula-menang", "kula-ngalahaken", "lan-Panjenengan-menang.", "lan-kita-badhé-ngalahaken", "lan-menang", "lan-ngalahaken", "lan-panjenengan-menang", "lan-saged", "piyambakipun-badhé-saged", "piyambakipun-saged", "saged", "sami-menang", "sampun-nglangkungi-panjenengan", "sira-saguh"]·JA["彼らは勝った"]·KO["그들이-능할-것이라", "그들이-이기리라", "그들이-이기지", "그리고-우리가-이길-것이다", "그리고-이겼느니라", "그리고-이겼다", "그리고-이기셨다", "그리고-해냈다", "능하리라", "능하리오", "능하여", "능하지", "이겨냈다-나는", "이겼다", "이겼도다", "이기지-못하였도다", "이길-수", "이길-수-없다", "이길지"]·mar["जिंकले"]·mya["တတ်နိုင်ခဲ့ပြီး"]·nld["hebben-u-overwonnen"]·nor["overvant"]·pnb["غالب-آئے"]·pol["zwyciężyli"]·PT["Prevaleci-contra-ele", "e-conseguiste", "e-prevaleceram", "e-prevaleceremos", "e-prevaleceste", "e-prevaleceste;", "e-prevaleceu", "podem", "poderás", "poderão", "podia", "prevaleceram", "prevalecerão", "prevalecerão;", "prevaleci", "vencendo"]·ron["te-au-biruit"]·RU["и-одолеем", "и-одолели", "и-превозмог", "и-преодолел", "и-преуспела", "могут", "может", "мочь", "одолели", "одолеют", "победила", "смогут", "сможет", "сможешь", "я-одолел-его"]·ES["lo-vencí", "poder", "podrán", "podrás", "podía", "prevalecerán", "prevalecieron", "pude", "pudieron", "y-prevaleceremos", "y-prevalecieron", "y-prevaleciste", "y-prevaleció", "y-pudiste"]·SW["ataweza", "kushinda", "kwake", "mshinda", "na-akashinda", "na-tutamshinda", "na-ukashinda", "na-ukaweza", "na-umeshinda", "na-wakakushinda", "nimemshinda", "nimeshinda", "nishinda", "utaweza", "wamekushinda", "weza"]·swe["övervann"]·tam["ஜெயித்தார்கள்"]·tel["జయించిరి"]·tgl["nagwagi"]·TH["มีชัย"]·TR["başarabileceksin", "başarabilmek", "güçlendiler", "güçleri-yetecek", "ve-başardın", "ve-galip-geldin", "ve-yendi", "ve-yendiler", "ve-yendin", "ve-yeneriz-", "yapabildi", "yapabilecekler", "yendiler", "yendim", "yendim-onu", "yenebilirsin", "yenecekler"]·ukr["перемогли"]·urd["اور-جیت-گئے", "اور-غالب-آئیں", "اور-غالب-آیا", "اور-کر-سکی", "جیت-سکتا-تھا", "سکتیں", "سکیں-گے", "سکےگا", "غالب-آئی", "غالب-آئیں-گے", "غالب-آئے", "قابل", "میں-نے-اُسے-پرے-کر-لیا", "کامیاب-ہوگا", "کر-سکیں-گے", "ہونا"]·VI["đã-thắng"]·yor["wọ́n-borí"]·yue["勝過-咗"]·ZH["胜过了"]
3. endure, bear — To endure, bear, or withstand suffering or an intolerable situation. Esther's cry 'how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?' (Esth 8:6) is the clearest example. Isaiah 1:13 has God declaring 'I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.' The sense moves from outward power to inward fortitude. Hindi 'sahna' (सहना) and Spanish 'soportar' specifically denote bearing or tolerating, distinguishing this from mere capability. 6×
AR["أَحتَمِل", "أَستَطِيعُ", "أَسْتَطِيعُ", "تَسْتَطيعُ", "تَقْدِرُ"]·ben["আমি-সহ্য-করতে-পারব", "পারব", "সমর্থ", "সহ্য-করতে-পারি", "সহ্য-করতে-পারে"]·DE["ich-wird-bestehen", "koennen", "vermochte"]·EN["I-can-bear", "I-will-endure", "can-I-bear", "is-able", "it-can"]·FR["pouvoir"]·heb["אוכל", "תוּכל", "תוכל"]·HI["मैं-सह-सकता", "मैं-सह-सकती-हूँ", "सकती", "सह-सकती"]·ID["Aku-dapat-menanggung", "aku-dapat", "aku-tahan", "sanggup-menanggung"]·IT["pote'", "potere"]·jav["Kawula-saged-nandhang", "kiyat", "kula-saged", "kula-saged-nampi", "saged"]·KO["내-가-참지", "내가-참을-수-없다", "능하겠습니까", "능하지", "수-있다"]·PT["pode", "poderei", "posso", "suportarei"]·RU["выношу", "может", "потерплю", "смогу-я"]·ES["podré", "puede", "puedo-soportar", "soportaré"]·SW["kuvumilia", "kuweza", "kwa-maangamizi", "na-nitaona", "nitamvumilia"]·TR["dayanabilir", "dayanabilirim", "güçlü", "tahammül-edeceğim", "yapabilirim"]·urd["سکتی", "سکوںگی-میں", "میں-برداشت-کر-سکتا"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
יָכֹל, יָכוֹל vb. be able, have power, prevail, endure (NH id.; Aramaic יְכִיל; Assyrian akâlu, Hpt in KAT2Gloss i,)— Qal Pf. יָכֹל Gn 32:26 + 8 times; יָכוֹל 1 S 4:15 + 2 times; 3 fs. יָֽכְלָה Gn 36:7 Ex 2:3; 2 ms. וְיָכָלְתָּ֫ Ex 18:23; 1 s. יָכֹלְתִּי Gn 30:8 + 2 times; sf. יְכָלְתִּיו ψ 13:5; 3 pl. יָֽכְלוּ Gn 13:6 + 27 times + Jos 15:63 Qr; יָכֹ֑לוּ Ex 8:14 + 2 times; Impf. 3 ms. יוּכַל Gn…