In the OT seven different words are translated power. When applied to God, they usually refer to His unlimited ability to act. A frequent example is deliverance of His people from bondage in Egypt These seven words are distinct yet all relate in some way to God’s unbounded power.
· ʾēl is one of the two Heb. words for “God” yet occasionally can also mean power.
· The basic sense of gebûrâ is “strength, power, might.” Ultimately, all power belongs to the Lord:
1 Chronicles 29:11. “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.”
· zerôaʿ denotes the arm or forearm, literally yet since the arm can be viewed as the seat of strength, it is used metaphorically to refer to someone’s strength or power, especially God’s power.
Deuteronomy 5:15. “You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm . . . .”
· The basic sense of ḥayil is “power, strength, or capability.” This word appears 246 times in the OT.
· Also, the basic sense of kōaḥ is “strength, power.” It can refer to physical strength or strength in some metaphorical sense. This word appears 126 times in the OT.
· malkût ranges in meaning from an abstract reference to a king’s dynasty or power or the location of a kingdom.
· Hebrew ʿōz refers primarily to the power of God and is found frequently in the Psalms:
Psalm 28:7. “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.”
Psalm 62:11. “Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God.”
The NT also uses four more words for power.
· The Greek word dýnamis refers primarily to the powers of God or to powers and abilities that God gives to people. Jesus tells the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit, who will give them power for ministry (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit is frequently mentioned in connection with God giving power. In many cases the supernatural power of God is meant, and translations frequently render the word “miracle” or “miraculous powers.” This word declares God is the source of all power and Jesus Christ is the power of God. He sustains all things by the word of His power, gave the church His power, and will return in power. All the powers of the heavens will be shaken when He returns.
· exousia means “authority, power, right,” while
· ischys means “strength, power, might.”
· kratos is generally translated “power, strength, might.” And used to describe the power of the Lord.
Ephesians 1:19–20. “and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places.”
GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. This may seem academic rather than practical but when I focus on the power of God, it affects my faith and my prayers. Knowing God can do whatever pleases Him gives me confidence even when the situations I’m praying for seem totally impossible. Far better to have the prayer unanswered because it is not His will than because I don’t believe He is able to do it! This benediction sums up how this makes me feel: Jude 25, filled with worship . . . .“ to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”