ἱκανός
hikanos
sufficient
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word ἱκανός (hikanos), translated as "sufficient," is a term that appears 41 times in the Bible. Its short definition provides a starting point for understanding its meaning, suggesting that the word generally connotes adequacy or being enough. A closer examination of its usage reveals that ἱκανός is often employed in various contexts to emphasize sufficient qualifications, resources, or circumstances. For instance, it's used to describe individuals possessing the necessary skills or authority (Matthew 23:34, Luke 23:46) and also in scenarios where adequate provision or resources are available (Luke 11:13, 2 Corinthians 11:9). In terms of its significance, the word ἱκανός serves to reassure, calm, and provide confidence in situations where individuals are faced with uncertainty or doubt. It underlines the sufficiency of God's provision and guidance, as well as the competency of individuals, and invites them to rely on what is sufficient, rather than seeking more.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
41 total occurrences across the text
I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 8:8The centurion answered, “Lord, I’m not worthy for you to come under my roof. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
Matthew 28:12When they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers,
Mark 1:7He preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen.
Mark 10:46They came to Jericho. As he went out from Jericho, with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road.
Mark 15:15Pilate, wishing to please the multitude, released Barabbas to them, and handed over Jesus, when he had flogged him, to be crucified.
Luke 3:16John answered them all, “I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire,
Luke 7:6Jesus went with them. When he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof.
Luke 7:11Soon afterwards, he went to a city called Nain. Many of his disciples, along with a great multitude, went with him.
Luke 7:12Now when he came near to the gate of the city, behold, one who was dead was carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. Many people of the city were with her.
Luke 8:27When Jesus stepped ashore, a certain man out of the city who had demons for a long time met him. He wore no clothes, and didn’t live in a house, but in the tombs.
Luke 8:32Now there was there a herd of many pigs feeding on the mountain, and they begged him that he would allow them to enter into those. Then he allowed them.
Luke 20:9He began to tell the people this parable. “A man planted a vineyard, and rented it out to some farmers, and went into another country for a long time.
Luke 22:38They said, “Lord, behold, here are two swords.” He said to them, “That is enough.”
Luke 23:8Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad, for he had wanted to see him for a long time, because he had heard many things about him. He hoped to see some miracle done by him.
Luke 23:9He questioned him with many words, but he gave no answers.
Acts 5:37After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.
Acts 8:11They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
Acts 9:23When many days were fulfilled, the Jews conspired together to kill him,
Acts 9:43He stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.
Acts 11:24For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord.
Acts 11:26When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Acts 12:12Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
Acts 14:3Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
Acts 14:21When they had preached the Good News to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
Acts 17:9When they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
Acts 18:18Paul, having stayed after this many more days, took his leave of the brothers, and sailed from there for Syria, together with Priscilla and Aquila. He shaved his head in Cenchreae, for he had a vow.
Acts 19:19Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted their price, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.
Acts 19:26You see and hear that not at Ephesus alone, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are no gods that are made with hands.
Acts 20:8There were many lights in the upper room where we were gathered together.
Acts 20:11When he had gone up, and had broken bread and eaten, and had talked with them a long while, even until break of day, he departed.
Acts 20:37They all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him,
Acts 22:6As I made my journey, and came close to Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light shone around me from the sky.
Acts 27:7When we had sailed slowly many days, and had come with difficulty opposite Cnidus, the wind not allowing us further, we sailed under the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.
Acts 27:9When much time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, because the Fast had now already gone by, Paul admonished them
1 Corinthians 11:30For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep.
1 Corinthians 15:9For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God.
2 Corinthians 2:6This punishment which was inflicted by the many is sufficient for such a one;
2 Corinthians 2:16to the one a stench from death to death, to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
2 Corinthians 3:5not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God,
2 Timothy 2:2The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same things to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.