Can (Canst, Could, Cannot)
see ABILITY, B, No. 1.
is translated “I can do” in Phi 4:13; see ABLE, B. No. 4.
“to have,” is translated “could” in Mar 14:8, lit., “she hath done what she had;” in Luk 14:14, for the AV, “cannot,” the RV has “they have not wherewith;” in Act 4:14, “could say nothing against” is, lit., “had nothing to say against;” in Heb 6:13, “he could swear” is, lit., “He had (by none greater) to swear.” See ABLE, HAVE.
“to know,” is so rendered in the RV of Mat 16:3, “ye know how to,” for AV, “ye can” (dunamai is used in the next sentence). This verb represents knowledge as the effect of experience. In Act 21:37, for “canst thou speak Greek?” the RV has “dost …” See ALLOW, KNOW.
“to know by perception,” is the word in Pilate’s remark “make it as sure as ye can” (marg. “sure, as ye know”), Mat 27:65. The phrases “cannot tell,” “canst not tell,” etc. are in the RV rendered “know not,” etc., Mat 21:27; Mar 11:33; Luk 20:7; Joh 3:8; Joh 8:14; Joh 16:18; 2Co 12:2-3. See KNOW.
meaning “it is,” is translated “we cannot,” in Heb 9:5, lit., “it is not possible (now to speak);” so in 1Co 11:20; see margin.
“to accept, admit, allow of,” is used impersonally in Luk 13:33, “it can (not) be,” i.e., it is not admissible.