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ἱκανός

hikanós

G2425 attributive adjective

SILEX Entry

Root ἱκαν- to reach, to be sufficient, to be adequate, to be fit

Definition

Having reached an adequate or suitable measure, thus: sufficient (in amount or degree); adequate; able or capable (as in possessing requisite ability or qualification); fit or worthy (as in meeting a standard or requirement). The word often conveys a sense of suitability, adequacy, or the possession of required qualities for a task or status.

Semantic Range

sufficient, adequate, enough (of quantity or time); able, competent, qualified, fit, worthy (as of a person or character); many, much (in number or amount); considerable (in size or duration)

Root / Etymology

Formed from the verb ἱκνέομαι ('to come, arrive at, reach'). Shares a root with ἥκω, 'to have come, be present', suggesting the idea of 'having reached' a state or amount. The notion is of something having attained what is needed or required.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἱκανός described something sufficient, adequate, or deserving—such as a sufficient amount of resources, or a person qualified for a particular responsibility. By the Hellenistic and Koine periods, its application broadened to both quantitative (e.g., 'many', 'much', 'sufficient') and qualitative (e.g., 'worthy', 'fit', 'capable') senses. In the Septuagint, ἱκανός often translates Hebrew words for 'enough' or 'many.' In the New Testament, it can describe sufficiency in number, time, or qualification (e.g., 'many,' 'long,' or 'worthy/capable'), but does not inherently imply moral worthiness. English translations vary widely ('worthy', 'sufficient', 'many', 'able', etc.), not capturing the unified Greek concept of 'having reached the requisite state'—whether of number, time, quality, or fitness. Contrasts with ἄξιος, which more often refers to worth or value, and with πλῆθος or πολύς, which emphasize quantity alone.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ( or , akin to ἥκω) (to arrive); competent (as if coming in season), i.e. ample (in amount) or fit (in character):--able, + content, enough, good, great, large, long (while), many, meet, much, security, sore, sufficient, worthy.

Root Family

ἱκανός (hikanos) — to reach, to be sufficient, to be adequate, to be fit

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G2425-08 ἱκανὸν ikanon ADJ.S ACC N SG great a sufficient amount 12
G2425-09 ἱκανὸς ikanos ADJ.P NOM M SG worthy adequate 10
G2425-06 ἱκανοὶ ikanoi ADJ.P NOM M PL many sufficient ones 5
G2425-02 ἱκαναί ikanai ADJ.A NOM F PL many adequate ones 2
G2425-10 ἱκανοῦ ikanou ADJ.A GEN M SG considerable time of sufficient measure 2
G2425-05 ἱκανῷ ikano ADJ.A DAT M SG sufficient to a sufficient one 2
G2425-04 ἱκανὰς ikanas ADJ.A ACC F PL many sufficient (feminine plural, accusative) 2
G2425-11 ἱκανούς ikanous ADJ.A ACC M PL many adequate ones 2
G2425-03 ἱκαναῖς ikanais ADJ.A DAT F PL many to sufficient ones 1
G2425-07 ἱκανοῖς ikanois ADJ.A DAT M PL many to sufficient ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

40 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G2425-09 Matthew 3:11 ἱκανὸς ikanos ADJ.P NOM M SG adequate
G2425-09 Matthew 8:8 ἱκανὸς ikanos ADJ.P NOM M SG adequate
G2425-01 Matthew 28:12 ἱκανὰ ikana ADJ.A ACC N PL sufficient things
G2425-09 Mark 1:7 ἱκανὸς ikanos ADJ.P NOM M SG worthy adequate
G2425-10 Mark 10:46 ἱκανοῦ ikanou ADJ.A GEN M SG great of sufficient measure
G2425-08 Mark 15:15 ἱκανὸν ikanon ADJ.S ACC N SG sufficient a sufficient amount
G2425-09 Luke 3:16 ἱκανὸς ikanos ADJ.P NOM M SG worthy adequate
G2425-09 Luke 7:6 ἱκανός ikanos ADJ.P NOM M SG worthy adequate
G2425-09 Luke 7:12 ἱκανὸς ikanos ADJ.S NOM M SG considerable adequate
G2425-05 Luke 8:27 ἱκανῷ ikano ADJ.A DAT M SG long to a sufficient one
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