Original Word: כְּהַל
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: khal
Pronunciation: keh-hal
Phonetic Spelling: (keh-hal')
KJV: be able, could
NASB: able, could
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) a root corresponding to H3201 (יָכוֹל יָכוֹל - able) and H3557 (כּוּל - provided)]

1. to be able

be able, could

(Aramaic) a root corresponding to yakol and kuwl; to be able -- be able, could.

see HEBREW yakol

see HEBREW kuwl

Word Origin
(Aramaic) a root corresponding to yakol and kul
Definition
to be able
NASB Translation
able (2), could (2).

[כְּהַל] verb be able (ᵑ7 id.; Egyptian Aramaic, S-C^{Pap.A 6. 8.11}+; Ethiopic compare synonym יְכִל); —

Pe`al Participle active, usually followed by infinitive^absolute כָּהֵל Daniel 2:26; Daniel 4:15 (infinitive omitted); plural absolute כָּֽהֲלִין Daniel 5:8,15.

Meaning and Narrative Setting

The verb כְּהַל depicts the ability (or inability) to perform a task. Its every use lies in the Aramaic court narratives of Daniel, where the word becomes a subtle theological signpost: only the one to whom God grants insight is “able.”

Distribution of Occurrences

• Daniel 2:26 – Nebuchadnezzar tests Daniel: “Are you able to tell me the dream…?”
• Daniel 4:18 – The king turns again to Belteshazzar, confident that he “can” interpret what others cannot.
• Daniel 5:8 – The Babylonian sages “could not” read the writing on the wall.
• Daniel 5:15 – Before Belshazzar the same group again “could not” supply the interpretation.

Patterns of Usage

1. An initial challenge (Daniel 2:26) sets the stage: human capacity is questioned.
2. When supernatural wisdom is required (Daniel 4:18), the king instinctively looks to the servant of the Most High.
3. The double negative report in Daniel 5:8 and 5:15 underscores utter human inadequacy at the very hour of divine judgment.

Contrast between Human Limitation and Divine Enablement

Each scene pits Babylon’s most celebrated experts against the living God. Astrologers and enchanters possess cultural prestige, yet Scripture emphasizes their impotence: “but they could not” (Daniel 5:8, 15). Daniel, by contrast, can interpret because “there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries” (Daniel 2:28). The verb therefore functions as a narrative hinge—moving from inability rooted in mere human wisdom to ability grounded in divine revelation.

Doctrinal Insights

• Divine Sovereignty: The Lord alone equips His servants to do what no earthly power can accomplish (Daniel 2:20–23).
• Revelation and Inspiration: True insight is not discovered but bestowed (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:10–12).
• Judgment: The final double use in Daniel 5 highlights that when God pronounces doom, worldly wisdom collapses.

Ministry Significance

• Preaching and Teaching: Effective proclamation depends on the Spirit’s enabling, not on eloquence or pedigree (1 Corinthians 2:4).
• Counseling and Discipleship: Believers confront problems beyond human skill; prayer for divine enablement mirrors Daniel’s approach (Daniel 2:17–19).
• Leadership: Authentic spiritual authority flows from God-given capacity, proving itself where human resources fail.

Connections in the Broader Canon

• Ephesians 3:20 – God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.”
• Jude 24 – He “is able to keep you from stumbling.”
• Romans 4:21 – Abraham was “fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised.”

These New Testament echoes reinforce the Danielic theme: ultimate ability resides in God and is imparted to His people for His purposes.

Christological Foreshadowing

Daniel’s Spirit-empowered “ability” anticipates the greater Prophet who perfectly discloses the Father’s mysteries (John 1:18). Like Daniel, Jesus demonstrates capacity where all others fail—whether calming storms, forgiving sins, or rising from the dead.

Practical Applications

• Seek God first when confronted with tasks that exceed natural capability.
• Test every form of supposed wisdom by its dependence on divine revelation.
• Cultivate humility: success in ministry testifies to God’s power, not personal genius.

Summary

כְּהַל appears only four times, yet it shapes the theology of Daniel by spotlighting the decisive difference between human inability and God-given ability. In every era the lesson remains: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord (Zechariah 4:6).

כָּהֵ֔ל כָּהֵ֗ל כָהֲלִ֤ין כָהֲלִ֥ין כהל כהלין chahaLin ḵā·hă·lîn kā·hêl ḵāhălîn kaHel kāhêlInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts