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Bible Dictionaries
Prevail
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words
or "to be strong, powerful," is translated "to prevail" in Acts 19:16,20; Revelation 12:8 . See ABLE , B, No. 4.
"to be strong against" (kata, "against," and No. 1), is used in Matthew 16:18 , negatively of the gates of hades; in Luke 21:36 (in the most authentic ms.; some have kataxioo, "to count worthy;" see AV), of "prevailing" to escape judgments at the close of this age; in Luke 23:23 , of the voices of the chief priests, rulers and people against Pilate regarding the crucifixion of Christ.
"to benefit, do good, profit," is translated "prevailed" in Matthew 27:24 , RV (AV, "could prevail"), of the conclusion formed by Pilate concerning the determination of the chief priests, elders and people. The meaning of the verb with the negative is better expressed by the phrase "he would do no good;" so in John 12:19 , "ye prevail (nothing)," lit., "ye are doing no good." See ADVANTAGE , BETTERED , PROFIT.
"to conquer, prevail," is used as a law term in Romans 3:4 , "(that) Thou ... mightest prevail [AV, 'overcome'] (when Thou comest into judgment);" that the righteousness of the judge's verdict compels an acknowledgement on the part of the accused, is inevitable where God is the judge. God's promises to Israel provided no guarantee that an unrepentant Jew would escape doom. In Revelation 5:5 , AV, "hath prevailed" (RV, "hath overcome"). See CONQUER , No. 1.
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Vines, W. E., M. A. Entry for 'Prevail'. Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ved/p/prevail.html. 1940.
