The Hebrew verb yāḵōl (יָכֹל) means to be able to do something, to prevail over someone, or to endure a situation. It is essentially an auxiliary verb of ability or capacity, occurring over 190 times. It typically requires a following infinitive ('be able to [do something]') or is used absolutely ('prevail'). The verb encompasses both ability and permission.
Yāḵōl raises the profound theological question: what can humans do, and what can only God do? Two pivotal passages frame this. In Jeremiah 13:23 — 'Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil' — yāḵōl expresses human moral inability apart from God. This prefigures the New Testament's teaching on total depravity. Conversely, the name Israel itself comes from Jacob who 'struggled with God and with humans and has overcome' (Genesis 32:28) — suggesting that those who wrestle with God in prayer are able to prevail through persevering faith.