May, Mayest, Might

"to be able, have power," whether by personal ability, permission, or opportunity, is sometimes rendered "may" or "might," e.g., Matthew 26:9; Mark 14:5; Acts 17:19; 1—Thessalonians 2:6 . In the following the RV substitutes "can," "canst," "couldst," for the AV, e.g., Matthew 26:42; Mark 4:32; 14:7; Luke 16:2; Acts 24:11; 25:11; 27:12; 1—Corinthians 7:21; 14:31 (here the alteration is especially important, as not permission for all to prophesy, but ability to do so, is the meaning); Ephesians 3:4 . In the following the RV substitutes the verb "to be able," Acts 19:40; 24:8; Revelation 13:17 . See ABLE , B, No. 1.

"it is premitted, lawful" (eimi, "to be," prefixed by ek, "from"), is rendered "(I) may" in Acts 2:29 , RV [AV, "let (me)"]; in Acts 21:37 , "may (I)," lit., "is it permitted (me to speak)?" Some mss. have it in Acts 8:37 , "thou mayest" (AV). See LAWFUL.

"equally" (from the adjective isos, "equal"), is translated "it may be" in Luke 20:13 (i.e., "perhaps").

"to meet with, reach, obtain," denotes, intransitively, "to happen, chance, befall;" used impersonally with the conjunction ei, "if," it signifies "it may be," "perhaps," e.g., 1—Corinthians 14:10; 15:37 , "it may chance;" 1—Corinthians 16:6 .