Bible Dictionary
AVAIL
To avail is to be effective, sufficient, or helpful. Scripture contrasts outward religious acts that cannot save by themselves with faith working through love and with prayer that is effective before God.
Definition
To avail means to be effective, sufficient, helpful, or prevailing. It can also mean to satisfy a desire or to possess adequate strength for an action.
Biblical Usage
Outward religious ceremony cannot provide redemptive merit by itself. Faith working through love is effective in Christ, and prayer is described as effective before God.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>a-val' shawah, ("to be equal," hence "to be enough," "to avail"): Used in the sense of "satisfy" (Es 5:13). Queen Esther's exceptional favor availed not to satisfy Haman, because of his insane jealousy of his rival Mordecai. ischuo, "to be strong.," translated also "prevail" (Re 12:8); with a negative signifies incompetence, e. g. the impossibility of redemptivc merit or power in an outward ceremony or act (Ga 5:6; 6:15 the King James Version): "neither circumcision availcth anything," contrasted with the efficacy of faith "in Christ Jesus." Used also to express the efficacy of prayer (Jas 5:16).</p>