פֶּ֫לֶא
pe.le
wonder
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Hebrew word פֶּ֫לֶא (pe.le), translated as "wonder," conveys a sense of awe, astonishment, and amazement. This word captures the emotional response to encountering something extraordinary, unexpected, or remarkable. The term is used in a variety of contexts across 13 biblical occurrences, often describing divine acts, miraculous events, or God's intervention in human life. This suggests that the concept of wonder is closely tied to God's activity and power in the biblical narrative. The range of usage spans from descriptions of God's creation (Psalm 66:3-5) to expressions of amazement at God's deliverance (Deuteronomy 28:47, 29:22) and prophetic announcements of future events (Isaiah 8:3). The significance of this word lies in its association with God's activity and power, implying that the experience of wonder is a natural response to encounters with the divine. This perspective emphasizes the emotional and visceral aspects of faith, underscoring the idea that the biblical narrative is meant to inspire awe, fascination, and a sense of the extraordinary in the human experience.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
13 total occurrences across the text
I will remember Yah’s deeds; for I will remember your wonders of old.
Psalms 77:14You are the God who does wonders. You have made your strength known among the peoples.
Psalms 78:12He did marvelous things in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
Psalms 88:10Do you show wonders to the dead? Do the departed spirits rise up and praise you?
Psalms 88:12Are your wonders made known in the dark? Or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Psalms 89:5The heavens will praise your wonders, Yahweh, your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.
Psalms 119:129Your testimonies are wonderful, therefore my soul keeps them.
Isaiah 9:6For a child is born to us. A son is given to us; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 25:1Yahweh, you are my God. I will exalt you! I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago, in complete faithfulness and truth.
Isaiah 29:14therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men will perish, and the understanding of their prudent men will be hidden.”
Lamentations 1:9Her filthiness was in her skirts. She didn’t remember her latter end. Therefore she has come down astoundingly. She has no comforter. “See, Yahweh, my affliction; for the enemy has magnified himself.”
Daniel 12:6One said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be to the end of these wonders?”
Exodus 15:11Who is like you, Yahweh, among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?