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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Wonder; Wonderful
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wun´dẽr, wun´dẽrful: The verb “wonder†occurs only a few times in the Old Testament; “wonder†as noun is much more frequent, and is chiefly the translation of the word מופת, moÌ„pheÌ„th, a splendid or conspicuous work, a “miracle†(; , etc.), often conjoined with 'oÌ„thoÌ„th, “signs†(; ; , ; ; , etc.). Other frequent words are פּל×, paÌ„laÌ„', פּל×, pele', a “marvel,†“miracle†(; ; ; , margin “wonderful counselor,†etc.). In the New Testament the ordinary verb is θαυμαÌζω, thaumaÌzoÌ„, and the most frequent noun is τεÌÏας, teÌras, a “marvel,†“portent,†answering in its meaning to Hebrew paÌ„laÌ„'. As in the Old Testament the “wonder†is chiefly a miraculous work, so in the Gospels the feeling of wonder is chiefly drawn out by the marvelous displays of Christ's power and wisdom (; ; , etc.).
Wonderful, that which excites or calls forth wonder, is in the Old Testament chiefly the translation of paÌ„laÌ„' or pele' (; ; , etc.); in the New Testament of thaumaÌsios (once, ).
For “wondered†in ; , the Revised Version (British and American) has “marvelled†(compare ); in the Old Testament also “marvellous†frequently for “wondrous†etc. (; , ; ; ).