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Wednesday, January 15th, 2025
the First Week after Epiphany
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Wonder; Wonderful
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
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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 , mōphēth , a splendid or conspicuous work, a "miracle" ( Exodus 4:21; Exodus 11:9 , etc.), often conjoined with 'ōthōth , "signs" (Exodus 7:3; Deuteronomy 6:22; Deuteronomy 13:1 , Deuteronomy 13:2; Deuteronomy 34:11; Nehemiah 9:10 , etc.). Other frequent words are פּלא , pālā' , פּלא , pele' , a "marvel," "miracle" (Exodus 3:20; Exodus 15:11; Joshua 3:5; Isaiah 9:6 , margin "wonderful counselor," etc.). In the New Testament the ordinary verb is θαυμάζω , thaumázō , and the most frequent noun is τέρας , téras , a "marvel," "portent," answering in its meaning to Hebrew pālā' . 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 (Matthew 15:31; Mark 6:51; Luke 4:22 , etc.).
Wonderful , that which excites or calls forth wonder, is in the Old Testament chiefly the translation of pālā' or pele' ( 2 Samuel 1:26; Psalm 40:3; Isaiah 28:29 , etc.); in the New Testament of thaumásios (once, Matthew 21:15 ).
For "wondered" in Luke 8:25; Luke 11:14 , the Revised Version (British and American) has "marvelled" (compare Luke 9:43 ); in the Old Testament also "marvellous" frequently for "wondrous" etc. (1 Chronicles 16:9; , Job 9:10; Psalm 96:3; Psalm 105:2 ).
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Bibliography Information
Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. Entry for 'Wonder; Wonderful'. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/isb/w/wonder-wonderful.html. 1915.
