פֶּ֫לֶא (pe.le)
pe.le
wonder
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun pe’el describes something that is a wonder or marvel, specifically referring to events that are extraordinary and difficult to understand. It captures the human reaction to situations that defy normal explanation, marking them as distinct from everyday occurrences. In the biblical text, this word appears in contexts where observers encounter phenomena that exceed ordinary experience.
The sources highlight two primary shades of meaning for pe’el. First, it denotes a general marvel or something strange and hard to grasp. Second, and more significantly, it is used to describe God’s acts of judgment and redemption. When Scripture applies this term to divine activity, it emphasizes that these interventions are not merely miraculous but are profound mysteries that reveal God’s power in ways that leave people in awe.
This word appears seven times in the Hebrew Bible, with a notable concentration in Psalms, Isaiah, and Lamentations. Its usage often bridges the gap between human confusion and divine clarity, as seen when psalmists reflect on God’s deeds or prophets describe the shocking nature of coming judgment. The term serves to anchor the reader’s attention on the sheer weight and unexpected character of what God is doing in history.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word pe’el points to moments that stop us in our tracks. It describes events so extraordinary they defy normal explanation, marking them as distinct from everyday life. When we encounter such things, we are left with a sense of awe that bridges human confusion and divine clarity.
In Scripture, this term often highlights God’s acts of judgment and redemption. These interventions are not just miracles but profound mysteries revealing His power. Like the psalmist who found God’s testimonies wonderful enough to keep his soul obedient, we are invited to rest in the reality that God works in ways beyond our full understanding.
Even when circumstances seem astoundingly difficult, as seen in Lamentations, this word reminds us that God is present in the unexpected. It anchors our attention on the sheer weight of what He is doing in history, offering hope that His plans remain faithful even when they are hard to grasp.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- wonder[s]2×
- wonders1×
- the/ wonders1×
- and/ a wonder1×
- [are] wonders1×
- <of> wonder[s]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- פֶּ֑לֶא1×
- פְּלָאִ֔ים1×
- פְּלָא֥וֹת1×
- פֶֽלֶא\׃1×
- פֶ֑לֶא1×
- וָ/פֶ֑לֶא1×
- הַ/פְּלָאֽוֹת\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 15:11
Who is like you, Yahweh, among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
This verse uses pe’el to celebrate God’s unique power in the Exodus, contrasting His glorious deeds with all other gods.
-
Psalms 119:129
Your testimonies are wonderful, therefore my soul keeps them.
Here the psalmist connects the wonderful nature of God’s testimonies directly to the motivation for keeping them.
-
Isaiah 25:1
Yahweh, 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.
The prophet praises God for wonderful things planned long ago, emphasizing that these acts are grounded in complete faithfulness and truth.
-
Daniel 12:6
One 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?”
This reference to 'wonders' points to the mysterious and difficult-to-understand nature of end-times events.