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 ).
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) was edited by James Orr, John Nuelsen, Edgar Mullins, Morris Evans, and Melvin Grove Kyle and was published complete in 1939. This web site includes the complete text.
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