WONDER; WONDERFUL

wun'-der, wun'-derful: 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 mopheth, a splendid or conspicuous work, a "miracle" (Exodus 4:21; Exodus 11:9, etc.), often conjoined with 'othoth, "signs" (Exodus 7:3 Deuteronomy 6:22; Deuteronomy 13:1, 2; 34:11 Nehemiah 9:10, etc.). Other frequent words are pala', 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 thaumazo, and the most frequent noun is teras, a "marvel," "portent," answering in its meaning to Hebrew pala'. 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 pala' or pele' (2 Samuel 1:26 Psalm 40:3 Isaiah 28:29, etc.); in the New Testament of thaumasios (once, Matthew 21:15).

For "wondered" in Luke 8:25; Luke 11:14, the Revised Version (British and American) has "marvelled" (compare 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).

W. L. Walker