מִפְלָאָה
𐤌𐤐𐤋𐤀𐤄
miphlâʼâh
H4652 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An extraordinary event or phenomenon attributed to divine action, expressing the wondrous, astonishing, or miraculous. Specifically denotes an act or occurrence which surpasses human capability or expectation and demonstrates an aspect of the deity's power in the narrative. The term is used in contexts highlighting the exceptional or supernatural character of an event.
Semantic Range
miracle, wonder, amazing deed, something extraordinary accomplished by deity, supernatural act, wondrous work
Root / Etymology
From the root פלא (p-l-ʾ), which means 'to be wonderful, to be extraordinary, to surpass, to be difficult.' מִפְלָאָה is a feminine noun formation from this root, signifying something characterized by wonder, i.e., an act or thing that is wondrous or miraculous in nature.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, מִפְלָאָה appears in poetic and narrative texts to emphasize the surprising or divinely extraordinary nature of certain events, usually placed in contexts suggesting divine intervention or a deed beyond ordinary experience (e.g., Joshua 3:5, 'Tomorrow YHWH will do מִפְלָאֹת among you'). The term carries resonance with other words for signs, such as אוֹת (sign) or מוֹפֵת (marvel, portent), but מִפְלָאָה emphasizes the aspect of wonder, awe, and the incomprehensible. In later biblical and Second Temple Jewish texts, related terms come to denote miracles more generally, but in earlier Israelite usage the emphasis is on the singularity and unexpected nature of divine action, not merely a suspension of physical law. English translations such as 'miracle' or 'wonder' often narrow or shift the sense by importing later theological categories. מִפְלָאָה remains relatively rare in biblical Hebrew, and when it appears, its function is to highlight YHWH's capacity to produce events outside the ordinary realm of human existence or comprehension.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from פָּלָא; a miracle; wondrous work.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
פלא (p-l-ʾ) — to be wonderful, to be extraordinary, to surpass, to be difficult
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6381 | פָּלָא | in his extraordinary acts |
| H6382 | פֶּלֶא | extraordinary wonder |
| H6383 | פִּלְאִי | extraordinary one |
| H6384 | פַּלֻּאִי | the Pallu-descendant |
| H6411 | פְּלָיָה | Yah has distinguished |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4652-01 |
מִ֝פְלְא֗וֹת | mifeleot | HNcfpc |
the wonders | wonders of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4652-01 |
Job 37:16 | מִ֝פְלְא֗וֹת | mifeleot | HNcfpc |
the wonders | wonders of |