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מִפְעָל

𐤌𐤐𐤏𐤋

miphʻâl

H4659 noun

SILEX Entry

Root פעל to do, to make, to work, to perform

Definition

An action, work, deed, or product of activity. Denotes the result or outcome of purposeful activity, whether by a human, deed or undertaking, or ascribed to a deity, often describing the visible effects or products of divine or human action. The term can refer to an act in the abstract, a concrete accomplishment, or the craft/work ascribed to a maker.

Semantic Range

work, deed, act, activity, product, performance, accomplishment, result, undertaking, creation (of a deity), outcome

Root / Etymology

From the root פעל (pe-ayin-lamed), meaning 'to do, make, perform.' מִפְעָל (masculine) and its feminine form מִפְעָלָה are noun formations indicating the product, act, or result of action, constructed from the verbal root with the mem-prefix indicating place, instrument, or product of an action in Hebrew nominal patterns.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, מִפְעָל most commonly refers to a deed or work in both human and divine contexts. When attributed to a deity (e.g., 'the works of Yhwh'), it encapsulates acts of creation, intervention, or judgment, highlighting the visible manifestation of divine intent or power. In human contexts, it denotes completed actions or undertakings, sometimes with evaluative nuance (positive or negative) depending on context. The feminine form מִפְעָלָה occurs more rarely with the same semantic range. Later, in post-biblical Hebrew and modern usage, מִפְעָל is used for a 'factory' or 'industrial plant,' exemplifying semantic evolution toward concrete locations of production. The term overlaps with מַעֲשֶׂה (deed, act), but while מַעֲשֶׂה often emphasizes the act or process, מִפְעָל frequently stresses the outcome or product. English translations often use 'work,' 'deed,' or 'act,' but may not fully capture its broad application to both abstract and concrete results of action.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (feminine) מִפְעָלָה; from פָּעַל; a performance; work.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

פעל (p-ʿ-l) — to do, to make, to work, to perform

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H508 אֶלְפַּעַל God-acts
H6466 פָּעַל I accomplish
H6467 פֹּעַל in their deed
H6468 פְּעֻלָּה wage of
H6469 פְּעֻלְּתַי Work-of-Yah

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4659-02 מִפְעֲל֣וֹת mifealot HNcmpc the-works-of deeds of 2
H4659-01 מִפְעָלָ֣י/ו mifealayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his works his deeds 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4659-02 Psalms 46:9 מִפְעֲל֣וֹת mifealot HNcmpc the-works-of deeds of
H4659-02 Psalms 66:5 מִפְעֲל֣וֹת mifealot HNcmpc works-of deeds of
H4659-01 Proverbs 8:22 מִפְעָלָ֣י/ו mifealayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his works his deeds
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