Original Word: פֶלֶא
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: pele'
Pronunciation: peh'-leh
Phonetic Spelling: (peh'-leh)
KJV: marvellous thing, wonder(-ful, -fully)
NASB: wonders, wonderful, astonishingly
Word Origin: [from H6381 (פָּלָא - wonders)]

1. a miracle

marvelous thing, wonderful

From pala'; a miracle -- marvellous thing, wonder(-ful, -fully).

see HEBREW pala'

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
a wonder
NASB Translation
astonishingly (1), wonderful (2), wonders (9).

מֶּ֫לֶא noun masculine wonder (Late Hebrew id.; as unusual, extraordinary); — ׳פ Exodus 15:11 6t.; suffix מִּלְאֲךָ Psalm 89:6; מִּלְאֶ֑ךָ Psalm 77:12; Psalm 88:13, plural מְּלָאִים Lamentations 1:9; feminine plural מְּלָאוֺת Psalm 119:129; Daniel 12:6; —

1 wonder: extraordinary, hard to be understood, God's dealings with His people Isaiah 29:14; the testimonies of the Law Psalm 119:129; מֶּלֶא יוֺעֵץ Isaiah 9:5 marvel of a counsellor (Baer מֵּלֶא), wonderful counsellor (of Messianic king); plural as adverb accusative ׳וַתֵּרֶד פ Lamentations 1:9 she (Jerusalem) hath come down marvelously.

2 wonder: of God's acts of judgment and redemption Psalm 77:12; Psalm 88:13; Psalm 89:6; ׳עשׂה פ Exodus 15:11; Isaiah 25:1; Psalm 77:15; Psalm 78:12; Psalm 88:11; of extraordinary trials ׳קֵץ הפ Daniel 12:6.

Wonder as Revelation of Yahweh

“Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders?” (Exodus 15:11). From the moment Israel steps onto the eastern bank of the Sea, פֶלֶא signals God’s self-disclosure. The “wonders” are not random displays of power but covenantal acts that unveil His holiness, inspire fear, and elicit praise. Every later occurrence recalls, echoes, or anticipates that foundational revelation.

Patterns of Occurrence

Thirteen times פֶלֶא appears, clustered in three major literary settings:
• The Exodus tradition (Exodus 15:11).
• The Psalter’s historical and lament psalms (Psalm 77:11; 77:14; 78:12; 88:10; 88:12; 89:5; 119:129).
• The Prophets and Writings addressing future hope or present judgment (Isaiah 9:6; 25:1; 29:14; Lamentations 1:9; Daniel 12:6).

Across these settings, the word anchors memory, shapes worship, sustains hope, and warns of judgment.

The Psalter: Remembering and Reliving the Exodus

Psalm 77 intertwines crisis with recollection: “I will remember the works of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old” (Psalm 77:11). The psalmist moves from despair to confidence by rehearsing פֶלֶא. In Psalm 78:12 the same term frames the recital of “wondrous works” in Zoan, teaching a new generation to trust God. Even the depths of lament do not silence the language of wonder; Psalm 88 asks whether those wonders are remembered in the grave, exposing the agony of apparent divine distance while affirming that the category of wonder remains operative.

“Wonderful Counselor” and the Messianic Horizon

Isaiah 9:6 names the coming King “Wonderful Counselor,” crowning פֶלֶא with royal and messianic significance. The title points beyond isolated miracles to the Person in whom the very nature of God’s wonder dwells. The Servant-King embodies and surpasses every previous act of marvel; His incarnation, ministry, resurrection, and promised return are the climactic פֶלֶא that unites redemption history.

Triumph, Trust, and Teaching in Isaiah

Isaiah 25:1 looks back and forward: “You have worked wonders, plans formed long ago, in perfect faithfulness.” Here פֶלֶא validates prophetic assurance; the God who once redeemed will finally swallow up death. Isaiah 29:14 warns of judgment through a fresh “wonder upon wonder,” reminding complacent people that God’s marvels can dismantle human wisdom as readily as they deliver.

From Devastation to Expectation: Exile Literature

Lamentations 1:9 mourns that Jerusalem “had no one to comfort her,” a tragic counterpoint to earlier wonders. The absence of פֶלֶא intensifies grief, yet Daniel 12:6 reopens the theme: “How long will it be before the end of these wonders?” The question binds eschatological expectation to the certainty that God’s extraordinary acts will culminate in resurrection and final justice (Daniel 12:2-3).

Theological Threads

1. Revelation: Wonders disclose God’s character—holy, sovereign, faithful.
2. Memory: Recounting פֶלֶא is central to Israel’s liturgy and identity.
3. Judgment and Mercy: Wonders can save or confound, depending on the heart’s response.
4. Christology: Jesus Christ is the ultimate Wonder, uniting divine nature and human need.
5. Eschatology: Past wonders guarantee future consummation; history moves toward a final, decisive פֶלֶא.

Practical Ministry Implications

• Worship: Incorporate readings and songs that celebrate God’s historic and present wonders, fostering awe and gratitude.
• Preaching: Trace the trajectory from Exodus through the prophets to Christ, showing congregations the coherence of God’s marvelous works.
• Discipleship: Encourage believers to journal present-day answers to prayer as personal “wonders,” connecting experience to biblical testimony.
• Counseling: Use passages like Psalm 77 to model lament that intentionally recalls God’s past wonders, nurturing hope amid suffering.
• Missions: Present the gospel as the supreme wonder—God acting in Christ to redeem the nations—fueling evangelistic confidence.

The word פֶלֶא thus spans redemptive history, threading together the sea’s parting, the psalmist’s praise, the prophet’s vision, the city’s ruin, the angel’s timetable, and the church’s proclamation. Recognizing and proclaiming these wonders renews faith, sharpens worship, and anchors hope “until the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

הַפְּלָאֽוֹת׃ הפלאות׃ וָפֶ֑לֶא ופלא פְּלָא֥וֹת פְּלָאִ֔ים פִּלְאֲךָ֣ פִּלְאֶ֑ךָ פִּלְאֶֽךָ׃ פֶ֑לֶא פֶּ֑לֶא פֶּ֠לֶא פֶֽלֶא׃ פלא פלא׃ פלאות פלאים פלאך פלאך׃ Fele hap·pə·lā·’ō·wṯ happəlā’ōwṯ happelaot pə·lā·’îm pə·lā·’ō·wṯ pe·le p̄e·le pəlā’îm pəlā’ōwṯ pelaIm pelaot pele p̄ele pil’ăḵā pil’eḵā pil·’ă·ḵā pil·’e·ḵā pilaCha pilEcha vaFele wā·p̄e·le wāp̄eleInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts