Original Word: מִפְלָאָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: miphla'ah
Pronunciation: mif-LAH-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (mif-law-aw')
KJV: wondrous work
NASB: wonders
Word Origin: [from H6381 (פָּלָא - wonders)]

1. a miracle

wondrous work

From pala'; a miracle -- wondrous work.

see HEBREW pala'

Word Origin
from the same as pele
Definition
a wondrous work
NASB Translation
wonders (1).

[מִפְלָאָה] noun feminine wondrous work (si vera lectio); — plural construct מִפְלְאוֺת Job 37:16 (of providence; but read probably נִפְלְאוֺת Bu SS, compare Di).

Overview

The Hebrew noun מִפְלָאָה appears once in Scripture and serves as a vivid witness to the Lord’s capacity for deeds that exceed human comprehension. Arising from the broader family of verbs and nouns that convey “to be wonderful, extraordinary, surpassing,” the term directs attention to the awe-inspiring character of God’s works in the created order and, by extension, in His redemptive dealings with humanity.

Biblical Occurrence and Immediate Context

Job 37:16 places the word on the lips of Elihu as he challenges Job to consider the untouchable wisdom of God displayed in the natural world: “Do you understand how the clouds float, those wonders of Him who is perfect in knowledge?” (Job 37:16). Here מִפְלָאָה emphasizes the clouds as living testimonies to God’s unfathomable skill. Elihu’s rhetorical question underlines the human inability to penetrate the mysteries behind divine operations, thereby calling Job—and every subsequent reader—to humility before the Creator.

Conceptual Range within Biblical Theology

1. Display of Divine Power
• Passages employing related terms, such as Exodus 15:11 and Psalm 77:14, celebrate the Lord who “works wonders.” The singular use in Job functions as a link in the canonical chain that credits all breathtaking phenomena—whether in nature or history—to the direct agency of God.
2. Revelation of Divine Wisdom
• Job 37:14-18 foregrounds meteorological marvels; מִפְלָאָה encapsulates the idea that every detail of the cosmos broadcasts divine intellect (cf. Psalm 104:24).
3. Anticipation of Redemptive Wonders
• Old Testament “wonders” prepare readers for the climactic New Testament manifestation: “Jesus the Nazarene … a man attested to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs” (Acts 2:22). The singular Old Testament noun thus participates in a larger biblical pattern that culminates in Christ.

Relation to Divine Attributes

• Omniscience: The verse explicitly links the wonders to “Him who is perfect in knowledge,” asserting that true marvels proceed from limitless understanding.
• Sovereignty: Clouds move and suspend at His bidding. The same sovereign governance extends to human affairs, securing confidence that “His way is perfect” (Psalm 18:30).
• Immanence and Transcendence: While God is beyond comprehension, His wonders are perceivable, bridging the transcendence-immanence divide.

Parallel Vocabulary and Comparative Passages

Although מִפְלָאָה is unique to Job 37:16, cognate nouns such as פֶּלֶא (Isaiah 25:1) and the related adjective פִּלְאִי (“most wonderful,” Judges 13:18) enrich the semantic field. Together they highlight:
• Extraordinary acts in creation (Psalm 139:14).
• Redemptive interventions (Exodus 34:10).
• Prophetic anticipation of the Messiah as “Wonderful Counselor” (Isaiah 9:6).

Historical and Cultural Background

Ancient Near Eastern cultures often attributed meteorological phenomena to rival deities. Job confronts such polytheistic notions by assigning every atmospheric marvel solely to the Lord. The author leverages common experience—observing clouds—to ground profound theology accessible to any era.

Application for the Worshiping Community

1. Cultivating Awe: Regular reflection on God’s wonders in nature nourishes reverence and guards against casual familiarity with sacred truths.
2. Encouraging Prayerful Humility: Recognizing that finite minds cannot unravel מִפְלָאָה encourages believers to entrust unanswered questions to the Lord (Deuteronomy 29:29).
3. Inspiring Praise: Worship that rehearses God’s wonders, ancient and contemporary, aligns with the psalmist’s exhortation to “tell of His wonderful works” (Psalm 105:2).

Implications for Preaching and Teaching

• Apologetic Value: Job 37:16 serves as an entry point for conversations on intelligent design and the coherence of a theistic worldview.
• Pastoral Comfort: Pointing sufferers to the God of מִפְלָאָה assures them that the One who orders clouds also orders circumstances for good (Romans 8:28).
• Missional Fuel: Declaring God’s wonders to the nations fulfills Psalm 96:3 and frames evangelism as joining in the cosmic testimony of creation.

Summary

Though occurring only once, מִפְלָאָה encapsulates the biblical conviction that every extraordinary phenomenon—from floating clouds to the resurrection of Christ—proceeds from the perfect knowledge and power of God. The term invites believers to marvel, to trust, and to proclaim the One whose wonders never cease.

מִ֝פְלְא֗וֹת מפלאות mifleot mip̄·lə·’ō·wṯ mip̄lə’ōwṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts