A prodigy or omen
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
Τέρας names a wonder, an extraordinary event that arrests attention and produces amazement. In the New Testament it normally appears alongside signs, so the wonder is not merely strange but functions within a claim about divine action.
Reader summary
Full entry for τέρας (G5059) · Open the biblical lexicon
Τέρας names a wonder, an extraordinary event that arrests attention and produces amazement. In the New Testament it normally appears alongside signs, so the wonder is not merely strange but functions within a claim about divine action.
The BSB source-word alignment has 16 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include wonders (15), wonder (1).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 24:24. Its strongest book concentrations include Acts (9), 2 Corinthians (1), 2 Thessalonians (1), Hebrews (1).
Τέρας names a wonder, an extraordinary event that arrests attention and produces amazement. In the New Testament it normally appears alongside signs, so the wonder is not merely strange but functions within a claim about divine action. Yet Jesus warns that false messiahs and prophets can produce impressive signs and wonders aimed at deception. He also rebukes a demand for spectacle that refuses to trust apart from visible marvels.
Acts presents wonders within God's promised saving work and the apostles' witness, while Paul connects signs and wonders with the Spirit's power in gospel mission. The term highlights astonishing effect, but truth, agent, message, and fruit must test the event's meaning.
Τέρας emphasizes the awe produced by an extraordinary occurrence. Because genuine and deceptive wonders can both astonish, amazement never replaces discernment or the gospel's truth.
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
Jesus warns that spectacular works can accompany false claims, so impressiveness is not a sufficient test of messianic authority.
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
Mark's parallel keeps deception in view and directs disciples toward Jesus' prior warning rather than fascination with dramatic phenomena.
Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.”
Jesus exposes a posture that makes wonders a precondition for belief, even as He mercifully heals the official's son through His word.
I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.
Peter cites Joel to place cosmic wonders within God's announced day and the call to invoke the Lord for salvation.
By the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.
Paul describes signs and wonders as Spirit-empowered confirmation accompanying the full proclamation of Christ, not as an independent attraction.
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItA compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
Greek word. A wonder inspiring awe or fear, often paired with signs to authenticate divine intervention
Textus Receptus witness, full corpusGreek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
a wonder, portent
Read versea wonder, portent
Read versea wonder, portent
Read versea wonder, portent
Read versea wonder, portent
Read versea wonder, portent
Read versea wonder, portent
Read versea wonder, portent
Read versea wonder, portent
Read versea wonder, portent
Read versea wonder, portent
Read versea wonder, portent
Read versea wonder, portent
Read versea wonder, portent
Read versea wonder, portent
Read versea wonder, portent
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 4 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Showing 1 selected witness from 16 lexical occurrence verses.
τέρας is of uncertain origin - no further derivation.
Wonders reinforce the divine origin of the apostles’ ministry.Acts 5:12-16
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
A wonder captures attention, but attention is not yet faith. Jesus' warnings in Matthew and Mark show that dramatic power can be enlisted in deception, and John 4 shows that appetite for spectacle can resist trusting His word. Acts and Romans present a different pattern: wonders accompany God's promised saving action and the Spirit-empowered proclamation of Christ.
The distinction is not merely greater intensity. Genuine witness agrees with God's revelation, magnifies Jesus, advances the gospel, and bears truthful fruit. False wonder redirects allegiance and exploits amazement. Churches should neither market spectacle nor fear every unusual providence. They should receive God's works with gratitude while testing claims patiently, centering the preached Christ, and refusing to let an experience outrank Scripture.
Matt.24.24
Τέρας usually occurs in the plural and frequently forms the pair signs and wonders. The sign language points to meaning or attestation, while τέρας foregrounds the event's astonishing effect.
The exodus wonders display the Lord's saving judgment, yet Deuteronomy already warns that a sign cannot authorize apostasy. The New Testament preserves both truths around Christ and His gospel.