Hebrew · H6381, G2298 · unreviewed

פָּלָא

Properly, perhaps to separate , i.e. distinguish (literally or figuratively); by implication, to be (causatively, make ) great , difficult , wonderful · marvellous

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

פָּלָא H6381 properly, perhaps to separate , i.e. distinguish (literally or figuratively); by implication, to be (causatively, make ) great , difficult , wonderful
Pronunciation pālāʾ
To separate or distinguish, hence God's miraculous acts that transcend ordinary human capacity and comprehension.
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θαυμαστός G2298 marvellous
Pronunciation thaumastós
Describes something so extraordinary it provokes wonder and astonishment in the observer.
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What does פָּלָא (pala) mean in the Bible?

פָּלָא · θαυμαστός is a Hebrew word meaning "to be extraordinary or beyond human ability".

Full entry for פָּלָא (H6381, G2298) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to be extraordinary or beyond human ability
Grammatical Forms

How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.

Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 24×
Participle active Dan 11:36 · Deut 30:11 · Exod 34:10 · Job 5:9 · Job 37:5 · Job 37:14 · Job 42:3 · Josh 3:5 · Mic 7:15 · Ps 72:18 · Ps 86:10 · Ps 98:1 · Ps 106:22 · Ps 118:23 · Ps 119:18 · Ps 136:4 17×
Imperfect Deut 17:8 · Jer 32:17 · Jer 32:27 · Zech 8:6
Perfect 2Sam 1:26 · Prov 30:18
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action
Perfect 2Chr 26:15 · Isa 28:29 · Ps 31:22
Imperfect Lev 27:2 · Num 6:2
Infinitive absolute Isa 29:14
Hithpael reflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others
Imperfect Job 10:16
Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 31 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form
Participle 17 Imperfect 8 Perfect 5 Infinitive absolute 1
Stem
Niphal 24 Hiphil 6 Hithpael 1
Mood
Indicative/jussive 8 Indicative 5

Aspect in Hebrew reflects grammatical form, not tense. "Perfect" (Perfective) typically denotes completed action; "Imperfect" (Imperfective) denotes incomplete or ongoing action. Stem modifies the action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive, etc.).

Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources