פְּעֻלָּה

פְּעֻלָּה (peullah) is the Hebrew word for work, deed, or reward — the term covers both what one does (the action/deed) and what one receives for doing it (wages/recompense). In Scripture its most theologically significant use is double: the deeds/works that YHWH himself does (Ps 28:5, 46:8) and the reward/recompense that YHWH brings when he comes to gather his people (Isa 40:10). The peullah of YHWH is both his action in history and the just return he gives to those who labor for him.

Isaiah 40:10 gives peullah its eschatological-return form: 'Behold, the Lord YHWH comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward (sakhar, H7939) is with him and his recompense (peullah) before him.' The Hiphil-arm of YHWH that rules for him brings with it both reward and recompense: the sakhar is what the servant receives, and the peullah is the wages YHWH brings to pay what is owed. The same verse opens with 'Behold, his reward is with him' — the great coming of YHWH in Isaiah 40-55 is the coming of the God who pays what he owes to his people. Revelation 22:12 echoes this directly: 'Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.'

Psalm 28:5 gives peullah its warning form: 'Because they do not regard the works (peulot) of YHWH and the deeds (maasehYHWH) of his hands, he will tear them down and build them up no more.' The failure to see YHWH's peullah — his works in history — is a covenant-blindness that leads to destruction. Those who cannot see YHWH's hand in the events of their lives are those who will be torn down.

Jeremiah 31:16 gives peullah its exile-comfort form: 'Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward (sakhar) for your work (peullah); they shall come back from the land of the enemy.' The exiled Rachel weeping for her children (v. 15) is comforted with the peullah-promise: the work of suffering in exile will not go unrewarded. YHWH keeps accounts: the peullah done in faithfulness will be recompensed, even when it seems the work is lost.

Psalm 46:8 gives peullah its wonder-form: 'Come, behold the works of YHWH (peulot YHWH), how he has brought desolations upon the earth.' The congregation is invited to see the peulot — the deeds — of YHWH as spectators of his sovereign action in the world. The desolations are not evidence of chaos but of YHWH's purposeful working: his peulot include both the stopping of wars (v. 9: 'he makes wars cease to the end of the earth') and the destruction of the weapons of war.

For the preacher, פְּעֻלָּה (peullah) gives the congregation a double lens: YHWH's own works are the peulot they are called to see and proclaim; and the work done in his name will receive his peullah-recompense when he comes.

פְּעֻלָּה (peullah) is indexed in the local Hebrew artifact at about 14 occurrences. Its theological center is YHWH's own deeds/works (Ps 28:5, 46:8, Isa 5:12) and the reward/recompense YHWH brings when he comes (Isa 40:10, Jer 31:16). The word covers both the deed done and the wages due — the same word names both what YHWH does and what he pays. Isaiah 40:10 is the eschatological hinge: YHWH comes with his peullah (recompense) ready to give to his servants.