τέρας G5059
Wonder, portent, or miraculous sign; a supernatural marvel that evokes awe and points to divine power.
Teras refers to an extraordinary event that inspires astonishment and signals divine activity. In the NT it appears almost exclusively in the paired phrase semeia kai terata (“signs and wonders”), where semeion emphasizes the revelatory meaning and teras the awe-inspiring, wonder-evoking dimension of the same mighty act. Peter’s Pentecost sermon declares that God attested Jesus through wonders (Acts 2:22), and Joel’s prophecy foretells cosmic portents (Acts 2:19). Jesus himself warns that false messiahs will perform signs and wonders to deceive (Matt 24:24; Mark 13:22). Spanish prodigios, French prodige, and German Wunder each convey the sense of an extraordinary, awe-inducing marvel.
Senses
1. wonders — A wonder or portent—a supernatural marvel that produces awe and points to the power of God. Nearly always paired with semeion (“sign”) in the fixed phrase “signs and wonders,” where teras highlights the astonishing, attention-arresting quality of divine acts. Peter cites wonders as God’s attestation of Jesus (Acts 2:22), and Joel’s prophecy promises cosmic portents before the Day of the Lord (Acts 2:19). The warning that false prophets will produce counterfeit wonders (Matt 24:24; Mark 13:22) shows the word carries no inherent moral valence—it is the source, not the marvel itself, that determines legitimacy. 16×
AR["عَجائِبَ", "عَجَائِبَ", "عَجَائِبُ"]·ben["অদ্ভুতকর্ম", "অলৌকিক-কাজ", "অলৌকিক-কাজে", "আশ্চর্য", "আশ্চর্য-কাজ", "আশ্চর্যকাজ", "আশ্চর্যকার্য", "আশ্চর্যকার্যে", "আশ্চর্যে", "আশ্চর্যের,"]·DE["Wunder"]·EN["of-wonders", "wonders"]·FR["Wunder", "prodige"]·heb["בְּ-", "מוֹפְתִים"]·HI["अद्भुत", "अद्भुत-काम", "अद्भुत-कार्य", "अद्भुतों", "अद्भुतों-की", "अपने", "अशचरयोन", "आश्चर्य", "आश्चर्य-कर्म", "आश्चर्यों", "और", "किया"]·ID["keajaiban", "keajaiban,", "keajaiban-keajaiban"]·IT["prodigio", "terata"]·jav["kaanegan", "kaanehan-kaanehan", "kaelokan-kaelokan", "kaélokan", "keajaiban", "mukjijat", "mukjijat-mukjijat,", "mukjizat"]·KO["기사들-과", "기사들과", "기사들을", "기사들이", "기이들", "기이들과", "기이한-일들-을", "기이한-일들-의", "기적들-이", "되도록", "위-에", "이적들을"]·PT["prodígios", "prodígios,"]·RU["-чудес", "чудес", "чудеса", "чудесам", "чудесами", "чудесах"]·ES["prodigios"]·SW["ili", "maajabu", "maajabu,", "miujiza"]·TR["harikaaların", "harikalar", "harikalarla", "harikulaleliklerde", "olmasını"]·urd["دیکھو", "عجائب", "عجائب-سے", "عجائبات", "عجائبوں"]
Matt 24:24, Mark 13:22, John 4:48, Acts 2:19, Acts 2:22, Acts 2:43, Acts 4:30, Acts 5:12, Acts 6:8, Acts 7:36, Acts 14:3, Acts 15:12 (+4 more)
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
τέρας, τό: genitive Epic dialect αος (not in Refs 8th c.BC+, Ionic dialect εος Refs 5th c.BC+: plural, nominative Epic dialect τέραα Refs 8th c.BC+, Ionic dialect τέρεα Refs 5th c.BC+; genitive Epic dialect τεράων Refs 8th c.BC+; dative Epic dialect τεράεσσι LXX+8th c.BC+; genitive singular τέρως variant in Refs 8th c.BC+:— sign, wonder, marvel, portent, ἡμῖν μὲν τόδ᾽ ἔφηνε τ. Ζεύς Refs 8th…