פָּלָא71 H6381
To be surpassing or extraordinary; God's wonders; to do wondrously; too difficult; to make a special vow
Rooted in the idea of something surpassing normal experience, this verb covers a wide arc from awe to impossibility. Its most frequent use is the Nifal feminine plural participle nifla'ot, 'wonders,' referring to God's extraordinary acts in creation and redemption (Exod 3:20; Ps 136). Yet the same root describes what is 'too difficult' for human capacity (Gen 18:14; Jer 32:17), revealing that wonder and impossibility are two faces of one Hebrew concept. In cultic contexts it narrows to making or fulfilling an extraordinary vow (Lev 27:2; Num 6:2). Arabic distinguishes ajiba ('wonder') from sauba ('difficulty'), showing that Hebrew uniquely fuses these ideas under one root.
3. be marvelous, be wonderful — Nifal stative or finite forms expressing that something is marvelous, wonderful, or surpassing in quality. David's lament that Jonathan's love was 'wonderful, surpassing the love of women' (2 Sam 1:26) and the psalmist's 'this is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes' (Ps 118:23) exemplify this sense. Korean nollaun ('amazing') and Arabic ajibah ('wonderful') confirm the adjectival weight. 6×
AR["عَجيب","عَجيبَةٌ","عَجِيبَةً-كَانَتْ","عَجِيبَةٌ","يَعْسُرُ"]·ben["-আমাদের-চোখে","অদ্ভুত-ছিল","আশ্চর্য","আশ্চর্য-হবে","আশ্চর্য-হয়"]·DE["ist-wunderbar","wonderful","wunderbar"]·EN["are-too-wonderful","is-wonderful","it-is-marvelous","will-it-be-marvelous","wonderful"]·FR["merveille","merveilleux","être-merveilleux"]·heb["ייפלא","נפלאו","נפלאים","נפלאת","נפלאתה"]·HI["अद्भुत-था","अद्भुत-है","अद्भुत-हैं","आश्चर्यजनक","वह-अचंभित-लगे","वह-अचंभित-लगेगा"]·ID["ajaib","itu-ajaib","terlalu-mengagumkan"]·IT["fu-meraviglioso","meraviglioso","sono-too-wonderful","è-meraviglioso"]·jav["nganeh-anehi","nggumunaken","èlok","éluk","éndah"]·KO["기이하겠느냐","기이하도다","기이하면","너무-기이하다","놀라웠다"]·PT["for-maravilhoso","maravilhosas","maravilhoso","maravilhosos","será-maravilhoso","é-maravilhosa"]·RU["дивно","удивительны","чудесна","чудесны","чудным-покажется"]·ES["es-maravilloso","maravillosa","maravillosas","maravilloso-fue","será-maravilloso","son-maravillosas"]·SW["ajabu","itaonekana-ajabu","la-ajabu","vimenistaajabisha","ya-ajabu"]·TR["harika-görünecek","harika-görünecek-mi","harikadır","harikaydı","harikulade"]·urd["حیرت-انگیز","حیرت-انگیز-تھی","حیرت-انگیز-ہوگا","حیرت-انگیز-ہیں","حیرت-انگیز-ہے","عجیب-ہے"]
▼ 6 more senses below
Senses
1. wonders, marvelous deeds — The dominant usage: Nifal participle nifla'ot as a substantive noun for God's wonders, marvelous deeds of salvation, creation, and judgment. Arabic aja'ib and Korean gisajeok ('miraculous') both denote wonders but through unrelated roots. These 44 occurrences form the heart of Israel's praise vocabulary, from the Exodus (Exod 3:20) to the Psalter's hymns (Ps 77:11, 1 Chr 16:9). 44×
AR["عَجائِبَ","عَجَائِبَ","عَجَائِبِكَ","وَ-عَجائِبَهُ","وَ-عَجائِبِهِ","وَعَجَائِبَهُ"]·ben["আশ্চর্য","আশ্চর্য-কাজ","আশ্চর্যকর্ম","আশ্চর্যকাজ","আশ্চর্যকাজগুলি","আশ্চর্যকার্যগুলি","আশ্চর্যসমূহের","এবং-তাঁর-আশ্চর্যকাজগুলি","এবং-তাঁর-আশ্চর্যগুলি","তোমার-আশ্চর্যকাজগুলি","বিস্ময়কর"]·DE["Wunder","dein-Wunder","und-sein-Wunder","wondrous-things"]·EN["and-His-wonders","and-his-wonders","wonders","wondrous-things","your-wonders"]·FR["et-être-merveilleux","merveille","prodiges","tes-merveilles","être-merveilleux"]·heb["ו-נפלאותיו","נפלאות","נפלאותיך"]·HI["अद्भुत","अद्भुत-काम","अद्भुत-कार्य","अद्भुत-बातें","आश्चर्य","और-उसके-अद्भुत-कामों-को","और-उसके-आश्चर्यों-के-लिए","और-उसके-आश्चर्यों-को","तेरे-अद्भुत-कार्यों-का"]·ID["dan-keajaiban-keajaiban-Nya","hal-hal ajaib","hal-hal-ajaib","keajaiban","keajaiban-keajaiban","perbuatan-ajaib-Mu"]·IT["e-fu-meraviglioso","fu-meraviglioso","meraviglioso","prodigi","prodìgi","wonders"]·jav["Mukjijat","bab-bab-ingkang-nganeh-anehi","elok","kaelokan","kaelokan-kaelokan","kaeram-eraman","karya-karya-ajaib","lan-mukjijat-Panjenenganipun","mukjijat","mukjijat-Panjenengan","mukjijat-mukjijat","perkawis-ingkang-ngedab-edabi","prakawis-ingkang-élok","saha-karya-karya-ajaib-ipun"]·KO["경이로운-일들을","경이롭게","그-의-기이한-일들-을","그리고-그-의-기이한-것들-을","기이한-것들-을","기이한-일-들-을","기이한-일들-을","기이한-일들을","놀라운-일들-을","놀라운-일들을","놓라운-것들을"]·PT["Maravilhas","as-tuas-maravilhas","e-Suas-maravilhas","e-de-suas-maravilhas","e-por-Suas-maravilhas","e-suas-maravilhas","maravilhas"]·RU["и-за-чудеса-Его","и-чудеса-Его","чудеса","чудеса-Твои","чудесами"]·ES["maravillas","tus-maravillas","y-maravillas-de-el","y-sus-maravillas"]·SW["maajabu","maajabu-yako","miujiza","na-maajabu-yake"]·TR["harikalar","harikaları","harikalarını","ve-harikaları-için","ve-harikalarını"]·urd["اور-اُس-کے-عجائب","اور-اُس-کے-عجائبات","اور-اُس-کے-عجائبات-کے-لِیے","تیرے-عجائبات-کو","عجائب","عجائبات"]
Exod 3:20, Exod 34:10, Josh 3:5, Judg 6:13, 1 Chr 16:9, 1 Chr 16:12, 1 Chr 16:24, Neh 9:17, Job 5:9, Job 9:10, Job 37:5, Job 37:14 (+32 more)
2. do wondrously, make wonderful — Hifil causative: to do wondrously or make something wonderful, with God or an agent actively producing extraordinary results. Arabic a'jaba ('to cause wonder') parallels the causative morphology. The angel acts 'wondrously' at Manoah's altar (Judg 13:19), and God 'makes wonderful' his steadfast love for David (Ps 31:21). Nine occurrences capture divine initiative in wonder-working. 9×
AR["أَظْهَرَ","أَعْجَبَ","عَجائِبَ","عَجِيبًا","عَجِيبَةً","لِأُعْجِبَ","وَ-عَجِيبٌ","وَ-مُعجِزٌ","وَيُمَيِّزُ"]·ben["অদ্ভুত-করেছেন","আর-আশ্চর্য","আশ্চর্য","আশ্চর্য-করতে","আশ্চর্য-করেছেন","আশ্চর্যজনকভাবে","আশ্চর্যভাবে","এবং-আশ্চর্যজনক","এবং-যিহোবা-আশ্চর্য-করবেন"]·DE["[הפלא]","[הפליא]","[והפלא]","[להפליא]","er-hat-gemacht-wunderbar","und-doing-wondrously","und-macht-extraordinary","wunderbar"]·EN["He-has-made-wonderful","He-makes-wonderful","and-doing-wondrously","and-makes-extraordinary","and-wonderful","doing-wondrously","he-was-made-wonderful","to-do-wondrously","wondrously"]·FR["[הפליא]","[והפלא]","et-doing-wondrously","et-fait-un-extraordinaire","le-être-merveilleux","merveille","être-merveilleux"]·heb["הפלא","הפליא","ו-הפלא","ו-מפליא","ל-הַפליא","ל-הפליא"]·HI["अद्भुत-रूप-से","आश्चर्यकर्म","आश्चर्यजनक","आश्चर्यजनक-बनाना","आश्चर्यजनक-बनाया","उसने-अद्भुत-किया","और-अद्भुत","और-अद्भुत-बनाएगा","और-आश्चर्य"]·ID["Dia-melakukan-keajaiban","dan-Dia-melakukan-keajaiban","dan-ajaib","dengan-ajaib;","ia-sangat-ajaib","keajaiban","maka-menjadikan-luar-biasa","untuk-melakukan-keajaiban"]·IT["[הפליא]","[והפלא]","e-doing-wondrously","e-fa-extraordinary","essere-meraviglioso","fu-meraviglioso","meraviglioso"]·jav["Lan-ndamel-nganeh","Panjenengan-ngedahaken","dipun-agungaken","elok","kalayan-elok","lan-ngeram-eramaken","lan-nindakaken-mukjijat","mujijat","supados-nindakaken-mujijat"]·KO["그리고-기이히-하는-자이다","그리고-놀랍다","그리고-놓라게-하시리라","기이하게","기이하게-하셨다","기이하고","놀라웠다","에-기이하게-행하리라"]·PT["e-fará-extraordinárias","e-fazendo-maravilhas","e-maravilhosa","foi-maravilhoso","maravilhando","maravilhosa-fez","maravilhosamente","para-fazer-maravilhas","tornou-maravilhoso"]·RU["И-удивит","Он-дивен","дивом","и-делающий-чудо","и-чудесен","удивлять","чудесно","чудесное","явил-чудесно"]·ES["Y-hará-maravillosas","ha-hecho-maravillosa","hace-maravilloso","haciendo-maravillas","maravilla","maravillosamente","y-haciendo-maravilla","y-maravillosa"]·SW["Amefanya-ajabu","aliusaidia-kwa-ajabu","ameonyesha","kufanya-maajabu","kwa-ajabu","maajabu","na-akifanya-ajabu","na-atafanya-ajabu","na-ya-ajabu"]·TR["harika","harika-kıldı","harika-yapmak","harika-yaptii","harikalar","ve-harika-kılacak","ve-harika-yapan","ve-muhteşem"]·urd["اور-حیرت-انگیز","اور-عجیب","اور-عجیب-کرےگا","حیرت-انگیز","حیرت-انگیز-طور-پر","حیرت-انگیز-کی","حیرت-انگیز-کیا","عجیب"]
4. be too difficult, be beyond capacity — The sense of being beyond human capacity: too difficult, too extraordinary to accomplish or understand. When God asks Abraham 'Is anything too hard for the Lord?' (Gen 18:14), the same root that names wonders now names impossibility. Arabic sa'b ('difficult') requires an entirely different lexeme, whereas Hebrew uses pala' for both poles. Jeremiah 32:17 and Deuteronomy 30:11 reinforce this theological paradox. 6×
AR["صَعُبَ","صَعْبَةً","هَلْ-يَسْتَحِيلُ","وَصَعُبَ","يَعْسُرُ"]·ben["অসাধারণ-হয়","অসাধ্য","এবং-অসম্ভব-ছিল","কঠিন","কি-অসম্ভব"]·DE["[יפלא]","auch-difficult","ist-auch-difficult","ist-etwa-zu-wunderbar","und-es-war-difficult"]·EN["and-it-was-difficult","is-too-difficult","too-difficult"]·FR["aussi-difficult","est-aussi-difficult","et-cela-fut-difficult","être-merveilleux"]·heb["היפלא","ו-יפלא","ייפלא","נפלאת"]·HI["अद्भुत","अद्भुत-है","और-कठिन-था","कठिन-होगा","क्य-असचरयजनक-है"]·ID["apakah-terlalu-sulit","dan-mustahil","terlalu-sulit"]·IT["anche-difficult","e-anche-difficult","e-esso-era-difficult","essere-meraviglioso","è-anche-difficult"]·jav["Menapa-mokal","angel-sanget","kados-mukjijat","lan-katingalipun-mokal","mokal"]·KO["그리고-어려웠다","너무-어려운","너무-어려운가","너무-어렵겠느냐","너무-어렵다","어려우면"]·PT["Será-maravilhoso","e-era-difícil","for-difícil","é-difícil","é-difícil-demais"]·RU["Разве-сокрыто","будет-трудным","и-было-невозможно","невозможного","слишком-чудна","сокроется"]·ES["acaso-será-maravilloso","es-demasiado-difícil","es-difícil","es-imposible","y-fue-difícil"]·SW["Je-haiwezekani","linaloshindikana","litakuwa-gumu-sana","litashindikana","na-ilionekana-vigumu","ngumu-sana"]·TR["Zor-mudur","harika","imkânsız","ve-imkânsız-göründü","zorlaşırsa"]·urd["اور-مشکل-تھا","مشکل-ہو","مشکل-ہے","کیا-مشکل-ہے"]
5. fulfill a special vow — Piel intensive infinitive construct in cultic contexts: to fulfill or accomplish a special vow already undertaken. Arabic li-ifa'i ('to fulfill') and li-itmami ('to complete') employ separate roots. The three occurrences (Lev 22:21; Num 15:3, 8) all concern bringing offerings to discharge an extraordinary vow, completing what was set apart. 3×
AR["لِ-إِتْمَامِ-","لِ-إِيفَاءِ"]·ben["পূর্ণ-করতে-"]·DE["zu-erfuellen","zu-erfuellen-"]·EN["to-fulfill","to-fulfill-"]·FR["à-accomplir","à-accomplir-"]·heb["ל-פלא"]·HI["अद्भुत-पूरा-करने-के-लिए-","पूरा-करने-को-"]·ID["untuk-memenuhi","untuk-menggenapkan-"]·IT["a-adempiere","a-adempiere-"]·jav["kanggé-netepi-","supados-ngluwari-"]·KO["성취하기-위하여","이행하기-위하여"]·PT["para-cumprir"]·RU["для-исполнения-","чтобы-исполнить-"]·ES["para-cumplir","para-cumplir-"]·SW["kutimiza-"]·TR["-için-tamamlamak-","yerine-getirmek-için-"]·urd["پورا-کرنے-کے-لیے-","پوری-کرنے-کو"]
6. make an extraordinary vow — Hifil forms in vow-initiation contexts: to make an extraordinary vow, to set apart a votive commitment as something surpassing the ordinary. Leviticus 27:2 and Numbers 6:2 use this for the moment of consecration, when a person dedicates themselves or property to God. Arabic yandhiru ('to vow') is a distinct root, underscoring that Hebrew connects vowing to the realm of the extraordinary. 2×
AR["يَنْذِرُ","يُمَيِّزُ"]·ben["বিশেষ-মানত-করে"]·DE["macht-extraordinary"]·EN["makes-extraordinary"]·FR["fait-un-extraordinaire"]·heb["יפלא"]·HI["अद्भुत-करे","विशेष माने"]·ID["ia-mengucapkan-nazar","membuat-secara-luar-biasa"]·IT["fa-extraordinary"]·jav["ngluwari-kaul","piyambakipun-mujudaken"]·KO["특별하게-하면","특별히-행하면"]·PT["fizer-extraordinário","fizer-maravilhoso"]·RU["исполнит","отличится"]·ES["haga-extraordinario","hiciere-especial"]·SW["Ipla","atafanya-ajabu"]·TR["olağanlı-olarak-yaparsa","olağanüstü-yaparsa"]·urd["خاص-مانے","خاص-نذر-مانے"]
7. sense 7 — A singular occurrence in Job 10:16 where God 'shows himself marvelous' against Job, a Hithpael-like reflexive usage conveying that God displays his extraordinary power in an adversarial context. The multilingual glosses consistently render this as 'show yourself wonderful,' capturing Job's anguished sense that divine power is turned against him. 1×
AR["تَتَعَجَّبُ"]·ben["আপনি-নিজেকে-অদ্ভুত-দেখান"]·DE["wunderbar"]·EN["You-show-Yourself-marvelous-"]·FR["être-merveilleux"]·heb["תתפלא"]·HI["तू-आश्चर्य-दिखाता-है"]·ID["Engkau-menunjukkan-keajaiban-Mu"]·IT["You-show-Yourself-marvelous"]·jav["élak-élakan"]·KO["당신이-나에게-기이한-일을-보이신다-"]·PT["te-mostras-maravilhoso-"]·RU["делаешь-чудесно"]·ES["a-mostrarte-maravilloso"]·SW["unajionyesha-wa-ajabu"]·TR["harikalar-gösterirsin-"]·urd["عجیب-کام-کرتا-ہے"]
BDB / Lexicon Reference
[פָּלָא71] vb. denom. Niph. etc., be surpassing, extraordinary (cf. Gerber 212);— Niph. Pf. 3 fs. נִפְלָאת ψ 118:23 (Ges§ 44 f); נִפְלְאַ֫תָה 2 S 1:26 (Köi. 610 f., 614 Ges§ 7500); 3 pl. נִפְלְאוּ Pr 30:18; Impf. יִפָּלֵא Dt 17:8 + 6 times; Pt. mpl. נִפְלָאִים ψ 139:14; fs. נִפְלֵאת Dt 30:11; pl. נִפְלָאוֹת Jos 3:5 +; sf. נִפְלְאֹתַי Ex 3:20, etc.;— †1. be beyond one’s power, difficult to do,…