Bible Word Study
פִּלְאִי
pilʼîy · remarkable
פִּלְאִי
remarkable
Definition
The Hebrew word פִּלְאִי (pilʼîy) describes something that is 'remarkable,' 'wonderful,' or 'extraordinary.' It refers to things that are beyond normal understanding or human capability, often pointing to the supernatural. In Judges 13:18, the angel of the Lord tells Manoah that his name is פִּלְאִי, meaning it is 'wonderful' or 'incomprehensible,' emphasizing the divine mystery of God's messenger. In Psalm 139:6, David uses the word to describe God's knowledge as 'too wonderful' for him, highlighting how God's ways surpass human comprehension.
Biblical Usage
This word occurs only twice in the Old Testament, both times in poetic or narrative contexts that emphasize the supernatural or divine. In Judges 13:18, it is used in a dialogue to describe the mysterious nature of the angel's name. In Psalm 139:6, it appears in a psalm of praise to express the inscrutability of God's omniscience. Both uses convey a sense of awe and wonder at God's actions or attributes.
Etymology
פִּלְאִי is derived from the root פָּלָא (pālā', H6381), which means 'to be marvelous, wonderful, or extraordinary.' It is related to the adjective פָּלִיא (pālîy), also meaning 'wonderful.' The root conveys the idea of separating or distinguishing something as remarkable, often in a supernatural sense, and is frequently used in contexts involving God's miraculous works.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it highlights the transcendence and mystery of God. It underscores that God's nature, actions, and knowledge are beyond human understanding, fostering reverence and awe. Understanding פִּלְאִי enriches Bible reading by emphasizing that encounters with the divine often involve wonder and the limits of human comprehension, as seen in God's mysterious revelations. In ancient Israelite culture, the concept of the 'wonderful' or 'extraordinary' was closely tied to divine intervention and miracles. Things described as פִּלְאִי were seen as set apart by God, evoking a sense of holy mystery. This differs from modern casual use of 'wonderful,' as it carried a stronger connotation of supernatural awe and was not used lightly. פֶּלֶא (pele', H6382) — a more common noun for 'wonder' or 'miracle,' often referring to God's mighty acts. נִפְלָא (niflā', H6381) — a participle form meaning 'wonderful,' emphasizing the act of being marvelous. תַּמָּה (tammāh, H8540) — 'wonder' or 'astonishment,' focusing on the reaction of amazement.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]