Lexical Summary miph'al: Work, deed, action, operation Original Word: מִפְעָל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance a performanceOr (feminine) miph.alah {mif-aw-law'}; from pa'al; a performance -- work. see HEBREW pa'al Brown-Driver-Briggs [מִפְעָל] noun [masculine] work, thing made (by ׳י); — plural suffix מִפְעָלָיו Proverbs 8:22. [מִפְעָלָה] noun [feminine] deed (of ׳י); — plural construct ׳מִפְעֲלוֺת י Psalm 46:9, אֱלֹהִים ׳מ Psalm 66:5. Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Literary Function מִפְעָל (mifʿal) points to a finished “work” or “achievement” that makes the power and intent of its maker publicly visible. The term is rare—appearing only three times—yet it concentrates the reader’s attention on the observable results of divine activity. Where other Hebrew words may stress the process, מִפְעָל highlights the completed display that invites contemplation, praise, and holy fear. Occurrences and Immediate Contexts Psalm 46:8 and Psalm 66:5 place מִפְעָל on the lips of worship leaders who summon the covenant community to “come and see.” Both psalms are corporate calls to behold YHWH’s saving interventions and global judgments: • Psalm 46:8: “Come, see the works of the LORD, who brings devastation upon the earth.” Proverbs 8:22 anchors the word in the realm of creation: “The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.”. Here, Wisdom personified testifies that all visible achievements of God, from the cosmos to redemptive history, flow from a divine blueprint older than time itself. The Works of God as Revelation In both psalms, מִפְעָל functions as revelation. God’s visible acts interpret His character to the nations—His sovereignty (Psalm 46), His grace and judgment (Psalm 66). The summons “come and see” is missional, calling witnesses to respond in worship and repentance. The same logic appears throughout Scripture: Exodus 15:11 celebrates the “wonders” that reveal holiness; Isaiah 66:18 foresees nations gathered by God’s “signs.” מִפְעָל thus joins a rich biblical motif in which deeds disclose doctrine. Wisdom’s Relationship to the Divine Work Proverbs 8:22 places מִפְעָל at the dawn of creation, linking every subsequent act to divine Wisdom. The verse affirms that the universe is not random but ordered, coherent, and morally purposeful. For later biblical theology (John 1:1–3; Colossians 1:15–17), this backdrop prepares the way for understanding Jesus Christ as the incarnate Wisdom through whom all God’s “works” hold together. Historical and Redemptive Backdrop Ancient Israelites sang Psalm 46 amid political turmoil, likely recalling 2 Kings 19 when the Assyrian threat evaporated overnight—a visible “work” of God. Psalm 66 may echo the Exodus, referencing “awesome deeds” at the Red Sea and in the wilderness. These historical associations teach that מִפְעָל spans both creation and redemption: forming worlds, parting seas, toppling empires. Practical and Ministerial Applications 1. Worship: Use corporate invitations (“Come and see…”) that rehearse past deliverances and anticipate future consummation (Revelation 15:3). Related Themes in Scripture • Creation: Genesis 1–2; Job 38–41. Summary מִפְעָל spotlights the visible achievements of God that reveal His character, advance His redemptive plan, and summon all people to behold and believe. From the primordial ordering of the universe to decisive historical interventions and the promised renewal of all things, the term invites continual awe and confident proclamation: “Come and see the works of the LORD.” Forms and Transliterations מִפְעֲל֣וֹת מִפְעָלָ֣יו מפעלות מפעליו mifaLav mifaLot mip̄‘ālāw mip̄‘ălōwṯ mip̄·‘ā·lāw mip̄·‘ă·lō·wṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 46:8 HEB: לְֽכוּ־ חֲ֭זוּ מִפְעֲל֣וֹת יְהוָ֑ה אֲשֶׁר־ NAS: behold the works of the LORD, KJV: behold the works of the LORD, INT: Come behold the works of the LORD Who Psalm 66:5 Proverbs 8:22 3 Occurrences |
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