The term "marvelous" in the Bible is often used to describe the wondrous works and attributes of God, highlighting His divine power, wisdom, and love. It is a word that evokes awe and reverence, pointing to the extraordinary nature of God's actions and character.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, "marvelous" is frequently associated with the mighty acts of God, particularly in the context of deliverance and creation. For instance, in the Psalms, the psalmist often praises God for His marvelous deeds. Psalm 98:1 declares, "Sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him." This verse emphasizes God's intervention in history, particularly His saving acts for Israel.

The term is also used in the context of creation, as seen in Psalm 139:14 , where the psalmist acknowledges the wonder of human creation: "I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and I know this very well." Here, the psalmist reflects on the intricate and awe-inspiring nature of God's creative power.

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, "marvelous" continues to describe the works of God, particularly through the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. The miracles performed by Jesus are often seen as marvelous acts that reveal His divine authority and compassion. In Matthew 21:42 , Jesus refers to Himself as the cornerstone, quoting Psalm 118:23: "This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes." This passage highlights the redemptive work of Christ as a fulfillment of God's marvelous plan of salvation.

The apostle Peter also uses the term in 1 Peter 2:9 to describe the calling of believers: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." Here, the "marvelous light" signifies the transformative power of the Gospel and the new life believers have in Christ.

Theological Significance

The concept of "marvelous" in the Bible underscores the transcendence and immanence of God. His works are beyond human comprehension, yet they are intimately involved in the lives of His people. The marvelous acts of God serve as a testament to His sovereignty and faithfulness, inviting believers to respond with worship, trust, and obedience.

Throughout Scripture, the use of "marvelous" calls attention to the extraordinary nature of God's interaction with the world. It serves as a reminder of His ongoing presence and activity, encouraging believers to recognize and celebrate His wondrous deeds in their own lives and in the world around them.1. (n.) Exciting wonder or surprise; astonishing; wonderful.

2. (n.) Partaking of the character of miracle, or supernatural power; incredible.

MARVEL; MARVELOUS

mar'-vel, mar'-vel-us (tamah, pala'; thaumazo, thaumastos): "To marvel" is the translation of tamah, "to wonder" (Genesis 43:33 Psalm 48:5, the Revised Version (British and American) "were amazed"; Ecclesiastes 5:8); of thaumazo, "to admire," "wonder" (Matthew 8:10, 27 Mark 5:20 John 3:7 Acts 2:7 Revelation 17:7 the King James Version, etc.); "marvel" (substantive) occurs in the plural as translation of pala', "to distinguish," figuratively, "to make wonderful" (Exodus 34:10, "I will do marvels, such as have not been wrought" (the Revised Version margin "created")); and of thaumastos (thauma) (2 Corinthians 11:14).

"Marvelous" is the translation of pala', "marvelous works" (1 Chronicles 16:12, 24 Psalm 9:1); "marvelous things" (Job 5:9; Job 10:16 Psalm 31:21; Psalm 118:23 Isaiah 29:14 Daniel 11:36 Zechariah 8:6, bis); "marvellously," pala' (Job 37:5 Habakkuk 1:5 twice (tamah), "regard and wonder marvelously," literally, "marvel marvelously"); thaumastos, "admirable," "wonderful," is translated "marvelous" (Matthew 21:42 1 Peter 2:9 Revelation 15:1, 3, etc.).

In Apocrypha we have "marvel" (Ecclesiasticus 11:13; 47:17:00; 2 Maccabees 1:22; 7:12); "marvelleth" (Ecclesiasticus 40:7; 43:18); "marvellous" (The Wisdom of Solomon 10:17; 19:8, etc., mostly thaumazo and compounds).

The Revised Version (British and American) has "wonder" for "marvel" (Revelation 17:7)' "the marvel" for a "marvellous thing" (John 9:30); "marvelled" for "wondered" (Luke 8:25; Luke 11:14); "marvelled at" for "admired" (2 Thessalonians 1:10); "marveling" for "wondered" (Luke 9:43); "marvellous" for "wondrous" (1 Chronicles 16:9 Psalm 105:2); "marvellous things" for "and wonders" (Job 9:10); "wonderful" for "marvellous" (Psalm 139:14); for "marvelled" (Matthew 9:8), "were afraid," and (Mark 12:17) "marvelled greatly" (different texts).

W. L. Walker

2298. thaumastos -- wonderful
... wonderful. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: thaumastos Phonetic Spelling:
(thow-mas-tos') Short Definition: wonderful, marvelous Definition: to be ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2298.htm - 7k

1411. dunamis -- (miraculous) power, might, strength
... strength. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: dunamis Phonetic Spelling:
(doo'-nam-is) Short Definition: might, power, marvelous works Definition: ( ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1411.htm - 8k

165. aion -- a space of time, an age
... It is characterized by , ie engrafting all believers (OT, NT) (1 Cor 12:13) with
all the marvelous privileges that go with that (Gal 3:23-25; 1 Pet 2:5,9). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/165.htm - 8k

6381. pala -- to be surpassing or extraordinary
... extraordinary (1), deal marvelously (1), difficult (5), extraordinary degree (1),
fulfill a special (3), made his wonderful (1), made marvelous (1), makes a ...
/hebrew/6381.htm - 6k

1419. gadol -- great
... hard (1), heavy (2), high (21), highest (1), impressed (1), large (30), larger
(1), loud (22), loudly (1), main (1), major (1), many (1), marvelous (1), mighty ...
/hebrew/1419.htm - 6k

6382. pele -- a wonder
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition a wonder NASB Word Usage astonishingly
(1), wonderful (2), wonders (9). marvelous thing, wonderful. ...
/hebrew/6382.htm - 6k

The Marvelous Influence of the Bible Declares Its Super-Human ...
... Chapter Eight The Marvelous Influence of the Bible Declares its Super-Human
Character. The influence of the Bible is world-wide. ...
/.../the divine inspiration of the bible/chapter eight the marvelous influence.htm

At that Time, Nabuchodonosor had a Dream Marvelous for that ...
... Book II. Chapter II. At that time, Nabuchodonosor had a dream marvelous for that
insight into the future which? At that time, Nabuchodonosor ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter ii at that time.htm

The Preface of the Book, in which He Investigates The
... [1062] Some predicted His divine and marvelous deeds, while others foretold His
sufferings, His resurrection from the dead, His ascension into the heavens, and ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of sozomenus/chapter i the preface of the.htm

Introductory Notice to Lactantius.
... How marvelous the change must have been in the experience of the primitive faithful;
the Roman Emperor not ashamed of Jesus, and setting up the cross on the ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/introductory notice to lactantius.htm

Paul and his Requests for Prayer
... deliverance. "Ye also helping by prayer." What marvelous things has God
done for His favored saints through the prayers of others! ...
/.../bounds/prayer and praying men/xv paul and his requests.htm

John vi. 41, 42
... And murmuring they said, "Is not this the son of Joseph?" Whence it is plain, that
as yet they knew not of His strange and marvelous Generation. ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xlvi john vi 41.htm

The Fact of the Redeemer's Return
... Here is a fact marvelous in its nature and far-reaching in its effects. This world
has been visited by its Creator. ... Marvelous are the ways of God. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/chapter three the fact of.htm

Personal Experience
... But the one to whom this mighty change seemed the most marvelous was myself. ... Something
marvelous had been accomplished. It was wonderful what a change. ...
/.../byers/sanctification/chapter xiii personal experience.htm

The Holy Spirit and Prayer
... hundreds were converted. Far away in a valley news reached a brother minister
of the marvelous success of this sermon. He desired ...
/.../bounds/the reality of prayer/xiii the holy spirit and.htm

Modern Examples of Prayer
... plate of sapphire mail, his is a pilgrimage of one or two sunny days over the fields
and pastures wet with dew, yet nothing can exceed the marvelous beauty in ...
/.../bounds/the weapon of prayer/xi modern examples of prayer.htm

Marvelous (30 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Partaking of the character of miracle, or supernatural power; incredible.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MARVEL; MARVELOUS. ...
/m/marvelous.htm - 18k

Marvel (20 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To marvel at. 5. (vt) To cause to marvel, or be surprised; -- used
impersonally. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MARVEL; MARVELOUS. ...
/m/marvel.htm - 16k

Tongues (67 Occurrences)
... TONGUES OF FIRE. (glossai hosei puros): The reference in this topic is to the marvelous
gift of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13). ...
/t/tongues.htm - 61k

Fathomed (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Fathomed (2 Occurrences). Job 5:9 who does great things
that can't be fathomed, marvelous things without number; (WEB NIV). ...
/f/fathomed.htm - 6k

Marvelously (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In a marvelous manner; wonderfully; strangely.
Multi-Version Concordance Marvelously (4 Occurrences). ...
/m/marvelously.htm - 7k

Astonishing (6 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 29:14 Therefore behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this
people, even an astonishing work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men ...
/a/astonishing.htm - 8k

Miracles (65 Occurrences)
... forsake them. (See NIV). Job 5:9 who does great things that can't be fathomed,
marvelous things without number; (See NIV). Job 9:10 ...
/m/miracles.htm - 25k

Difficult (31 Occurrences)
... Zechariah 8:6 Thus says Yahweh of Armies: "If it is marvelous in the eyes of the
remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my eyes ...
/d/difficult.htm - 15k

General (9 Occurrences)
... They have the power to heal, to exorcise demons, to raise the dead; and while marvelous
deeds of that nature constantly recur, there are other miracles wrought ...
/g/general.htm - 49k

Prudent (40 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 29:14 therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this
people, even a marvelous work and a wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men ...
/p/prudent.htm - 20k

What does 1 Peter 2:9 mean when it refers to believers as peculiar people? | GotQuestions.org

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Marvelous: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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