Manifold
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words [1]
"varied," is translated "manifold" in 1—Peter 1:6; 4:10; James 1:2 , RV (AV, "divers"). See Divers , A, No. 2.
"much varied" (polus, "much," and No. 1), is said of the wisdom of God, in Ephesians 3:10 .
"many times more" (from polus, "much"), occurs in Luke 18:30 , "manifold more," and in many ancient authorities in Matthew 19:29 (RV, marg.; some editions in text); AV and RV text, "a hundredfold," translating hekatontaplasiona.
Webster's Dictionary [2]
(1): ( a.) Exhibited at divers times or in various ways; - used to qualify nouns in the singular number.
(2): ( n.) A copy of a writing made by the manifold process.
(3): ( n.) A cylindrical pipe fitting, having a number of lateral outlets, for connecting one pipe with several others.
(4): ( a.) Various in kind or quality; many in number; numerous; multiplied; complicated.
(5): ( v. t.) To take copies of by the process of manifold writing; as, to manifold a letter.
(6): ( n.) The third stomach of a ruminant animal.
King James Dictionary [3]
MAN'IFOLD, a. many and fold. Of divers kinds many in number numerous multiplied.
O Lord, how manifold are thy works! Psalms 104
I know your manifold transgressions. Amos 5
1. Exhibited or appearing at divers times or in various ways applied to words in the singular number as the manifold wisdom of God, or his manifold grace. Ephesians 3; 1 Peter 4
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [4]
man´i - fōld ( רב , rabh ; ποικίλος , poikı́los ): "Manifold," which occurs only a few times, is in the Old Testament the translation of rabh , "many," "abundant" ( Nehemiah 9:19 , Nehemiah 9:27; Amos 5:12 , where it is equivalent to "many"), and of rābhabh , "to multiply," "to increase" ( Psalm 104:24 , "O Yahweh, how manifold are thy works"); poikilos , properly, "many colored," "spotted," "variegated," is translated "manifold": 1 Peter 1:6 margin, "manifold temptations"; 1 Peter 4:10 , "manifold grace," suggests variety , diverseness ; polupoı́kilos has this meaning more intensely ( Ephesians 3:10 , "the manifold wisdom of God"). With this may be compared a fine passage in The Wisdom of Solomon 7:22, where it is said that in Wisdom there is "an understanding spirit, holy, one only (the Revised Version (British and American) "alone in kind," margin "Greek: sole-born"), manifold ( polumerḗs )." In like manner, pollaplası́ōn , "manifold more" ( Luke 18:30 ), indicates the varied elements of the reward of him who is faithful to Christ. In Ecclesiasticus 51:3, we have "manifold afflictions" ( pleı́ōn ).
