Wonder

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Τέρας (Strong'S #5059 — Noun Neuter — teras — ter'-as )

"something strange," causing the beholder to marvel, is always used in the plural, always rendered "wonders," and generally follows semeia, "signs;" the opposite order occurs in  Acts 2:22,43;  6:8 , RV; 7:36; in  Acts 2:19 "wonders" occurs alone. A sign is intended to appeal to the understanding, a "wonder" appeals to the imagination, a power (dunamis) indicates its source as supernatural. "Wonders" are manifested as Divine operations in thirteen occurrences (9 times in Acts); three times they are ascribed to the work of Satan through human agents,   Matthew 24:24;  Mark 13:22;  2—Thessalonians 2:9 .

2: Θάμβος (Strong'S #2285 — Noun — thambos — tham'-bos )

"amazement," is rendered "wonder" in  Acts 3:10 . See Amaze , A, No. 2.

 Revelation 17:6Marvel.  Revelation 12:1,3 13:13  Acts 3:11  2—Thessalonians 2:9False Acts 8:13Amaze

King James Dictionary

WONDER, n. G., Gr., to show and hence a sight a panic.

1. That emotion which is excited by novelty, or the presentation to the sight or mind, of something new, unusual, strange, great, extraordinary, or not well understood something that arrests the attention by its novelty, grandeur or inexplicableness. Wonder expresses less than astonishment, and much less than amazement. It differs from admiration, in not being necessarily accompanied with love, esteem or approbation, nor directed to persons. But wonder sometimes is nearly allied to astonishment, and the exact extent of the meaning of such words can hardly be graduated.

They were filled with wonder and amazement.  Acts 3 .

Wonder is the effect of novelty upon ignorance.

2. Cause of wonder that which excites surprise a strange thing a prodigy.

To try things oft, and never to give over, doth wonders.

I am as a wonder to many.  Psalms 71 .

3. Any thing mentioned with surprise.

Babylon, the wonder of all tongues.

Wonders of the world. The seven wonders of the world were the Egyptian pyramids, the Mausoleum erected by Artemisia, the temple of Diana at Ephesus, the walls and hanging gardens of Babylon, the colossus at Rhodes, the statue of Jupiter Olympius, and the Pharos or watch-tower of Alexandria.

4. A miracle.  Exodus 3 .

WONDER, To be affected by surprise or admiration.

I could not sufficiently wonder at the intrepidity of these diminutive mortals.

We cease to wonder at what we understand.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of OT Words

Môphêth ( מֹפֵת , Strong'S #4159), “wonder; sign; portent.” The 36 appearances of this word are in all periods of biblical literature except wisdom literature. Poetical literature manifests it only 5 times and only in the Psalter.

First, this word signifies a divine act or a special display of divine power: “When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand …” (Exod. 4:21—the first biblical occurrence of the word). Acts effecting the divine curses are called “wonders.” Thus the word does not necessarily refer to a miraculous act, if “miracle” means something outside the realm of ordinary providence.

Second, the word can represent a “sign” from God or a token of a future event: “This is the sign which the Lord hath spoken: Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out” (1 Kings 13:3). This sense sometimes has the nuance “symbol”: “Now listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who are sitting in front of you— indeed they are men who are a symbol …” (Zech. 3:8, NASB; cf. Ps. 71:7).

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( v. i.) To be affected with surprise or admiration; to be struck with astonishment; to be amazed; to marvel.

(2): ( a.) Wonderful.

(3): ( adv.) Wonderfully.

(4): ( v. i.) To feel doubt and curiosity; to wait with uncertain expectation; to query in the mind; as, he wondered why they came.

(5): ( n.) A cause of wonder; that which excites surprise; a strange thing; a prodigy; a miracle.

(6): ( n.) That emotion which is excited by novelty, or the presentation to the sight or mind of something new, unusual, strange, great, extraordinary, or not well understood; surprise; astonishment; admiration; amazement.

Charles Buck Theological Dictionary

Any thing which causes surprise by its strangeness. "It expresses, " says Mr. Cogan, "an embarrassment of the mind after it is somewhat recovered from the first percussion of surprise. It is the effect produced by an interesting subject which has been suddenly presented to the mind, but concerning which there are many intricacies, either respecting the cause or manner in which any event has taken place, motives of extraordinary conduct, &c." How it differs from admiration, see Admiration

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

See Miracles, Sign.

Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology

See Miracle

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(usually פֶּלֶא , Τέρας , both generally used in the sense of Prodigy) is some occurrence, or thing, which so strongly engages our attention by its surprising greatness, rarity, or other properties, that our minds are struck by it into astonishment. Wonder is also nearly synonymous with sign: "If a prophet give thee a sign, or a wonder," says Moses ( Deuteronomy 13:1), and "if the sign or wonder come to pass," etc. Isaiah says, he and "his children are for signs and wonders" (8:18), that is, they were for indications of, allusions to, prefigurations of, things future, that should certainly take place; and they were to excite notice, attention, and consideration in beholders; to cause wonder in them. Wonder also signifies the act of wondering, as resulting from the observation of something extraordinary, or beyond what we are accustomed to behold (See Miracles), (See Wonders).