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מוֹפֵת

𐤌𐤅𐤐𐤕

môwphêth

H4159 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

An extraordinary or astonishing event, object, or act, serving as a sign or portent, especially one intended to demonstrate a power beyond ordinary human capability. The term often refers to a supernatural occurrence or public demonstration that evokes wonder and signals divine agency or intervention, but can also signify a portent, omen, or warning, particularly of judgment or disaster. In some contexts, it serves to authenticate a message or messenger as coming from the deity.

Semantic Range

supernatural wonder, miraculous act, portent, omen, sign of divine intervention, warning of judgment, object of astonishment, public example

Root / Etymology

Root/Etymology: Uncertain. The traditional Strong's suggestion of derivation from יָפָה (to be beautiful, conspicuous) is not well supported in modern scholarship. Most lexicographers consider the etymology of מוֹפֵת uncertain, as no clear root is discernible in Semitic languages. Cognates outside Hebrew are not attested, suggesting the word may be a loan or a native development with obscured origins.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, מוֹפֵת most frequently appears alongside אוֹת ('sign'), as in the phrase 'signs and wonders' (ֹאוֹתוֹת וּמֹפְתִים), denoting acts or phenomena that reveal divine power or purpose. While a sign (אוֹת) may be a mark, observable proof, or symbolic action, a מוֹפֵת typically refers to an event that is outstandingly prodigious and evokes astonishment, sometimes for positive wonder, but also as a harbinger of judgment or calamity (Exod 7:3; Deut 28:46). During the exodus narrative, the plagues and other miraculous deeds are described as מוֹפֵתִים, highlighting their role as dramatic supernatural interventions. In later, prophetic writings, the term can refer to signs warning of disaster or serving as public examples of divine judgment (Ezek 24:24; Jer 32:20-21). English translations often render the term as 'wonder,' 'miracle,' or 'portent,' but narrower translations may miss the full scope, which includes both awe-inspiring miracles and omens of warning. In later periods and translation traditions, the word contributed to developing concepts of 'miracle,' but in the Hebrew Bible, its primary sense is that of an event or object made conspicuous by its extraordinary nature, signaling a supernatural message or intent. Distinct from אוֹת, which can sometimes be less extraordinary or even mundane.

Translation Consistency

primary "miracle" 20 occurrences

מֹפֵת normally denotes an extraordinary, often supernatural event that evokes wonder and serves as a sign of divine power. “Miracle” is the most natural, widely used English noun for that typical sense in biblical contexts (and is how many translations render the term), while still allowing renderings that emphasize authentication or portent in context. It is concise, natural-sounding, and covers the primary semantic range better than more technical options like “portent” or the adjectival “extraordinary.”

Alternatives (16 occurrences):
"extraordinary portents" (4x) "portentous wonder" (4x) "extraordinary portent" (3x) "portents" (2x) "according to the sign" (1x) "sign" (1x) "astonishing portents" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or מֹפֵת; from יָפָה in the sense of conspicuousness; a miracle; by implication, a token or omen; miracle, sign, wonder(-ed at).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

uncertain (Baleadan) — uncertain

Root uncertain uncertain, but frequently associated with 'to be conspicuous, extraordinary; to show a portent'
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1002 בִּירָה the citadel
H105 אֲגַרְטָל bowls of
H1081 בַּלְאֲדָן Baladan
H1085 בִּלְדַּד Bildad
H1095 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר Belteshatsar

Word Forms

18 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H4159-06 מוֹפֵת֙ mofet HNcmsa a miracle extraordinary portent an extraordinary miracle 5
H4159-15 וּ֠/מֹפְתִים umofetim HC/Ncmpa and wonders and portentous wonders and portentous miracles 5
H4159-16 וּ/בְ/מוֹפְתִ֜ים uvemofetim HC/R/Ncmpa and by wonders and by extraordinary portents and by miracles 3
H4159-18 וְ/הַ/מֹּֽפְתִים֙ vehamofetim HC/Td/Ncmpa and the wonders and the portentous wonders and the miracles 3
H4159-01 הַ/מּוֹפֵ֔ת hamofet HTd/Ncmsa the-sign the portentous wonder the portentous wonder 2
H4159-02 הַ/מֹּֽפְתִים֙ hamofetim HTd/Ncmpa the wonders the extraordinary portents the extraordinary portents 2
H4159-05 לְ/מוֹפֵ֔ת lemofet HR/Ncmsa a sign for a portentous wonder for a portentous wonder 2
H4159-07 מוֹפְתַ֖/י mofetay HNcmpc/Sp1cs my wonders my portents-of my miracles 2
H4159-08 מֹפְתָ֖י/ו mofetayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his miracles his portents his portents 2
H4159-13 וּ/מוֹפֵ֖ת umofet HC/Ncmsa and a sign extraordinary portent and an extraordinary miracle 2

Occurrences in Scripture

36 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H4159-02 Exodus 4:21 הַ/מֹּֽפְתִים֙ hamofetim HTd/Ncmpa the wonders the extraordinary portents the extraordinary portents
H4159-07 Exodus 7:3 מוֹפְתַ֖/י mofetay HNcmpc/Sp1cs my wonders my portents-of my miracles
H4159-06 Exodus 7:9 מוֹפֵ֑ת mofet HNcmsa a miracle extraordinary portent an extraordinary miracle
H4159-07 Exodus 11:9 מוֹפְתַ֖/י mofetay HNcmpc/Sp1cs My wonders my portents-of my miracles
H4159-02 Exodus 11:10 הַ/מֹּפְתִ֥ים hamofetim HTd/Ncmpa the wonders the extraordinary portents the extraordinary portents
H4159-16 Deuteronomy 4:34 וּ/בְ/מוֹפְתִ֜ים uvemofetim HC/R/Ncmpa and by wonders and by extraordinary portents and by miracles
H4159-15 Deuteronomy 6:22 וּ֠/מֹפְתִים umofetim HC/Ncmpa and wonders and portentous wonders and portentous miracles
H4159-18 Deuteronomy 7:19 וְ/הַ/מֹּֽפְתִים֙ vehamofetim HC/Td/Ncmpa and the wonders and the portentous wonders and the miracles
H4159-06 Deuteronomy 13:2 מוֹפֵֽת mofet HNcmsa a wonder extraordinary portent an extraordinary miracle
H4159-17 Deuteronomy 13:3 וְ/הַ/מּוֹפֵ֔ת vehamofet HC/Td/Ncmsa or the wonder and the extraordinary portent and the extraordinary portent
H4159-16 Deuteronomy 26:8 וּ/בְ/מֹפְתִֽים uvemofetim HC/R/Ncmpa and with wonders and by extraordinary portents and by miracles
H4159-11 Deuteronomy 28:46 וּ/לְ/מוֹפֵ֑ת ulemofet HC/R/Ncmsa and for a wonder extraordinary portent and for an extraordinary portent
H4159-18 Deuteronomy 29:2 וְ/הַ/מֹּפְתִ֛ים vehamofetim HC/Td/Ncmpa and the wonders and the portentous wonders and the miracles
H4159-18 Deuteronomy 34:11 וְ/הַ/מּוֹפְתִ֗ים vehamofetim HC/Td/Ncmpa and the wonders and the portentous wonders and the miracles
H4159-06 1 Kings 13:3 מוֹפֵת֙ mofet HNcmsa a-sign extraordinary portent an extraordinary miracle
H4159-01 1 Kings 13:3 הַ/מּוֹפֵ֔ת hamofet HTd/Ncmsa the-sign the portentous wonder the portentous wonder
H4159-03 1 Kings 13:5 כַּ/מּוֹפֵ֗ת kamofet HRd/Ncmsa according to the sign like a portentous wonder according to the sign
H4159-12 Isaiah 8:18 וּ/לְ/מוֹפְתִ֖ים ulemofetim HC/R/Ncmpa and-for-wonders and for extraordinary portents and for extraordinary portents
H4159-13 Isaiah 20:3 וּ/מוֹפֵ֔ת umofet HC/Ncmsa and wonder extraordinary portent and an extraordinary miracle
H4159-15 Jeremiah 32:20 וּ/מֹפְתִ֤ים umofetim HC/Ncmpa and-wonders and portentous wonders and portentous miracles
H4159-16 Jeremiah 32:21 וּ/בְ/מוֹפְתִ֗ים uvemofetim HC/R/Ncmpa and-with-wonders and by extraordinary portents and by miracles
H4159-06 Ezekiel 12:6 מוֹפֵ֥ת mofet HNcmsa a sign extraordinary portent an extraordinary miracle
H4159-09 Ezekiel 12:11 מֽוֹפֶתְ/כֶ֑ם mofetekhem HNcmsc/Sp2mp your sign your portent your sign
H4159-05 Ezekiel 24:24 לְ/מוֹפֵ֔ת lemofet HR/Ncmsa for a sign for a portentous wonder for a portentous wonder
H4159-05 Ezekiel 24:27 לְ/מוֹפֵ֔ת lemofet HR/Ncmsa a sign for a portentous wonder for a portentous wonder
H4159-10 Joel 3:3 מֽוֹפְתִ֔ים mofetim HNcmpa signs extraordinary portents extraordinary portents
H4159-06 Zechariah 3:8 מוֹפֵ֖ת mofet HNcmsa of sign extraordinary portent an extraordinary miracle
H4159-04 Psalms 71:7 כְּ֭/מוֹפֵת kemofet HR/Ncmsa as a wonder as an extraordinary portent as an extraordinary portent
H4159-14 Psalms 78:43 וּ֝/מוֹפְתָ֗י/ו umofetayv HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms and his wonders and his astonishing portents and his astonishing portents
H4159-08 Psalms 105:5 מֹ֝פְתָ֗י/ו mofetayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms His wonders his portents his portents
H4159-15 Psalms 105:27 וּ֝/מֹפְתִ֗ים umofetim HC/Ncmpa and wonders and portentous wonders and portentous miracles
H4159-15 Psalms 135:9 וּ֭/מֹפְתִים umofetim HC/Ncmpa and wonders and portentous wonders and portentous miracles
H4159-15 Nehemiah 9:10 וּ/מֹֽפְתִ֜ים umofetim HC/Ncmpa and-wonders and portentous wonders and portentous miracles
H4159-08 1 Chronicles 16:12 מֹפְתָ֖י/ו mofetayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his miracles his portents his portents
H4159-13 2 Chronicles 32:24 וּ/מוֹפֵ֖ת umofet HC/Ncmsa and a sign extraordinary portent and an extraordinary miracle
H4159-01 2 Chronicles 32:31 הַ/מּוֹפֵת֙ hamofet HTd/Ncmsa the wonder the portentous wonder the portentous wonder
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