English · KJV
H4659

מִפְעָל

miphʻâl /mif-awl'/ Ask about this word
Rootor (feminine) מִפְעָלָה · from פָּעַל
Meaninga performance
KJV usagework.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of miphʻâl — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word miphʻâl, represented by H4659, refers to a performance or work. While it appears only 3 times across 3 unique verses, its usage is significant, consistently pointing to the mighty and foundational acts of God. It is derived from the root word for performance, emphasizing a completed action or creation.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical occurrences, H4659 is used exclusively to describe the works of the Lord. The Psalms twice issue a direct invitation to witness these divine acts, urging the reader to "Come, behold the works of the LORD" Psalms 46:8 and to "Come and see the works of God" Psalms 66:5. In Proverbs, the term is used to describe God's creative activity at the dawn of time, referencing "his works of old" that existed even before the beginning of his way Proverbs 8:22.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context of God's powerful performances:

  • H3068 Yᵉhôvâh: This is the Jewish national name of God, meaning the self-Existent or Eternal. It identifies the one whose works are being described Psalms 46:8.
  • H2372 châzâh: This word means to gaze at or mentally to perceive. It is the command given to those who are to witness God's works, as in the call to "behold the works of the LORD" Psalms 46:8.
  • H5949 ʻălîylâh: This term denotes an exploit or deed. It is used in parallel with H4659 to describe God's "terrible in his doing toward the children of men" Psalms 66:5.
  • H7200 râʼâh: Meaning to see, literally or figuratively, this word also serves as an invitation to witness God's power, as in the call to "Come and see the works of God" Psalms 66:5.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H4659 is focused on God's self-revelation through His actions.

  • Divine Power and Judgment: The word is directly linked to God's awesome power over the earth. The "works" of the LORD are explicitly connected to the "desolations he hath made in the earth," demonstrating his sovereign control and authority Psalms 46:8.
  • A Call to Witness: In two of its three appearances, the term is preceded by a command to "Come" and "behold" or "see" (Psalms 46:8, Psalms 66:5). This emphasizes that God's works are not hidden but are meant to be observed and contemplated by humanity.
  • Primal Creative Acts: The use of H4659 in Proverbs places God's "works" at the very foundation of existence, preceding even "the beginning of his way" Proverbs 8:22. This frames God as the eternal creator whose performances establish the order of the cosmos.

Summary

In summary, miphʻâl H4659 is a concise and potent term used exclusively for the works of God. Though rare, it carries immense weight by pointing to God's foundational creative power, His acts of judgment, and the divine intention for these performances to be seen and understood by humankind. The word underscores the biblical theme that God is known primarily through what He does.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 3 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • מִפְעֲלוֹת
  • מִפְעָלָי

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H3068 יְהֹוָה from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹו H2372 חָזָה a primitive root; to gaze at; mentally to perceive, contemplate (with pleasure); specifically, to have avision of; behol H5949 עֲלִילָה or עֲלִלָה; from עָלַל in the sense of effecting; an exploit (of God), or a performance (of man, often in a bad sense); H7200 רָאָה a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransit

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 3 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms (2 verses); never once in the other 37.

2
Psalms
1
Proverbs

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.