What I've Found: Signs & Wonders 1 (defining)

The Scriptural phrase “signs and wonders” brings with it a sense of excitement and concern. The church at the beginning of Acts was described as being in awe and in fear at the signs and wonders worked among them. Today there is a mixture of awe at the possibility of God at work and fear at the mysterious nature of these events—are they of God or of man. The purpose of this paper is to first define “signs and wonders”; then to describe the contexts that we find signs and wonders worked out in Scripture—specifically focusing on the New Testament; and finally to describe what I find the New Testament church’s reaction to signs and wonders how the New Testament church should interact with these events.

Defining Signs & Wonders

To define this idea of signs and wonders, I refer to the Greek definitions and implications, then to those things we see in the Scriptures as signs and wonders that were performed in the Bible.
The Strong’s Concordance’s defines wonders in the Greek as “teras” (teras), meaning a prodigy, omen or wonder1. The Bible Knowledge Commentary[i] describes these wonders as “miracles evoking awe”. Strong's defines signs as semaino (semaino), from sema (sema), a mark; to indicate or signify. Again referring to the Bible Knowledge Commentary, we are told these are “miracles pointing to a divine truth”. On occasion, the word for sign is semeion (semeion), which is a derivative of semaino (semaino); which is an “indication, especially ceremonial or supernatural; a miracle, sign, token, or wonder.” A number of translators have in many places translated the phrase signs and wonders as “miraculous signs and wonders”.
In the Old Testament Hebrews the word for signs is 'owth ('owth)[ii], meaning a signal, flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, a mark, miracle, sign, token. The Hebrew for wonders is Mowpheth (mowpheth)[iii], meaning conspicuousness; a miracle; or by implication a token or omen an is translated miracle, sign, wonder.

Biblical Signs & Wonders

In the Bible signs and wonders refer to a variety of miraculous events and actions brought by God through His servants. I’ve found that often the events of the Exodus are referred to as miraculous signs and wonders. These events included Moses’ rod turning into a snake and back into a rod; the Nile River being turned into blood and the rest of the plagues. Exodus signs and wonders also include the various miracles God worked on behalf of His people in the wilderness including the provision of food and water and His general preserving them from sickness and from their clothes and shoes from wearing out.
On occasion, the Exodus signs and wonders included what we might generally consider typical miracles such as healing and the casting out of demons. These are the signs and wonders that we often think of which according to Jeremiah continued through out the Old Testament times[iv].
Other of these miracles are seen through out the Old Testament include healings, exorcisms, a variety of healings, raising people from the dead and various natural phenomena.

1 STRONG’S GREEK & HEBREW DICTIONARY, Database ©1990-93 NavPress Software. Audio: Kirkbride Bible & Technology © 1998.

[i] THE BIBLE KNOWLEDGE COMMENTARY: New Testament Edition, An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty; Based on the New International Version. By John F. WalvoordRoy B. Zuck. Victor Books, A Division of Scripture Press Publications Inc. USA Canada England, Underlying source materials. © 1983, by Scripture Press Publications, Inc. Licensed by Victor Books. Database ©1997 NavPress Software.

[ii] »Strong’s Help
'owth, Hebrew 226, Strong’s
'owth, oth; probably from Hebrew 225 ('uwth) (in the sense of appearing); a signal (literal or figurative), as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, etc. :- mark, miracle, (en-) sign, token.
In Daniel, the Chaldean is used: 'ath (Chaldee), awth; corresponding to Hebrew 226 ('owth); a portent :- sign.
[iii] mowpheth, mo-faith'; or mopheth, mo-faith'; from Hebrew 3302 (yaphah) in the sense of conspicuousness; a miracle; by implication a token or omen :- miracle, sign, wonder (-ed at
In Daniel, the Chaldean is used: temahh, tem-ah'; (Chaldee); from a root corresponding to Hebrew 8539 (tamahh); a miracle :- wonder.
[iv] Jeremiah 32:20
You performed miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt and have continued them to this day, both in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained the renown that is still yours. [NIV]