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” ([Neh 9:19], [Neh 9:27]; [Amo 5:12], where it is equivalent to “many”), and of rābhabh, “to multiply,” “to increase” ([Psa 104:24], “O Yahweh, how manifold are thy works”); poikilos, properly, “many colored,” “spotted,” “variegated,” is translated “manifold”: [1Pe 1:6] margin, “manifold temptations”; [1Pe 4:10], “manifold grace,” suggests variety, diverseness; polupoı́kilos has this meaning more intensely ([Eph 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” ([Luk 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).
