The Hebrew verb pala means to be wonderful, extraordinary, beyond human ability, or surpassing comprehension. Used 71 times in the OT, it describes acts that elicit awe — typically acts of God. It is the root of pele (H6382), the word for 'wonder' in Isaiah 9:6 (Wonderful Counselor).
Pala establishes a category for what is distinctively divine: things humans cannot do, plan, or understand. God's wonders in the Exodus, His knowledge of humanity (Psalm 139), and even His name are pala. The theology here is that God is categorically beyond creation — His ways are wonderful not merely in degree but in kind. This creates the posture of worship and awe.