גָּדוֹל Gadol
Becoming Great
The Hebrew word for "great" is גָּדוֹל gadol, godol or gadal (g-d-l). It literary means something "big" or "great". In Hebrew culture, can be referred to children when they turn 12 years old, and they become to be called gadol, "big" or "great".
Also, in Jewish culture, the term gadol is a comparative form to indicate who was the "greatest" leader of the generation, meaning greater than everybody else. The word "kohen gadol" means high priest, indicating a higher order of priesthood.
In Biblical context "gadol" is associated with something small evolving into a greater form or version of it. In many verses, "gadal" literary means something that grows and exceeds out of proportion or exceedingly great. Here are some examples:
In these verses, the adjective great (gadal) comes next to words such as "waxed great", "grew great," and "make great" meaning it is a comparative form with something lesser. From a holistic view, the word greater than can be associated with the process of becoming greater or bigger, where the lesser form is the previous estate or version of the ultimate greater condition, and it is an evolving form rather than something separate.
In this context, we can look at greater as an adjective that defines an estate of something being expanded that exceeded considerably its previous condition. Greater than can represent a higher category or level of something or someone.
The "Great" and Marvelous Work
In the context of the "Great and marvelous work," we can say that the "greater" aspect of it represents the stage of expansion, a moment in the development of it where the work of God will grow exceedingly or out of proportion.
Also, if we use the parallel of Jacob in Genesis 26:13, where Jacob becoming great represents becoming important or achieving an estate of greatness, then we can assume a point in time where the work of God will achieve a significant level of growth where all people will acknowledge the greatness of it.
Going further, we read that the Lord will hasten his work in its time:
The least of you will become a thousand, and the smallest a mighty nation. I am the LORD; in its time I will accomplish it quickly. (Isaiah 60:22 BSB)
If we look at 1 Chronicles 29:12, where the word for "make great" parallels with "give strength," it can link to this idea that there is a time for the great and marvelous work as a time to receive strength or power and become great, as it's known through the scripture, the day of power.
And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? (Joel 2:11)
This idea of the work of God evolving to something that eventually will be a greater version associated with strength or power was told to the early latter-day saints. For instance, the Lord refers to the time of Joseph Smith as the beginning of bringing forth the word:
But behold, in the , even now while the Lord is beginning to bring forth the word, and the blade is springing up and is yet tender (D&C 86:4)
Using the words that define markers in time, such as "the beginning," implies that there is a future version where that "word" will grow and expand.
Using the comparative form of small and great, the Lord told to the early saints about what they were doing:
Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great. (D&C 64:33)
These words coming directly from the Lord reveal the very nature of his work, which is the same Hebrew meaning of Gadol analyzed before, that the greater version proceeds from what is small in the first place. In other words, the Lord can't just go 0 to 100; instead, the pattern is to begin small, and from what is small, proceed then to what is great. The reason for this is that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh—But that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world; That faith also might increase in the earth (D&C 1:19-21).