Lexical Summary little, few Original Word: מְעַט Strong's Exhaustive Concordance almost some, very fewer lightly, little while, very small matter, thing, some, soon, veryOr miat {meh-awt'}; from ma'at; a little or few (often adverbial or compar.) -- almost (some, very) few(-er, -est), lightly, little (while), (very) small (matter, thing), some, soon, X very. see HEBREW ma'at NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom maat Definition a little, fewness, a few NASB Translation almost (2), brief (1), close (1), diminish (1), easily (1), enough (3), few (20), fewest (1), little (44), little while (8), many* (1), merely (1), quickly (1), scarcely (1), slight a thing (2), small (3), small matter (1), smaller (4), so small (1), some (1), soon (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs מְעַט101 substantive a little, fewness, a few; — ׳מ absolute and construct, מְעָ֑ט Isaiah 10:7 +, plural מְעַטִּים Psalm 109:8; Ecclesiastes 5:1; — 1. a. Genesis 30:30 מעט אשׁר היה לך לְפָנַי the little that thou hadst, Genesis 47:9 מעט ורעים היו ימי שׁני חיי few and evil, Leviticus 25:52; Numbers 26:54 (compare Numbers 33:54) וְלַמְעַט תמעיט נחלתו and to the small (few) thou shalt make small his inheritance, Numbers 33:56; Numbers 35:8 וּמֵאֵת ַהמְעַט תמעיטו, Deuteronomy 7:7 וכי אתם ַהמְעַט מכלֿ העמים ye are the fewest out of all peoples, 1 Samuel 14:6 לְהוֺשִׁיעַ בְּרַב אוֺ בִמְעָ֑ט, Jeremiah 42:2 כִּי נִשְׁאַרְנוּ מְעַט מֵהַרְבֵּה we are left as few out of many, Ezekiel 5:3 וְלָקַחְתָּ מִשָּׁם מְעַט בְּמִסְמָּר, Haggai 1:6 זְרַעְתֶּם הַרְבֵּה וְהָבֵא מְעָ֑ט (compare Haggai 1:9), Psalm 8:6 ותחסּרהו מעט מאלהים, Psalm 37:16 טוֺב מְעַט לַצַּדִּיק (compare Proverbs 15:16; Proverbs 16:8), 2Chronicles 29:34 רַק הַכֹּהֲנִים הָיוּ לִמְעָ֑ט; as predicate Numbers 13:18 הַמְעַט הוּא אִםרָֿ֑ב, Joshua 7:3 כִּי מְעַט הֵמָּה, Job 10:20; Ruth 2:7; Nehemiah 7:4; Isaiah 16:14 וּשְׁאָר מְעַט מִזְעָר. — Hosea 8:10 וַיָּחֵלּוּ מְעַט and they begin as littleness ( = to be minished) because of, &c.; but read probably (ᵐ5) וְיֶחְדְּלוּ מְעַט מִמְּשֹׁחַ and they shall cease for a little ( d) from anointing, etc. b. as substantive with following Genitive, Genesis 18:4 מְעַט מַיִם a little of water, Genesis 24:17,43, מְעַט אֹכֶל Genesis 43:2; Genesis 44:25; 1 Samuel 14:43; 1 Samuel 17:28 מְעַט הַצּאֹן הָהֵ֫נָּה literally the fewness of those sheep, Proverbs 6:10 +; as Genitive to a previous substantive, מְתֵי מְעָ֑ט men of fewness Deuteronomy 26:5; Deuteronomy 28:62; in apposition, Isaiah 10:7 לְהַכְרִית גּוֺיִם לֹא מְעָ֑ט, Ezra 9:8 מִחְיָה מְעַט, Nehemiah 2:12 וַאֲנָשִׁים מְעַט עִמִּי, Ecclesiastes 9:4; either Genitive or appositive, Ecclesiastes 10:1; Daniel 11:34 יֵעָֽזְרוּ עֵזֶר מְעָ֑ט with a help of smallness. c. twice declined as an adjective , Psalm 109:8 יִהְיוּ יָמָיו מְעַטִּים, Ecclesiastes 5:1 עלכֿן יהיו דבריך מְעַטִּים. d. as adverb. accusative, of place, 2 Samuel 16:1 וְדָוִד עֹבֵר מְעַט; of time, Job 10:20 b; of degree, 2 Kings 10:18 אַחְאָב עָבַד אֶתהַֿבַּעַל מְעָ֑ט, Ezekiel 11:16 and have been to them for a sanctuary but little, Zechariah 1:15; repeated מְעַט מְעַט by little, by little = gradually, Exodus 23:30; Deuteronomy 7:22. e. phrases: — a. with the interr. הֲ, Genesis 30:15 ַהמְעַט קַחְתֵּךְ אֶתֿ אִישִׁי וְלָקַחַת was thy taking my husband (too) little? and (wilt thou be) for taking also my son's love-apples? Numbers 16:9-10 ַהמְעַט מִכֶּם כִּי הִבְדִּיל ֗֗֗ וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּם גַּם כְּהֻנָּה is it too little for you that J. hath separated, etc., ... and do ye seek, etc.? Numbers 16:13 ַהמְעַט כִּי הֶעֱלִיתָנוּ ֗֗֗ כִּי תִשְׂתָּרֵר גַּם הִשְׂתָּרֵר, Joshua 22:17f. ׳ַהמְעַט לָנוּ ֗֗֗ וְאַתֶּם תָּשׁוּבוּ וגו, Isaiah 7:13 ׳ַהמְעַט מִכֶּם הַלְאוֺת אֲנָשִׁים כִּי תַּלְאוּ וגו is wearying men too little for you, that you will weary also my God? Ezekiel 34:18 (as Ew Co AV RV), Job 15:11 ַהמְעַט מִמְּךָ תַּנְחוּמוֺת אֵל. But Ezekiel 16:20 (si vera lectio) was it (too) little because of thy whoredom? (was that insufficient for thee? Kö iii. 406 m). b. ׳עוֺד מְעַט וְ, Exodus 17:4 עוֺד מְעַט וּסְקָלֻנִי yet a little, and they will stone me, Jeremiah 51:33; Hosea 1:4; Psalm 37:10; ׳עוֺד מְעַט מִזְעָר וְ Isaiah 10:25; Isaiah 29:17; compare Haggai 2:6; Job 24:24. 2 כִּמְעַט like a little: hence a. within a little, almost (compare ὀλίγου), Genesis 26:10 כִּמְעַט שָׁכַב ֗֗֗ almost had lain ..., Psalm 73:2 Qr, Psalm 94:17; Psalm 119:87; Proverbs 5:14 (all followed by perfect); Ezekiel 16:47 כִּמְעַט קָט וַתַּשְׁחִתִי מֵהֶן like a little, and thou hadst done more corruptly than they; Songs 3:4 כִּמְעַט שֶׁעָבַרְתִּי מֵהֶם = hardly had I passed. b. with imperfect, just, 2 Samuel 19:37 כמעט יעבר עבדך just would thy servant pass over; lightly, easily, quickly (compare δἰ ὀλίγου), Psalm 2:12 כִּי יִבְעַר כִּמְעַט אַמּוֺ, Psalm 81:15; Job 32:22. c. = shortly, 2 Chronicles 12:7. d. = little worth, Proverbs 10:20 כמעט ולב רשׁעים. e. pleonastic for מְעַט, Isaiah 1:9 (accents) כִּמְעָ֑ט שָׂרִיר a little remnant, Psalm 105:12 (= 1 Chronicles 16:19) כִּמְעַט וְגָרִים בָּהּ; כִּמְעַט רֶגַע like the littleness of a moment = for a little moment, Isaiah 26:20; Ezra 9:8. Topical Lexicon Conceptual RangeThe term embraces smallness in size, quantity, number, and time, as well as the idea of “almost” or “scarcely.” It functions both literally (“a little flour,” “a few survivors”) and figuratively (“in a little while,” “a little anger”). Occurrences and Distribution Appearing about 102 times, the word spans the narrative books (Genesis, Exodus, Kings), the poetry and wisdom corpus (Psalms, Proverbs, Job), and the prophets (especially Isaiah, Jeremiah, Haggai, Zechariah). Its versatility allows it to speak into daily life, covenant history, and eschatological promise. Primary Spheres of Usage Quantity—Material Resources Number—People and Remnant Time—A Little While Degree—Emotion and Action Theological Themes Small Beginnings, Divine Increase Jacob’s “little” flock (Genesis 30:30), the widow’s scant provisions (1 Kings 17:12-16), and later the five loaves in the Gospels all underscore that God delights to magnify what appears insignificant. Contentment and True Wealth Proverbs 15:16; Proverbs 16:8 combine “little” with the fear of the LORD or righteousness, teaching that holiness outweighs abundance. The Remnant Principle A “few survivors” (Isaiah 1:9) preserve covenant continuity. The very smallness magnifies sovereign grace. Imminent Judgment and Hope “Yet a little while” balances menace (Isaiah 29:17) with comfort (Haggai 2:6), assuring that oppression is temporary and salvation near. Human Frailty vs. Divine Permanence Job 24:24 notes the fleeting success of the wicked. The word invites reflection on mortality and the pursuit of enduring treasure. Historical Observations Ancient households often functioned on slender margins; “a little oil” or “a little water” could mean survival. Post-exilic prophets employed the temporal sense to keep hope alive under foreign rule, promising that present hardship was momentary. Ministry Application • Encourage stewardship and faith in small resources; God can multiply them. Christological and Eschatological Trajectory Hebrews 10:37 cites Isaiah’s “little while” to anchor expectancy in the imminent return of Christ. Kingdom parables of mustard seed and leaven mirror the me’at principle—great outcomes from tiny origins. The promised cosmic shaking (Haggai 2:6) finds its ultimate fulfillment in the Messiah’s advent and the coming new creation. Devotional Reflection Living with “a little” teaches reliance on the Lord who transforms scarcity into sufficiency and fleeting trials into eternal glory. Forms and Transliterations בִּמְעַט־ בִמְעָֽט׃ במעט־ במעט׃ הַמְעַ֖ט הַמְעַ֗ט הַמְעַ֣ט הַמְעַ֤ט הַמְעַ֥ט הַמְעַט֙ הַמְעַט־ המעט המעט־ וְלַמְעַ֕ט וְלַמְעַט֙ וּמְעַ֣ט וּמְעַט־ ולמעט ומעט ומעט־ כִּ֝מְעַ֗ט כִּ֠מְעַט כִּ֭מְעַט כִּמְעַ֓ט ׀ כִּמְעַ֖ט כִּמְעַ֞ט כִּמְעַ֣ט כִּמְעַט֙ כִּמְעַט־ כִּמְעָ֑ט כִּמְעָֽט׃ כִמְעַט־ כמעט כמעט־ כמעט׃ לִמְעָ֔ט לִמְעָֽט׃ למעט למעט׃ מְ֭עַט מְּ֭עַט מְּעַ֨ט ׀ מְּעָ֔ט מְּעָֽט׃ מְעַ֓ט ׀ מְעַ֔ט מְעַ֖ט מְעַ֗ט מְעַ֛ט מְעַ֞ט מְעַ֣ט מְעַ֤ט מְעַ֥ט מְעַ֨ט מְעַט֙ מְעַט֩ מְעַט֮ מְעַטִּ֑ים מְעַטִּֽים׃ מְעַט־ מְעָ֑ט מְעָ֔ט מְעָ֗ט מְעָֽט׃ מִעֵ֔טוּ מעט מעט־ מעט׃ מעטו מעטים מעטים׃ ḇim‘āṭ bim‘aṭ- ḇim·‘āṭ bim·‘aṭ- bimat chimat ham‘aṭ ham‘aṭ- ham·‘aṭ ham·‘aṭ- hamAt kim‘aṭ kim‘āṭ kim‘aṭ- ḵim‘aṭ- kim·‘aṭ kim·‘āṭ kim·‘aṭ- ḵim·‘aṭ- Kimat lim‘āṭ lim·‘āṭ limAt mə‘aṭ mə‘āṭ mə‘aṭ- mə‘aṭṭîm mə·‘aṭ mə·‘āṭ mə·‘aṭ- mə·‘aṭ·ṭîm meat meatTim mi‘êṭū mi·‘ê·ṭū miEtu ū·mə·‘aṭ ū·mə·‘aṭ- ūmə‘aṭ ūmə‘aṭ- umeAt velamAt vimAt wə·lam·‘aṭ wəlam‘aṭLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 18:4 HEB: יֻקַּֽח־ נָ֣א מְעַט־ מַ֔יִם וְרַחֲצ֖וּ NAS: Please let a little water be brought KJV: Let a little water, I pray you, INT: be brought Please A little water and wash Genesis 24:17 Genesis 24:43 Genesis 26:10 Genesis 30:15 Genesis 30:30 Genesis 43:2 Genesis 43:11 Genesis 43:11 Genesis 44:25 Genesis 47:9 Exodus 17:4 Exodus 23:30 Exodus 23:30 Leviticus 25:52 Numbers 13:18 Numbers 16:9 Numbers 16:13 Numbers 26:54 Numbers 26:56 Numbers 33:54 Numbers 35:8 Deuteronomy 7:7 Deuteronomy 7:22 Deuteronomy 7:22 102 Occurrences |
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