Lexical Summary tsair: younger, youngest, little ones Original Word: צָעִיר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance least, little one, small one, younger, Or tsanowr {tsaw-ore'}; from tsa'ar; little; (in number) few; (in age) young, (in value) ignoble -- least, little (one), small (one), + young(-er, -est). see HEBREW tsa'ar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom tsaar Definition little, insignificant, young NASB Translation least (1), least one (1), little (1), little ones (3), servants (1), small (2), those younger (1), young (1), younger (7), youngest (4), youngest son (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. צָעִיר adjective little, insignificant, young; — absoluteצָעִיר Genesis 25:23 +; feminine צְעִירָה Genesis 19:31 +; צְעִרָה 1 Samuel 9:12; masculine plural צְעִירִים Job 30:1; suffix צְעִירֶיהָ Jeremiah 48:4 Qr (Kt צעוריה but see צֹעַר); צְעִירֵיהֶם Jeremiah 14:3 (Kt צעוריהם), etc.; — 1.a. little, with idea of insignificance Judges 6:15 ("" הַדַּל), compare 1 Samuel 9:21 ("" קְטַנֵּי), Micah 5:1; Psalm 68:28; Isaiah 60:22 (opposed to גוי עצום); of horn in vision Daniel 8:9, read probablyאחרת צעירה for אחת מִצְּעִירָה, compare Bev Dr; צְעִירֵי הַצֹּאן Jeremiah 49:20; Jeremiah 50:45 (figurative of helpless captives). b. insignificant, mean, Psalm 119:141 ("" נִבְזֶה), Jeremiah 14:3 (as substantive); on Jeremiah 48:4.see צֹעַר. 2 more often of age, young (usually with article the younger, youngest, as substantive), of son (brother), opposed to הַבְּכוֺר Genesis 43:33; Genesis 48:14 (both J), Joshua 6:26; 1 Kings 16:34, opposed to רַב Genesis 25:23 (J), compare אני ׳צ לְיָמִים ואתם יְשִׁישִׁים Job 32:6; of daughter (sister), opposed to הַבְּכִירָה Genesis 19:31,34,35,38(J) Genesis 29:26 (E); — here belongs also צְעַירִים מִמֶּנִּי לימים Job 30:1, si vera lectio; GHBWr Siegf Bu strike out ממני לימים; ᵐ5 ἐλἁχιστοι); put then under 1b. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Thematic Emphasis צָעִיר (tsaʿir) almost always highlights what is “younger,” “smaller,” or “least.” Scripture uses the term to emphasize divine patterns: the unexpected elevation of the lesser, the vulnerability of the small, and the contrast between human insignificance and God’s sovereign choice. Occurrences in Narrative Passages • Genesis 19:31–38 – Lot’s “younger” daughter (verses 31, 34, 35, 38) frames a tragic episode that birthed Moab and Ammon. The word underscores how even the smallest familial decisions can carry generational consequence. Leadership Through Smallness Joshua 6:26 and 1 Kings 16:34 link Hiel’s “youngest” son, Segub, with the rebuilding of Jericho, demonstrating that disobedience can cost even the least of the family. Judges 6:15 – Gideon protests, “I am the youngest in my father’s house,” yet God makes him a deliverer. 1 Samuel 9:21 – Saul calls Benjamin “the smallest” tribe and his clan “the least,” showing that Israel’s first king began from humble stock. Poetic and Wisdom Literature Job 30:1 and 32:6 use צָעִיר for “young” men who either mock Job or wait to speak while elders debate. The contrast magnifies Job’s humiliation and Elihu’s deference before giving prophetic insight. Psalm 68:27 – “There is Benjamin, the youngest, ruling them,” celebrating unity under worship as the smallest tribe leads the procession. Psalm 119:141 – “I am lowly and despised,” pairing smallness with steadfast obedience to God’s word. Prophetic Oracles of Judgment Jeremiah 14:3 refers to servants (“little ones”) shamed by drought; 48:4 laments Moab’s “little ones”; 49:20 and 50:45 predict that even the “little ones of the flock” of Edom and Babylon will be dragged away. Smallness here portrays defenselessness under divine judgment. Messianic and Eschatological Promise Isaiah 60:22 – “The least of you will become a thousand, and the smallest a mighty nation.” The term guarantees multiplication for Zion after exile. Micah 5:2 – “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be Ruler over Israel.” The Messiah springs from an insignificant town, perfectly illustrating the exaltation of the צָעִיר. Theology of the Least Becoming Great 1. God’s Choice: Repeated selection of the younger (Jacob, Ephraim, David) announces that divine election is by grace, not human hierarchy. Practical Ministry Applications • Encouragement to the Overlooked – Youth, minority churches, and smaller ministries can trust God’s pattern of magnifying the humble. Summary צָעִיר unites diverse contexts with one message: the Lord repeatedly takes what is youngest, smallest, or least and makes it crucial to His redemptive plan. Recognizing this theme cultivates humility, hope, and confidence that God’s power is perfected in what the world deems insignificant. Forms and Transliterations הַצְּעִירָ֔ה הַצְּעִירָ֖ה הַצְּעִירָה֙ הַצְּעִרָ֔ה הַצָּעִ֔יר הַצָּעִ֖יר הצעיר הצעירה הצערה וְהַצְּעִירָ֤ה וְהַצָּעִ֖יר וּבִצְעִיר֖וֹ ובצעירו והצעיר והצעירה צְעִירִ֥ים צְעִירֵ֣י צְעִירֵיהֶ֖ם צְעִירֶֽיהָ׃ צְעִירוֹ֙ צָ֘עִ֤יר צָעִ֡יר צָעִ֣יר צָעִֽיר׃ צָעִיר֙ צעיר צעיר׃ צעירו צעירי צעיריה׃ צעיריהם צעירים haṣ·ṣā·‘îr haṣ·ṣə·‘i·rāh haṣ·ṣə·‘î·rāh haṣṣā‘îr haṣṣə‘irāh haṣṣə‘îrāh hatztzaIr hatztzeiRah ṣā‘îr ṣā·‘îr ṣə‘îrê ṣə‘îrehā ṣə‘îrêhem ṣə‘îrîm ṣə‘îrōw ṣə·‘î·rê ṣə·‘î·re·hā ṣə·‘î·rê·hem ṣə·‘î·rîm ṣə·‘î·rōw tzaIr tzeiRei tzeiReiha tzeireiHem tzeiRim tzeiRo ū·ḇiṣ·‘î·rōw ūḇiṣ‘îrōw uvitziRo vehatztzaIr vehatztzeiRah wə·haṣ·ṣā·‘îr wə·haṣ·ṣə·‘î·rāh wəhaṣṣā‘îr wəhaṣṣə‘îrāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 19:31 HEB: הַבְּכִירָ֛ה אֶל־ הַצְּעִירָ֖ה אָבִ֣ינוּ זָקֵ֑ן NAS: said to the younger, Our father KJV: said unto the younger, Our father INT: the firstborn to the younger our father is old Genesis 19:34 Genesis 19:35 Genesis 19:38 Genesis 25:23 Genesis 29:26 Genesis 43:33 Genesis 48:14 Joshua 6:26 Judges 6:15 1 Samuel 9:21 1 Kings 16:34 Job 30:1 Job 32:6 Psalm 68:27 Psalm 119:141 Isaiah 60:22 Jeremiah 14:3 Jeremiah 48:4 Jeremiah 49:20 Jeremiah 50:45 Micah 5:2 22 Occurrences |
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