Lexical Summary qaton: Small, little, insignificant, young Original Word: קָטֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be a make small thing, be not worthy A primitive root (rather denominative from qatan); to diminish, i.e. Be (causatively, make) diminutive or (figuratively) of no account -- be a (make) small (thing), be not worthy. see HEBREW qatan NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to be small or insignificant NASB Translation insignificant (1), make the smaller (1), small thing (1), unworthy (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs קֹ֫דֶשׁ469 noun masculine apartness, sacredness (opposed to חֹל Leviticus 10:10 4t. Ezekiel); — absolute ׳ק Exodus 3:5 +; קוֺדֶשׁ Daniel 11:30; construct קֹדֶשׁ Exodus 30:36 +; suffix קָדְשִׁי Leviticus 20:3 +, etc.; plural קָֽדָשִׁים Exodus 29:37 +, הַקֳּדָשִׁים Exodus 26:33 +; construct קָדְשֵׁי Leviticus 22:15 +; suffix קָֽדָשַׁי Ezekiel 22:8 3t., קֳדָשֶׁיךָ Deuteronomy 12:26, קֳדָשָׁיו Numbers 5:10; 2 Kings 12:19, קָֽדָשָׁיו2Chronicles 15:18, etc.; — 1 apartness, sacredness, holiness, of God: a. of divine activity, synonym majesty, בַּקֹּדֶשׁ (of victory), Exodus 15:11 (song) Psalm 68:18; Psalm 77:14; ׳זְרוֺעַ ק holy arm Isaiah 52:10; Psalm 98:1. b. to attest his word as inviolable ׳נשׁבע בק Amos 4:2; Psalm 89:36; compare ׳דִּבְרֵי ק Jeremiah 23:9, ׳דְּבַר ק Psalm 105:42. c. of his name as sacred, inviolable, separate from all defilement, etc.: שֵׁם קָדְשִׁי Leviticus 20:3; Leviticus 22:2,32 (P), Amos 2:7; 1 Chronicles 16:10,35; 1 Chronicles 29:16 9t. Ezekiel; 5t. Psalms; ׳זֵכֶר ק Psalm 30:5 = Psalm 97:12; and so d. רוּחַ קָדְשׁוֺ his holy Spirit Isaiah 63:10,11, compare Psalm 51:13. 2 of places set apart as sacred by God's presence: a. heavenly abode; ׳מעון ק Deuteronomy 26:15; Jeremiah 25:30; Zechariah 2:17; 2Chronicles 30:27; Psalm 68:6; ׳הֵיכֵל ק Micah 1:2; Habakkuk 2:20; Jonah 2:5; Jonah 2:8; Psalm 11:4; ׳מְרוֺם ק Psalm 102:20; ׳זְבוּל ק Isaiah 63:15; ׳שְׁמֵי ק Psalm 20:7 ׳כסּא ק Psalm 47:9; בְּקָדְשׁוֺ Psalm 150:1. b. on earth: ׳אַדְמַת ק Exodus 3:5 (E), compare Joshua 5:15 (JE) 2 Chronicles 8:11; אלהים ׳הַר ק Ezekiel 28:14 (compare p. 249 b). c. (only P and Chronicles) the tabernacle and its courts Exodus 40:9; Numbers 3:28 +; tabernacle by itself Exodus 38:24; Leviticus 10:4 +; court Leviticus 10:17,18 + (so קדשׁ הקדשׁים Numbers 18:10); the outer room (specific designation; ׳הַקּ) Exodus 26:33; Exodus 28:29 +; inner room Leviticus 4:6; Leviticus 16:2 +, but specific designation קדשׁ הקדשׁים Exodus 26:33,34; 1 Chronicles 6:34; ׳שֶׁקֶל הקshekel of the sanctuary Exodus 30:13 24t. P. d. the temple and its precincts2Chronicles 29:7; Daniel 8:13 +; ׳שָׂרֵי ק Isaiah 43:28; 1 Chronicles 24:5; דכּר בְּקָדְשׁוֺ Psalm 60:8 = Psalm 108:8 (oracle; al. by his holiness, as נשׁבעתי בקדשׁי Psalm 89:36), temple by itself 2Chronicles 29:5; ׳בית (ה)ק Isaiah 64:10; 1 Chronicles 29:3; הֵיכַל קדשׁך Psalm 5:8 = Psalm 138:2; Psalm 79:1; ׳הַקּ outer room 1 Kings 8:10 2Chronicles 5:11; courts of priests Ezekiel 42:14; Ezekiel 44:27 (twice in verse); חצרות קדשׁי Isaiah 62:9; inner room Ezekiel 41:21,23, specifically דְּבִּיר קדשׁך Psalm 28:2; קדשׁ הקדשׁים 1 Kings 6:16; 1 Kings 7:50; 1 Kings 8:6; 2Chronicles 3:8,10; 4:22; 5:7; Ezekiel 41:4; ׳לִשְׁכוֺת הַקּ Ezekiel 42:13; Ezekiel 44:19; Ezekiel 46:19 (see לִשְׁכָּךְ 1c). e. Jerusalem and its hills: מקום קדשׁו Ezra 9:8, ׳עיר הק Isaiah 48:2; Isaiah 52:1; Nehemiah 11:1,18, קדשׁך ׳ע Daniel 9:24, ׳הר (ה)ק Isaiah 11:9 6t. Isa2; Isa3; Jeremiah 31:23; Ezekiel 20:40; Joel 2:1; Joel 4:17; Obadiah 16; Zephaniah 3:11; Zechariah 8:3; Daniel 9:16,20; Daniel 11:45 6t. Psalms; ׳גְּבוּל ק Psalm 78:54, ׳הַרֲרֵי ק Psalm 87:1 probably also Psalm 110:3, ׳ק of city and suburbs in Messianic future Jeremiah 31:40; Joel 4:17. compare f. (ה)קדשׁ of Zion Obadiah 17; Psalm 20:3; Psalm 24:3; Psalm 63:3; Psalm 68:25, קדשׁים ׳ק Ezekiel 43:12; ׳נְוֵה ק Exodus 15:13 of Zion (or Shiloh). g. of holy land Zephaniah 3:4, ׳אדמת הק Zechariah 2:16, עָרֵי קדשׁךIsa 64:9; future portion of priests ׳ק Ezekiel 45:1 (twice in verse)+ 11 t. Ezekiel; קדשׁ קדשׁים Ezekiel 45:3; Ezekiel 48:12; of Levites קדשׁ Ezekiel 48:14. 3 things consecrated at sacred places: a. furniture of tabernacle קדשׁים (ה) קדשׁ Exodus 30:10,29; Numbers 4:4,19; altar of burnt-offering Exodus 29:37; Exodus 40:10; Daniel 9:24; ׳ארון הק2Chronicles 35:3. b. sacrifices of animals Numbers 18:17; Ezekiel 36:38; 2Chronicles 29:33; sacrificial food Leviticus 21:22b Numbers 5:9 +; קדשׁים (ה) קדשׁ Leviticus 2:3,10; Leviticus 6:10; Leviticus 6:18; Leviticus 6:22; Leviticus 7:1,6; Leviticus 10:12,17; Leviticus 14:13; Numbers 18:9 (twice in verse) (all P), Ezekiel 42:13 (twice in verse); 2Chronicles 31:14; Ezra 2:63 = Nehemiah 7:65; tithe was קדשׁ Leviticus 27:30 +, also first loaves of new harvest Leviticus 23:20; fruit of trees of 4th year Leviticus 19:24. c. any consecrated thing: "" vows Deuteronomy 12:26; Proverbs 20:25 +, house Leviticus 27:14, field Leviticus 27:21,23; treasures consecrated to treasury of tabernacle or temple Joshua 6:19 (E) 1 Kings 7:51 +; consecrated things in General Exodus 28:38 (P), Ezekiel 20:40; Ezekiel 22:8 +; these may be קדשׁים קדשׁ (ה) Ezekiel 44:13, so חֵרֶם Leviticus 27:28. d. anointing oil of priest Exodus 30:25 (twice in verse) + 5 t. (P), Psalm 89:21; incense Exodus 30:35,37. קדשׁים ׳ק Exodus 30:36; shew-bread 1 Samuel 21:5, ׳ק (ה) קדשׁ Leviticus 24:9; compare Leviticus 21:22a (P); foretold of common articles, ׳לי ׳ק Zechariah 14:20,21. On הקדשׁים ׳ק see also DiExodus 26:33 Leviticus 21:22 Wecompare 160 f. DrDaniel 9:24. 4 persons sacred by connection with sacred places: a. priests Leviticus 21:6; 2Chronicles 23:6; 31:18; Ezra 8:28, garments of priesthood Exodus 28:2,4 7t. Exodus; Leviticus 16:4,32; Ezekiel 42:14, specifically of high priest ׳כתנת ק Leviticus 16:4, ׳נֵזֶר הק Exodus 29:6; Exodus 39:30; Leviticus 8:9; inscription on head piece קדשׁ ליהוה Exodus 28:36; Exodus 39:30. b. of Israel, ׳קדשׁ לי Jeremiah 2:3, היתה לקדשׁו Psalm 114:2, קדשׁ (ה) עם Isaiah 62:12; Daniel 12:7, עם קדשׁך Isaiah 63:18; קדשׁ (ה) זֶרַע Isaiah 6:13; Ezra 9:2; אַנְשֵׁי קדשׁ Exodus 22:30 (R), and so spoil for their use Isaiah 23:18; holy adornment ׳הַדְרַת ק 1 Chronicles 16:29; 2Chronicles 20:21; Psalm 29:2; Psalm 96:9; ׳הַדְרֵי ק Psalm 110:3 (but read הַרְרֵי see 2e; הָדָר 1); covt. between God and his people ׳ברית ק Daniel 11:28,30 (twice in verse). 5 times consecrated to worship: שׁבת Exodus 16:23; Exodus 31:14,15; Exodus 35:2 (P) Nehemiah 9:14; of. שׁבת also ׳יום ק Isaiah 58:13; distinguished from שׁבת Nehemiah 10:32; ישׁבל Leviticus 25:12(P); assembly called at stated times for worship ׳ק (י) מקרא Exodus 12:16 (twice in verse) + 17 t. Leviticus 23 Numbers 28 (all P). 6 of things and persons ceremonially cleansed, and so separated as sacred; things 1 Samuel 21:6; .flesh Jeremiah 11:15; Malachi 2:11; priests cleanse thus, 1 Chronicles 23:13,28; קדשׁ להל (ה) ביןEzekiel 22:26; 42:20; 44:23; ובין החל ׳בין הק Leviticus 10:10; דֶּרֶךְ ׳הק Isaiah 35:8 way of the clean; ׳שְׂאוּ יְדֵכֶם ק Psalm 134:2; ׳לְבֵיתְךָ נַאֲוָהּקּֿ Psalm 93:5. — Note: מֵרִבְבֹת קֹדֶשׁ Deuteronomy 33:2 is literally from myriads of sacredness, sacred myriads; but "" suggests proper name, of a location, ᵐ5. σὺν μυριάσιν Καδής, < מִמְּרִבַת קָדֵשׁ from Maribah Kadesh Di Buhl Steuern; or (מִן omitted) to M. kadesh WeProl. 364; 3rd ed. 339; Hist. 344; see קָדֵשׁ and DrDt. P.873 f. [קָטֹן, LagBN 26.31] verb be small, insignificant (Late Hebrew Hiph`il and derivatives, Syriac Qal Perfect1singular קָטֹנְתִּי Genesis 32:11, with מִן compare, I am too insignificant for all the kindnesses; Imperfect3feminine singular וַתִּקְמַן זֹאת בְּעֵינֶיךָ 2 Samuel 7:19 = 1 Chronicles 17:17. Hiph`il literally Infinitive construct לְהַקְטִין Amos 8:5 making ephah small. Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Nuance קָטֹן (qāṭōn) denotes “small,” “insignificant,” or “unworthy.” While the lexeme can describe physical size or quantity, its Old Testament usage more often conveys moral, social, or covenantal insignificance when contrasted with the greatness of God’s grace or sovereign purpose. Occurrences in Scripture 1. Genesis 32:10 – Jacob confesses, “I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown Your servant”. Here the word underlines his felt smallness before Yahweh’s abundant covenant mercy. Covenantal Perspective on Humility Jacob’s prayer frames smallness as covenant humility. Having just been renamed Israel (Genesis 32), he recognizes that election is not merited greatness but unearned grace. The vocabulary of smallness thus becomes a vocabulary of worship: acknowledging one’s own diminished status heightens praise for God’s steadfast love. Divine Perspective on Human Plans In the Davidic promises, קָטֹן flips the scale of value. What people regard as monumental—an everlasting throne—is, to Yahweh, “a small thing” (2 Samuel 7:19; 1 Chronicles 17:17). The word underscores divine omnipotence: God’s ability to grant history-shaping covenants with effortless ease. For ministry, this reinforces confidence in God’s capacity to fulfill redemptive plans that appear daunting from a human standpoint. Prophetic Indictment of Exploitation Amos applies קָטֹן to expose crooked commerce. By making the ephah “small,” profiteers distort economic justice and profane sacred times (the New Moon and Sabbath). The same term that elsewhere commends humility now condemns manipulative reduction. Scripture thus sets a moral boundary: smallness toward God is virtue; forced smallness upon neighbors is sin. Christological Reflection The theme of redemptive reversal—God exalting the lowly and making mighty works appear “small” in His sight—anticipates the Incarnation. Jesus Christ, “though He was in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped” (Philippians 2:6), embracing the ultimate smallness of the cross to secure an eternal kingdom. קָטֹן therefore hints at the paradox that God’s greatest acts arrive clothed in seeming insignificance. Practical Applications for Ministry • Cultivate prayerful humility: like Jacob, believers confess unworthiness, fueling gratitude. Summary קָטֹן teaches that true greatness belongs to God alone. Whether revealing the servant-heart posture of patriarchs and kings, exposing social injustice, or foreshadowing the humility of Christ, the word calls God’s people to measure all things by divine, not human, scales. Forms and Transliterations וַתִּקְטַ֨ן וַתִּקְטַן֩ ותקטן לְהַקְטִ֤ין להקטין קָטֹ֜נְתִּי קטנתי kaToneti lə·haq·ṭîn lehakTin ləhaqṭîn qā·ṭō·nə·tî qāṭōnətî vattikTan wat·tiq·ṭan wattiqṭanLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 32:10 HEB: קָטֹ֜נְתִּי מִכֹּ֤ל הַחֲסָדִים֙ NAS: I am unworthy of all KJV: I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, INT: I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness 2 Samuel 7:19 1 Chronicles 17:17 Amos 8:5 4 Occurrences |
    |
; Old Aramaic קטין insignificant; Arabic 
parum edens; Ethiopic 
be thin, chiefly in derivatives; probably also Assyrian ku‰‰innu, small, younger, ZehnpfBAS i.505 (otherwise XlHWB323); MeissnSuppl. †atânu, be short (of hair), compare BezZA viii, 141 f.); —