In the biblical context, the concept of insignificance often contrasts with God's ability to use the seemingly unimportant or humble for His divine purposes. Throughout Scripture, God frequently chooses individuals and situations that appear insignificant by worldly standards to accomplish His will, demonstrating His power and sovereignty.

Old Testament Examples

1. David: One of the most notable examples of insignificance in the Old Testament is David, the youngest son of Jesse. When Samuel was sent to anoint a new king over Israel, David was not initially considered by his own family. Yet, God chose him, saying, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). David's rise from shepherd boy to king illustrates how God often elevates the humble.

2. Gideon: Another example is Gideon, who described himself as the least in his family and from the weakest clan in Manasseh (Judges 6:15). Despite this, God chose Gideon to deliver Israel from the Midianites, emphasizing that God's strength is made perfect in human weakness.

3. Ruth: The account of Ruth, a Moabite widow, highlights how God can use those considered outsiders or insignificant. Her loyalty and faithfulness led to her becoming the great-grandmother of King David, placing her in the lineage of Jesus Christ.

New Testament Examples

1. The Disciples: Jesus' choice of His disciples also reflects this theme. Many of them were fishermen, a profession not highly esteemed in society. Yet, Jesus called them to be His closest followers and entrusted them with spreading the Gospel. In Acts 4:13, it is noted, "When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus" .

2. The Widow's Offering: In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus highlights the offering of a poor widow, who gave two small coins, as more significant than the large sums given by the wealthy. He said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others" (Mark 12:43). This underscores the value God places on the heart and intention behind actions, rather than their outward appearance.

3. The Birth of Jesus: The circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ also reflect the theme of insignificance. Born in a manger in Bethlehem, a small and seemingly unimportant town, Jesus' humble beginnings fulfilled the prophecy and demonstrated that God's ways are not bound by human expectations.

Theological Implications

The biblical narrative consistently reveals that what is deemed insignificant by human standards is often significant in God's plan. This theme encourages believers to trust in God's wisdom and timing, recognizing that He can use anyone, regardless of their status or abilities, to fulfill His purposes. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him" . This passage reinforces the idea that God's power is made perfect in weakness, and His glory is revealed through the humble and lowly.1. (a.) Without importance; meaningless; as, insignificant words.

2. (a.) Having no weight or effect; answering no purpose; unimportant; valueless; futile.

3. (a.) Without weight of character or social standing; mean; contemptible; as, an insignificant person.

767. asemos -- without mark
... Word Origin from alpha (as a neg. prefix) and the same as semaino Definition without
mark NASB Word Usage insignificant (1). ignoble, insignificant. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/767.htm - 6k

2706. kataphroneo -- to think little of
... set") -- properly, view , ie with a negative (hostile) outlook; to despise, thinking
on (thinking of); esteem lightly, seeing as insignificant or detestable ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2706.htm - 8k

4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... no matter how insignificant they (Lk 16:10 with Lk 17:6 and 2 Pet 1:2). "Faith
always pre-supposes revelation" (WH Griffith Thomas, 55). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4102.htm - 18k

6819. tsaar -- to be or grow insignificant
... tsaar. 6820 . to be or grow insignificant. Transliteration: tsaar Phonetic Spelling:
(tsaw-ar') Short Definition: insignificant. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/6819.htm - 6k

6994. qaton -- to be small or insignificant
... qaton. 6995 . to be small or insignificant. Transliteration: qaton Phonetic Spelling:
(kaw-tone') Short Definition: insignificant. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/6994.htm - 6k

6996b. qaton -- small, insignificant
... 6996a, 6996b. qaton. 6997 . small, insignificant. Transliteration: qaton
Short Definition: small. Word Origin from qaton Definition ...
/hebrew/6996b.htm - 5k

6810. tsair -- little, insignificant, young
... 6809, 6810. tsair. 6811 . little, insignificant, young. Transliteration:
tsair Phonetic Spelling: (tsaw-eer') Short Definition: younger. ...
/hebrew/6810.htm - 6k

4705. mitsar -- a small thing
... Word Origin from tsaar Definition a small thing NASB Word Usage insignificant
(1), little while (1), small (3). little one while, small. ...
/hebrew/4705.htm - 6k

4591. maat -- to be or become small, diminished, or few
... fewness (1), get a few (1), give less (1), had little (1), least (1), little (1),
make so small (1), pay less (1), reduce (1), seem insignificant (1), small (1 ...
/hebrew/4591.htm - 6k

7043. qalal -- to be slight, swift or trifling
... 1), contemptible (1), curse (15), cursed (16), curses (8), cursing (2), despise
(1), despised (2), ease (1), easier (1), easy (2), insignificant (1), light a ...
/hebrew/7043.htm - 6k

7031. qal -- light, swift, fleet
... Word Origin from qalal Definition light, swift, fleet NASB Word Usage insignificant
(1), swift (7), swift man (1), swift-footed* (1), swifter (1), swiftly (2). ...
/hebrew/7031.htm - 6k

The Jews Expound These Signs Jejunely and Feebly, and Take up ...
... Chapter CXII."The Jews expound these signs jejunely and feebly, and take
up their attention only with insignificant matters. "But ...
/.../chapter cxii the jews expound these.htm

The Overcoming of Insignificance
... his hopelessness. Why should this insignificant bubble on the great stream
of life inflate itself with self-importance? Why should ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/liv the overcoming of insignificance.htm

A Bad Bargain
... graphically describes the greedy relish with which he ate, the short duration of
his enjoyment, and the dark meaning of the seemingly insignificant event, by ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/a bad bargain.htm

New York to California
... that His purpose is to glorify Himself through human agency, and we know that all
the great movements in history were originated in an insignificant way by ...
/.../conversion of a high priest into a christian worker/chapter vii new york to.htm

Christ Our Passover
... John sees, in that entirely insignificant thing, a kind of fingerpost pointing
to far more important, deeper, and real correspondences. ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture st john chaps xv to xxi/christ our passover.htm

Answer to Mr. W's Third Objection.
... Jairus's daughter was an insignificant girl of twelve years old."The widow of Naim's
son too was but a youth, and whether older than the girl above is ...
/.../section iii answer to mr.htm

Sunday Before Lent
... Could one bring about for himself the distinction of being the sole individual learned
and powerful in the Gospel, all others to be insignificant and useless ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/sunday before lent.htm

The Religious Uses of Memory
... clearness broods over it, and its colours are seen to be deeper than our eyes had
discerned, so the common events of life, trivial and insignificant while they ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the religious uses of memory.htm

The Transmission of Power
... Each human life is a transmitter. Take it away from its transmissive purpose,
and what a poor insignificant film a human life may be. ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/iii the transmission of power.htm

Prefatory Remarks on the Need of Exact Investigation of the Most ...
... then that to investigate syllables is not to shoot wide of the mark, nor, because
the questions raised are what might seem to some insignificant, are they on ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/chapter i prefatory remarks on.htm

Insignificant (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Without importance; meaningless; as, insignificant
words. ... Multi-Version Concordance Insignificant (9 Occurrences). ...
/i/insignificant.htm - 9k

Apostles (79 Occurrences)
... this blind criticism: "With them the book passes as a comparatively late patchwork
compilation, in which the part taken by the editor is insignificant yet in ...
/a/apostles.htm - 62k

Nobody (21 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) No person; no one; not anybody. 2. (n.) A person of no influence or importance;
an insignificant or contemptible person. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/n/nobody.htm - 12k

Little (2458 Occurrences)
... little air or water. 4. (a.) Small in dignity, power, or importance; not
great; insignificant; contemptible. 5. (a.) Small in force ...
/l/little.htm - 8k

Good (8348 Occurrences)
... 8. (superl.) Not small, insignificant, or of no account; considerable; esp., in
the phrases a good deal, a good way, a good degree, a good share or part, etc. ...
/g/good.htm - 26k

Wheel (20 Occurrences)
... to the whole. Just so an apparently insignificant sin of the tongue produces
an incalculably destructive effect. The phrase "wheel ...
/w/wheel.htm - 18k

Insincere (2 Occurrences)

/i/insincere.htm - 7k

Immensely (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Immensely (1 Occurrence). James 3:5 In the same way the
tongue is an insignificant part of the body, but it is immensely boastful. ...
/i/immensely.htm - 6k

Insignia (2 Occurrences)

/i/insignia.htm - 7k

Flames (54 Occurrences)
... flee. (See NIV). James 3:5 In the same way the tongue is an insignificant
part of the body, but it is immensely boastful. Remember ...
/f/flames.htm - 22k

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