The term "scant" refers to something that is insufficient, lacking, or meager in quantity or quality. In the context of the Bible, it often conveys the idea of inadequacy or deficiency, particularly in relation to measures, provisions, or moral conduct.

Biblical Usage and Context

1. Economic and Material Contexts: The concept of scantness is frequently associated with economic measures and material provisions. In the ancient agrarian societies of the Bible, accurate measurements were crucial for fair trade and justice. The Bible condemns dishonest practices, such as using scant measures, which cheat others and reflect a lack of integrity.

· Proverbs 20:10: "Differing weights and differing measures—both are detestable to the LORD." This verse highlights the importance of honesty in trade, where scant measures are seen as an abomination to God.

· Micah 6:10-11: "Am I still to forget a wicked house, along with its ill-gotten treasures? And the accursed short ephah, which is accursed?" Here, the prophet Micah denounces the use of a "short ephah," a scant measure, as part of the broader corruption and injustice in society.

2. Moral and Spiritual Implications: Beyond the literal sense, scantness can also symbolize spiritual and moral deficiency. The Bible often uses physical terms to illustrate spiritual truths, and scantness can represent a lack of faith, righteousness, or devotion.

· Isaiah 28:20: "The bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket too narrow to wrap around you." This imagery of inadequacy serves as a metaphor for the insufficiency of human efforts and false securities compared to the fullness and sufficiency found in God.

3. Divine Justice and Provision: The Bible contrasts human scantness with God's abundant provision and justice. While human measures may be lacking, God's provision is always sufficient and overflowing.

· Psalm 23:1: "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." This verse reassures believers of God's provision, countering any fear of lack or scantness.

· Philippians 4:19: "And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." This promise underscores the sufficiency of God's provision, contrasting with human insufficiency.

Theological Reflections

From a theological perspective, the concept of scantness serves as a reminder of human limitations and the need for reliance on God's sufficiency. It calls believers to pursue honesty and integrity in their dealings, reflecting God's character in their lives. Moreover, it encourages trust in God's provision, recognizing that while human resources may be limited, God's resources are boundless.

In summary, the notion of scantness in the Bible is multifaceted, encompassing economic, moral, and spiritual dimensions. It challenges believers to uphold justice and integrity, while also inviting them to trust in the abundant provision of God.1. (superl.) Not full, large, or plentiful; scarcely sufficient; less than is wanted for the purpose; scanty; meager; not enough; as, a scant allowance of provisions or water; a scant pattern of cloth for a garment.

2. (superl.) Sparing; parsimonious; chary.

3. (v. t.) To limit; to straiten; to treat illiberally; to stint; as, to scant one in provisions; to scant ourselves in the use of necessaries.

4. (v. t.) To cut short; to make small, narrow, or scanty; to curtail.

5. (v. i.) To fail, or become less; to scantle; as, the wind scants.

6. (adv.) In a scant manner; with difficulty; scarcely; hardly.

7. (n.) Scantness; scarcity.

6887a. tsarar -- to bind, tie up, be restricted, narrow, scant, or ...
... 6887, 6887a. tsarar. 6887b . to bind, tie up, be restricted, narrow, scant,
or cramped. Transliteration: tsarar Short Definition: distress. Word Origin a prim ...
/hebrew/6887a.htm - 6k

6887. tsarar -- to bind, tie up, be restricted, narrow, scant, or ...
... tsarar. 6887a . to bind, tie up, be restricted, narrow, scant, or cramped.
Transliteration: tsarar Phonetic Spelling: (tsaw-rar') Short Definition: adversary. ...
/hebrew/6887.htm - 5k

7332. razon -- leanness, wasting, scantness
... disease (2). leanness, scant. From razah; thinness -- leanness, X scant. see
HEBREW razah. 7331, 7332. razon. 7333 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7332.htm - 6k

"For they that are after the Flesh do Mind the Things of the Flesh ...
... Though some men, I say, escape the grosser pollutions of the flesh, yet they are
fettered within some narrow, scant, and but imaginary good things, they cannot ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xvii for they that.htm

Creation's Groans and the Saints' Sighs
... We heard of abundant harvests, but we soon discovered that they were all a
dream, and that there would be scant in the worker's cottage. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 14 1868/creations groans and the saints.htm

A Peasant's Son
... away in wave-like undulations far as eye can reach; marsh and heath and sand, sand
and heath and marsh; here and there a stretch of scant coarse grass, a mass ...
/.../forbes/life of st vincent de paul/chapter 1 a peasants son.htm

How to Read the Bible
... In the old Puritanic times men used to have a scant supply of other literature,
but they found a library enough in the one Book, the Bible. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 25 1879/how to read the bible.htm

Jesus and Thomas.
... Even in the scant material available for the making up of the story, we find evidence
in Thomas of strong loyalty and unwavering devotion, and in Jesus of ...
/.../miller/personal friendships of jesus/chapter viii jesus and thomas.htm

Letter xi. Dionysius to Apollophanes, Philosopher.
... For thou rememberest with what a mild and benevolent disposition I have been accustomed
to rebuke thy obstinacy in error, although with scant reason, in order ...
/.../letters of dionysius the areopagite/letter xi dionysius to apollophanes.htm

Selection
... Patrick, and that, the one which has for the most part been treated with scant notice,
namely, the years that preceded his second arrival in Ireland. ...
/.../allies/the formation of christendom volume vi/selection.htm

The First Experiment
... of the soul. And yet there are others who, for exactly a contrary reason,
will find scant satisfaction here. Their complaint is ...
/.../the greatest thing in the world and other addresses/the first experiment.htm

The Journey through Perea to Jerusalem
... he resumed his ministry of teaching (Matthew 19:1f.; Mark 10:1). What he did and
taught at this time is not shown at all by John, and only in scant fashion by ...
/.../rhees/the life of jesus of nazareth/v the journey through perea.htm

The Interior Castle or the Mansions by St. Teresa Ihs
... is to the point, they will understand that it does not originate from me and there
is no reason to attribute it to me, as with my scant understanding and skill ...
/.../teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/the interior castle or the.htm

Scant (4 Occurrences)
... 1. (superl.) Not full, large, or plentiful; scarcely sufficient; less than is wanted
for the purpose; scanty; meager; not enough; as, a scant allowance of ...
/s/scant.htm - 8k

Scanty (4 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Somewhat less than is needed; insufficient; scant; as, a scanty supply of
words; a scanty supply of bread. 3. (a.) Sparing; stingy; parsimonious. ...
/s/scanty.htm - 7k

Lean (22 Occurrences)
... 7. (vi) Wanting fullness, richness, sufficiency, or productiveness; deficient in
quality or contents; slender; scant; barren; bare; mean; -- used literally and ...
/l/lean.htm - 14k

Gebal (3 Occurrences)
... BC) and of Ramses XII, for its king retained the emissaries of the former 17 years
in captivity, and treated a trusted agent of the latter with scant civility. ...
/g/gebal.htm - 11k

Wind (180 Occurrences)
... game. 22. (vt) To drive hard, or force to violent exertion, as a horse,
so as to render scant of wind; to put out of breath. 23. ...
/w/wind.htm - 45k

Flowers (42 Occurrences)
... The beauty of the profusion of flowers which cover Palestine every spring receives
but scant reference in the Old Testament; Songs 2:12 is perhaps the only ...
/f/flowers.htm - 22k

Poverty (25 Occurrences)
... poor," the word used is penes, which does not indicate extreme poverty, but simply
a condition of living from hand to mouth, a bare and scant livelihood, such ...
/p/poverty.htm - 21k

Pilled (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (imp. & pp) of Pill. 2. (a.) Stripped of hair; scant
of hair; bald. Multi-Version Concordance Pilled (2 Occurrences). ...
/p/pilled.htm - 7k

Stint (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To restrain within certain limits; to bound;
to confine; to restrain; to restrict to a scant allowance. ...
/s/stint.htm - 7k

Scandalous (1 Occurrence)

/s/scandalous.htm - 7k

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