In the context of the Bible, the concept of "smaller" often relates to themes of humility, insignificance, and the unexpected ways in which God chooses to work through what is considered lesser by human standards. The term "smaller" can be both literal and metaphorical, illustrating God's preference for using the humble and the meek to accomplish His purposes.

Biblical Examples:

1. David and Goliath: One of the most famous biblical narratives illustrating the theme of "smaller" is the account of David and Goliath. David, the youngest and smallest of Jesse's sons, was chosen by God to defeat the giant Goliath. Despite his size and youth, David's faith in God allowed him to triumph over the Philistine warrior. This account is a powerful reminder that God often uses the smaller and seemingly weaker individuals to achieve great victories. As David declared, "The LORD does not save by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD’s" (1 Samuel 17:47).

2. Gideon's Army: In Judges 7, God reduces Gideon's army from 32,000 men to just 300 to ensure that Israel would recognize that their victory over the Midianites was due to divine intervention rather than human strength. This reduction highlights the biblical principle that God often works through smaller numbers to demonstrate His power and glory.

3. The Mustard Seed: Jesus uses the parable of the mustard seed to illustrate the Kingdom of God. Though the mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds, it grows into a large plant. Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field. Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree" (Matthew 13:31-32). This parable emphasizes how God can use small beginnings to bring about significant outcomes.

4. The Widow's Offering: In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus observes a poor widow who contributes two small coins to the temple treasury. Despite the smallness of her offering, Jesus commends her for giving all she had, contrasting her with the wealthy who gave out of their abundance. This account underscores the value God places on the heart and sacrifice behind the offering, rather than its size.

5. Bethlehem: The prophet Micah foretold that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem, a small and seemingly insignificant town. "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel" (Micah 5:2). This prophecy highlights how God often chooses the humble and lowly to fulfill His divine plans.

Theological Implications:

The theme of "smaller" in the Bible serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and His ability to use the humble and insignificant to accomplish His purposes. It challenges human perceptions of power and greatness, encouraging believers to trust in God's wisdom and timing. The biblical narrative consistently shows that God's strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9), and that He exalts the humble (James 4:10).

In summary, the concept of "smaller" in the Bible is a profound testament to God's preference for using the humble and the seemingly insignificant to achieve His divine purposes, demonstrating that true strength and significance come from Him alone.1640. elasson -- smaller, less
... smaller, less. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: elasson or elatton Phonetic
Spelling: (el-as'-sone) Short Definition: less, smaller, inferior ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1640.htm - 6k

73. agon -- a gathering, contest, struggle
... "In secular Greek 73 () refers to a gathering to see the games, or the place of
contest (Homer), or the Olympus games themselves, or some smaller contest in ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/73.htm - 7k

2773. kermatistes -- a moneychanger
... kermatistes Phonetic Spelling: (ker-mat-is-tace') Short Definition: a money-changer
Definition: properly: a changer of large into smaller coins, a money-changer ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2773.htm - 6k

4892. sunedrion -- a sitting together, hence a council, spec. the ...
... 4892 () is also used of the smaller councils ("lower courts") throughout
Israel which consisted of 23 members (cf. Mt 5:21,22). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4892.htm - 8k

3398. mikros -- small, little
... word Definition small, little NASB Word Usage least (4), less (1), little (13),
little ones (6), little while (10), short (1), small (8), smaller (2), smallest ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3398.htm - 7k

3591. kidon -- a dart, javelin
... From the same as kiyd; properly, something to strike with, ie A dart (perhaps smaller
that chaniyth) -- lance, shield, spear, target. see HEBREW kiyd. ...
/hebrew/3591.htm - 6k

6996a. qatan -- small, young, unimportant
... Word Origin from qaton Definition small, young, unimportant NASB Word Usage least
(10), little (7), small (13), small things (1), smaller (1), smallest (1 ...
/hebrew/6996a.htm - 5k

6994. qaton -- to be small or insignificant
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to be small or insignificant NASB Word Usage
insignificant (1), make the smaller (1), small thing (1), unworthy (1). ...
/hebrew/6994.htm - 6k

7114a. qatsar -- to be short
... to be short NASB Word Usage annoyed (1), became impatient (1), could bear (1),
impatient (3), limited (1), no longer (1), short (3), shortened (3), smaller (1 ...
/hebrew/7114a.htm - 5k

4592. meat -- a little, fewness, a few
... 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 ...
/hebrew/4592.htm - 6k

The Parable of the Sower. --Christ's Explanation of the Parable to ...
... GALILEE. Section 129. The Parable of the Sower. "Christ's Explanation of
the Parable to the smaller Circle of his Disciples. The ...
/.../section 129 the parable of.htm

The Soul, Though Mutable, Has no Material Form. It is all Present ...
... So in moisture, the smaller quantity occupies a smaller space, and the larger quantity
a larger space; and one part is at the bottom of the cup, and another ...
/.../chapter 16 name soul though.htm

He Bemoans the Unhappy Lot of Constantinople, Owing to the ...
... all that I could do) by means of the dolorous lamentation of my works, as if for
my own limbs and members: for if as the Apostle says, when the smaller part of ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter xxxi he bemoans the.htm

Letter clxvi. (AD 415. )
... rest or in motion, has some length, breadth, and height, so that with a greater
part of itself it occupies a greater part of space, and with a smaller part a ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter clxvi a d 415.htm

Luther's Catechisms. AD 1529.
... The popular editions of the Smaller Catechism, especially in German, with or
without comments and supplements, are innumerable. II.:Works: ...
/.../ 43 luthers catechisms a d.htm

Of the Mortification of Anger by Patience. ...
... patience. Sec. Sec. 2, 3, 4, 5. Here is treated of smaller impatiences chiefly,
scarce observable but by recollected livers. Sec. 6 ...
/.../chapter vii of the mortification.htm

Hosius, Bishop of the City of Corduba, Said: a Prevalent Evil...
... for this fault, accounting for such attempts; since no bishop could ever yet be
found who endeavoured to be translated from a larger city to a smaller one. ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon i hosius bishop of.htm

Whether by virtue of Its Subtlety a Glorified Body Will no Longer ...
... iv, text.30,76,77. Therefore if the place were larger than that which is in the
place the same thing would be greater and smaller than itself, which is absurd. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether by virtue of its.htm

The Converted Infidel
... The poor sparrow was fluttering around a circle of some few feet in diameter, the
circle becoming smaller at each gyration of the infatuated bird. ...
/.../touching incidents and remarkable answers to prayer/the converted infidel.htm

Meditation viii. Institution of the Holy Eucharist.
... azymous loaves from beneath the linen with which they were covered and placed them
before him on the board; then he took out of the chalice a smaller vase, and ...
/.../meditation viii institution of the.htm

Smaller (16 Occurrences)
...Smaller (16 Occurrences). Matthew 13:32 which indeed is smaller than all seeds. ... and
if by you the world is judged, are ye unworthy of the smaller judgments? ...
/s/smaller.htm - 11k

Less (93 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Smaller; not so large or great; not so much; shorter; inferior; as, a less
quantity or number; a horse of less size or value; in less time than before. ...
/l/less.htm - 35k

Ostrich (9 Occurrences)
... The foot was much like the cloven hoof of a beast. The inner toe was 7 inches
long, with a clawlike hoof, the outer, smaller with no claw. ...
/o/ostrich.htm - 18k

Diminish (22 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To make smaller in any manner; to reduce in
bulk or amount; to lessen; -- opposed to augment or increase. ...
/d/diminish.htm - 14k

Vulture (16 Occurrences)
... This bird waited until smaller vultures, eagles and hawks stripped a carcass to
the bone, then carried the skeleton aloft and dashed it on the rocks until the ...
/v/vulture.htm - 14k

Woods (37 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 10:17 And he made three hundred smaller body-covers of hammered gold, with
three pounds of gold in every cover: and the king put them in the house of ...
/w/woods.htm - 18k

Twine (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) A strong thread composed of two or three smaller threads or strands twisted
together, and used for various purposes, as for binding small parcels ...
/t/twine.htm - 8k

Ethiopia (26 Occurrences)
... valley, which from the First to the Fifth Cataract represented the main agricultural
resources of the country, was actually a territory smaller than Egypt and ...
/e/ethiopia.htm - 45k

Distribute (23 Occurrences)
... up your heritage in the land by the decision of the Lord, to every family its part;
the greater the family the greater its heritage, and the smaller the family ...
/d/distribute.htm - 14k

Distribution (32 Occurrences)
... up your heritage in the land by the decision of the Lord, to every family its part;
the greater the family the greater its heritage, and the smaller the family ...
/d/distribution.htm - 18k

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