The meaning of “מָעַט”
Understanding mâʻaṭ reveals the original theological depth often simplified in translation.
suffer to decrease, diminish, (be, [idiom] borrow a, give, make) few (in number, -ness), gather least (little), be (seem...
מָעַט
suffer to decrease, diminish, (be, [idiom] borrow a, give, make) few (in number, -ness), gather least (little), be (seem) little, ([idiom] give the) less, be minished, bring to nothing. - properly, to pare off, i.e. lessen - intransitively, to be (or causatively, to make) small or few (or figuratively, ineffective) 1) to be or become small, be few, be diminished 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to diminish 1a2) to be too small 1b) (Piel) to become few 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to make small, make few, diminish 1c2) to give less
Occurrences in the Bible
| Reference | Text | |
|---|---|---|
| Exodus 16:18 | “And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.” Word: מָעַט (mâʻaṭ) | |
| Numbers 33:54 | “And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families: and to the more ye shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer ye shall give the less inheritance: every man’s inheritance shall be in the place where his lot falleth; according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit.” Word: מָעַט (mâʻaṭ) | |
| Nehemiah 9:32 | “Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.” Word: מָעַט (mâʻaṭ) | |
| Proverbs 13:11 | “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.” Word: מָעַט (mâʻaṭ) | |
| Isaiah 21:17 | “And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the Lord God of Israel hath spoken it. ” Word: מָעַט (mâʻaṭ) |
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Related Words
Cross-referenced Strong's numbers with semantic or etymological connections.