מְעַט (H4592) — Hebrew Lexicon

מְעַט

𐤌𐤏𐤈

mᵉʻaṭ

H4592 noun

SILEX Entry

Root מעט to be small, become few, diminish

Definition

A small amount, quantity, or degree; a little, a few, scarcely, slight—often used both as an adjective and adverb to indicate smallness in number, quantity, duration, or significance. In some contexts emphasizes a small remnant or scant degree, and is occasionally used in comparison (less, fewer).

Semantic Range

little, few, small, slightly, barely, almost, for a short time, a small amount, a little while, a small number, fewness, a slight thing, not much, lesser, some, scarcely

Root / Etymology

From the root מָעַט (m-ʻ-t), meaning 'to be small, become few,' conveying the idea of a reduction in number, quantity, or size. מְעַט is the noun or adverbial form, emphasizing the state or degree of smallness deriving from this root. The root appears in various forms throughout the Hebrew Bible, contributing related adjectives and verbs.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, מְעַט denotes smallness in various spheres: few in number (Genesis 34:30), a little quantity or portion (Exodus 12:4), short duration (Isaiah 26:20), or minor degree (Genesis 18:24). The term functions both as a quantifier—contrasting with Hebrew רַב (rav, 'much, many')—and as a comparative (e.g., 'smaller,' 'less'). English translations may render מְעַט as 'few,' 'little,' 'a bit,' 'short while,' or 'slightly,' subject to sentence context. A closely related term is קָטֹן (qāṭōn, 'small, insignificant'), but מְעַט typically highlights quantity or duration, not character. In narrative and legal texts, the word can underscore scarcity, threat, or the vulnerable status of a minority (e.g., Israelite numbers among surrounding peoples). In post-exilic texts, it can stress the remnant theme. Septuagint renderings include μικρός ('small') or ὀλίγος ('few'). Later English translations sometimes use 'almost,' but this sense is always rooted in the idea of 'barely, just a little.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or מְעָט; from מָעַט; a little or few (often adverbial or compar.); almost (some, very) few(-er, -est), lightly, little (while), (very) small (matter, thing), some, soon, [idiom] very.

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Root Family

מעט (m-ʿ-ṭ) — smallness, fewness, diminution

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H4591	מָעַט	the one who lessens
H4593	מָעֹט	thinned

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H4592-06`	מְעַט	meat	`HNcmsc`	a little	a small amount of	60
`H4592-04`	כִּ֠/מְעַט	kimeat	`HR/Ncmsa`	almost	as a small amount	17
`H4592-02`	הַ/מְעַט֙	hameat	`HTi/Ncmsa`	Is it too little	the small amount	11
`H4592-05`	לִ/מְעָֽט	limeat	`HR/Aamsa`	little	for a little	3
`H4592-08`	וּ/מְעַ֣ט	umeat	`HC/Ncmsc`	and a little	and hundred-of	3
`H4592-09`	וְ/לַ/מְעַ֕ט	velameat	`HC/Rd/Aamsa`	and to the few	and to the small amount	2
`H4592-07`	מְעַטִּ֑ים	meatim	`HAampa`	few	few (masculine)	2
`H4592-03`	כִ/מְעַט	khimeat	`HR/Ncmsc`	for a little	like a small amount of	1
`H4592-01`	בִּ/מְעַט	bimeat	`HR/Ncmsc`	with a small	in small measure of	1
`H4592-10`	בִ/מְעָֽט	vimeat	`HR/Aamsa`	by few	in small measure	1

Occurrences in Scripture

101 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H4592-06`	Genesis 18:4	מְעַט	meat	`HNcmsc`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Genesis 24:17	מְעַט	meat	`HNcmsc`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Genesis 24:43	מְעַט	meat	`HNcmsc`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-04`	Genesis 26:10	כִּ֠/מְעַט	kimeat	`HR/Ncmsa`	almost	as a small amount
`H4592-02`	Genesis 30:15	הַ/מְעַט֙	hameat	`HTi/Ncmsa`	a small matter	the small amount
`H4592-06`	Genesis 30:30	מְעַט֩	meat	`HNcmsa`	little	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Genesis 43:2	מְעַט	meat	`HNcmsc`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Genesis 43:11	מְעַ֤ט	meat	`HNcmsc`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-08`	Genesis 43:11	וּ/מְעַ֣ט	umeat	`HC/Ncmsc`	and a little	and hundred-of
`H4592-06`	Genesis 44:25	מְעַט	meat	`HNcmsc`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Genesis 47:9	מְעַ֣ט	meat	`HNcmsa`	few	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Exodus 17:4	מְעַ֖ט	meat	`HNcmsa`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Exodus 23:30	מְעַ֥ט	meat	`HNcmsa`	little	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Exodus 23:30	מְעַ֛ט	meat-2	`HNcmsa`	little	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Leviticus 25:52	מְעַ֞ט	meat	`HNcmsa`	few	a small amount of
`H4592-02`	Numbers 13:18	הַ/מְעַ֥ט	hameat	`HTi/Aamsa`	few	the small amount
`H4592-02`	Numbers 16:9	הַ/מְעַ֣ט	hameat	`HTi/Ncmsa`	too little	the small amount
`H4592-02`	Numbers 16:13	הַ/מְעַ֗ט	hameat	`HTi/Ncmsa`	a small thing?	the small amount
`H4592-09`	Numbers 26:54	וְ/לַ/מְעַ֕ט	velameat	`HC/Rd/Aamsa`	and to the few	and to the small amount
`H4592-05`	Numbers 26:56	לִ/מְעָֽט	limeat	`HR/Aamsa`	the few	for a little
`H4592-09`	Numbers 33:54	וְ/לַ/מְעַט֙	velameat	`HC/Rd/Aamsa`	and to the small	and to the small amount
`H4592-02`	Numbers 35:8	הַ/מְעַ֖ט	hameat	`HTd/Aamsa`	the smaller	the small amount
`H4592-02`	Deuteronomy 7:7	הַ/מְעַ֖ט	hameat	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the fewest	the small amount
`H4592-06`	Deuteronomy 7:22	מְעַ֣ט	meat	`HD`	little	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Deuteronomy 7:22	מְעָ֑ט	meat-2	`HD`	little	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Deuteronomy 26:5	מְעָ֑ט	meat	`HNcmsa`	in number	a small amount of
`H4592-08`	Deuteronomy 28:38	וּ/מְעַ֣ט	umeat	`HC/Ncmsa`	but little	and hundred-of
`H4592-06`	Deuteronomy 28:62	מְעָ֔ט	meat	`HNcmsa`	few	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Joshua 7:3	מְעַ֖ט	meat	`HNcmsa`	few	a small amount of
`H4592-02`	Joshua 22:17	הַ/מְעַט	hameat	`HTi/Aamsa`	Is it too little	the small amount
`H4592-06`	Judges 4:19	מְעַט	meat	`HNcmsc`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-10`	1 Samuel 14:6	בִ/מְעָֽט	vimeat	`HR/Aamsa`	by few	in small measure
`H4592-06`	1 Samuel 14:29	מְעַ֖ט	meat	`HNcmsc`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	1 Samuel 14:43	מְעַ֥ט	meat	`HNcmsc`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	1 Samuel 17:28	מְעַ֨ט	meat	`HNcmsc`	those few	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	2 Samuel 12:8	מְעָ֔ט	meat	`HNcmsa`	little	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	2 Samuel 16:1	מְעַט֙	meat	`HNcmsa`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-04`	2 Samuel 19:37	כִּ/מְעַ֞ט	kimeat	`HR/Ncmsa`	just a little	as a small amount
`H4592-06`	1 Kings 17:10	מְעַט	meat	`HNcmsc`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-08`	1 Kings 17:12	וּ/מְעַט	umeat	`HC/Ncmsc`	and little	and hundred-of
`H4592-06`	2 Kings 10:18	מְעָ֑ט	meat	`HNcmsa`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-04`	Isaiah 1:9	כִּ/מְעָ֑ט	kimeat	`HR/Ncmsa`	a few	as a small amount
`H4592-02`	Isaiah 7:13	הַ/מְעַ֤ט	hameat	`HTi/Ncmsa`	Is it too little	the small amount
`H4592-06`	Isaiah 10:7	מְעָֽט	meat	`HNcmsa`	a few	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Isaiah 10:25	מְעַ֣ט	meat	`HNcmsc`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Isaiah 16:14	מְעַ֛ט	meat	`HNcmsa`	few	a small amount of
`H4592-03`	Isaiah 26:20	כִ/מְעַט	khimeat	`HR/Ncmsc`	for a little	like a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Isaiah 29:17	מְעַ֣ט	meat	`HNcmsc`	a little while	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Jeremiah 42:2	מְעַט֙	meat	`HNcmsa`	few	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Jeremiah 51:33	מְעַ֔ט	meat	`HNcmsa`	a little while	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Ezekiel 5:3	מְעַ֣ט	meat	`HNcmsa`	a few	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Ezekiel 11:16	מְעַ֔ט	meat	`HNcmsa`	little	a small amount of
`H4592-02`	Ezekiel 16:20	הַ/מְעַ֖ט	hameat	`HTi/Ncmsa`	the-little	the small amount
`H4592-04`	Ezekiel 16:47	כִּ/מְעַ֣ט	kimeat	`HR/Ncmsa`	like a little	as a small amount
`H4592-02`	Ezekiel 34:18	הַ/מְעַ֣ט	hameat	`HTi/Ncmsa`	Is it too little	the small amount
`H4592-06`	Hosea 1:4	מְעַ֗ט	meat	`HAamsa`	a little while	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Hosea 8:10	מְּעָ֔ט	meat	`HAamsa`	to diminish	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Haggai 1:6	מְעָ֗ט	meat	`HAamsa`	little	a small amount of
`H4592-05`	Haggai 1:9	לִ/מְעָ֔ט	limeat	`HR/Aamsa`	little	for a little
`H4592-06`	Haggai 2:6	מְעַ֣ט	meat	`HNcmsa`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Zechariah 1:15	מְּעָ֔ט	meat	`HD`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-04`	Psalms 2:12	כִּ/מְעַ֣ט	kimeat	`HR/Ncmsa`	but a little	as a small amount
`H4592-06`	Psalms 8:6	מְּ֭עַט	meat	`HNcmsa`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Psalms 37:10	מְ֭עַט	meat	`HNcmsa`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Psalms 37:16	מְ֭עַט	meat	`HNcmsa`	the little	a small amount of
`H4592-04`	Psalms 73:2	כִּ֭/מְעַט	kimeat	`HR/Ncmsa`	almost	as a small amount
`H4592-04`	Psalms 81:15	כִּ֭/מְעַט	kimeat	`HR/Ncmsa`	a little	as a small amount
`H4592-04`	Psalms 94:17	כִּ/מְעַ֓ט	kimeat	`HR/Ncmsa`	almost	as a small amount
`H4592-04`	Psalms 105:12	כִּ֝/מְעַ֗ט	kimeat	`HR/Ncmsa`	as few	as a small amount
`H4592-07`	Psalms 109:8	מְעַטִּ֑ים	meatim	`HAampa`	few	few (masculine)
`H4592-04`	Psalms 119:87	כִּ֭/מְעַט	kimeat	`HR/Ncmsa`	almost	as a small amount
`H4592-04`	Proverbs 5:14	כִּ֭/מְעַט	kimeat	`HR/Ncmsa`	almost	as a small amount
`H4592-06`	Proverbs 6:10	מְעַ֣ט	meat	`HNcmsc`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Proverbs 6:10	מְעַ֣ט	meat-2	`HNcmsc`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Proverbs 6:10	מְעַ֓ט	meat-3	`HNcmsc`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-04`	Proverbs 10:20	כִּ/מְעָֽט	kimeat	`HR/Ncmsa`	little	as a small amount
`H4592-06`	Proverbs 15:16	מְ֭עַט	meat	`HNcmsa`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Proverbs 16:8	מְ֭עַט	meat	`HNcmsa`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Proverbs 24:33	מְעַ֣ט	meat	`HNcmsc`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Proverbs 24:33	מְעַ֣ט	meat-2	`HNcmsc`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Proverbs 24:33	מְעַ֓ט	meat-3	`HNcmsc`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Job 10:20	מְעַ֣ט	meat	`HNcmsa`	few	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Job 10:20	מְּעָֽט	meat-2	`HD`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-02`	Job 15:11	הַ/מְעַ֣ט	hameat	`HTi/Ncmsa`	too little	the small amount
`H4592-06`	Job 24:24	מְּעַ֨ט	meat	`HD`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-04`	Job 32:22	כִּ֝/מְעַ֗ט	kimeat	`HR/Ncmsa`	soon	as a small amount
`H4592-04`	Song of Songs 3:4	כִּ/מְעַט֙	kimeat	`HR/Ncmsa`	Scarcely	as a small amount
`H4592-06`	Ruth 2:7	מְעָֽט	meat	`HAamsa`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-07`	Ecclesiastes 5:1	מְעַטִּֽים	meatim	`HAampa`		few (masculine)
`H4592-06`	Ecclesiastes 5:11	מְעַ֥ט	meat	`HNcmsa`		a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Ecclesiastes 9:14	מְעָ֑ט	meat	`HNcmsa`	few	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Ecclesiastes 10:1	מְעָֽט	meat	`HAamsa`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-01`	Daniel 11:23	בִּ/מְעַט	bimeat	`HR/Ncmsc`	with a small	in small measure of
`H4592-06`	Daniel 11:34	מְעָ֑ט	meat	`HNcmsa`	a little	a small amount of
`H4592-04`	Ezra 9:8	כִּ/מְעַט	kimeat	`HR/Ncmsa`	like-a-little	as a small amount
`H4592-06`	Ezra 9:8	מְעַ֖ט	meat	`HNcmsa`	a-little	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Nehemiah 2:12	מְעַט֮	meat	`HNcmsa`	few	a small amount of
`H4592-06`	Nehemiah 7:4	מְעַ֖ט	meat	`HNcmsa`	were few	a small amount of
`H4592-04`	1 Chronicles 16:19	כִּ/מְעַ֖ט	kimeat	`HR/Ncmsa`	as little	as a small amount
`H4592-04`	2 Chronicles 12:7	כִּ/מְעַט֙	kimeat	`HR/Ncmsa`	some	as a small amount
`H4592-05`	2 Chronicles 29:34	לִ/מְעָ֔ט	limeat	`HR/Aamsa`	too few	for a little

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