מִצְעָר
𐤌𐤑𐤏𐤓
mitsʻâr
H4705 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Smallness or littleness, often with reference to quantity, size, number, or age; refers to something minor, of limited extent, or briefly lasting. The term most commonly functions as an adjective meaning 'small, young, insignificant, short (in time),' but can also serve as a noun denoting 'a little, a few, a brief while.'
Semantic Range
small in quantity, small in size, few in number, short in duration, young, minor, insignificant, briefly, for a little while, a little one
Root / Etymology
From the root צער (ts-ʿ-r), which conveys the idea of being small, insignificant, or restricted. The noun מִצְעָר is derived by the addition of the nominal prefix מִ- to the root, forming a collective or abstract noun referring to a small quantity, limited duration, or minor extent.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מִצְעָר appears sparingly in the Hebrew Bible, notably in Genesis 19:20, 19:20 ('a little city, is it not a little one?') and elsewhere with the sense of something 'small' in amount, number, or time. The term is often used in contrast to major or significant entities, emphasizing insignificance or brevity. It can be adverbial ('for a short while') or nominal/adjectival ('a small/little one'). In patriarchal and monarchic contexts, the focus is on relative size or number (a 'minor' city, a 'few' people), and in later periods, the sense may extend to brevity of time. English versions sometimes render the word as 'a little,' 'small,' or 'few,' but this may miss nuances relating to social or hierarchical significance. The related adjective and verb forms (e.g., צָעִיר 'young, small') are more widely attested and share the semantic range of 'lesser, junior, minor.' Distinct from קָטָן, which focuses on physical smallness, מִצְעָר more often emphasizes relative status or duration.
Translation Consistency
“Small” is the most neutral, natural English term that covers the primary senses (size, quantity, youth, insignificance, short duration) and matches the majority of existing renderings. It reads well in adjectival and nominal uses (small, smallness) and keeps translations consistent across all forms of H4705, better preserving typical usage than the slightly more colloquial “little.”
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from צָעַר; petty (in size or number); adverbially, a short (time); little one (while), small.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
צער (ts-ʿ-r) — smallness, insignificance, youthfulness
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4706 | מִצְעָר | Small Peak |
| H6686 | צוּעָר | Tsuar |
| H6730 | צִיעֹר | and Zior |
| H6810 | צָעִיר | the lesser one |
| H6811 | צָעִיר | toward Tsair |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4705-02 |
מִצְעָ֑ר | mitsear | HNcmsa |
small | a small amount | small | 3 |
H4705-01 |
לַ/מִּצְעָ֕ר | lamitsear | HRd/Ncmsa |
for a little while | for a little while | for a little while | 1 |
H4705-03 |
בְ/מִצְעַ֨ר | vemitsear | HR/Ncmsc |
with a small number | in smallness of | with smallness of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4705-02 |
Genesis 19:20 | מִצְעָ֑ר | mitsear | HNcmsa |
small | a small amount | small |
H4705-02 |
Genesis 19:20 | מִצְעָ֛ר | mitsear-2 | HNcmsa |
small | a small amount | small |
H4705-01 |
Isaiah 63:18 | לַ/מִּצְעָ֕ר | lamitsear | HRd/Ncmsa |
for a little while | for a little while | for a little while |
H4705-02 |
Job 8:7 | מִצְעָ֑ר | mitsear | HNcmsa |
small | a small amount | small |
H4705-03 |
2 Chronicles 24:24 | בְ/מִצְעַ֨ר | vemitsear | HR/Ncmsc |
with a small number | in smallness of | with smallness of |