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קָטָן

𐤒𐤈𐤍

qâṭân

H6996 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root קטנ to be small, to diminish, to be insignificant

Definition

Denotes being small or little, either in physical size, quantity, age, or social status. It frequently describes something or someone of lesser size, rank, importance, or age compared to others. Depending on context, it can refer to literal smallness (objects or people), figurative smallness (rank, significance), or youth (the younger of siblings, people of lesser age).

Semantic Range

small in size, little in quantity, young in age, least or lowest in status, unimportant, lesser (rank or importance), physically small person or thing, junior or younger (in family or group settings)

Root / Etymology

From the root קטנ, meaning 'to be small or insignificant.' The form קָטָן represents an adjective derived from this root, conveying the quality of smallness or littleness.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, קָטָן is widely used for both literal and figurative contexts: for children or younger siblings (e.g., David as the youngest among his brothers; 1 Samuel 17:14), physically small objects or groups (Genesis 19:20), and those of low status (Isaiah 60:22, 'the small one'). In some contexts, it contrasts with גָּדוֹל (gadol, 'great' or 'large') to establish relationships of relative size, importance, or age, such as 'from the least to the greatest' (Jeremiah 42:8; 6:13). The word persists with similar use into the Second Temple period and later Hebrew, retaining both literal and metaphorical senses. English translations such as 'least,' 'small,' 'younger,' and 'little' capture different aspects but can obscure the word’s broader range, particularly its non-age-related figurative uses. The form קָטֹן (qāṭōn) is a variant spelling, fully interchangeable. In later periods, especially in rabbinic usage, the term takes on more specialized meanings, such as a minor or one below legal majority, though this is not a primary biblical usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or קָטֹן; from קוּט; abbreviated, i.e. diminutive, literally (in quantity, size or number) or figuratively (in age or importance); least, less(-er), little (one), small(-est, one, quantity, thing), young(-er, -est).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

קטנ (q-ṭ-n) — smallness, littleness, insignificance, diminution

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6997 קָטָן the small one

Word Forms

25 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6996-02 הַ/קָּטֹן֙ haqaton HTd/Aamsa the youngest the small one 21
H6996-14 קָטֹן֙ qaton HAamsa small small 18
H6996-15 קְטַנָּ֖ה qetanah HAafsa little small 9
H6996-01 הַ/קָּטָֽן haqatan HTd/Aamsa the youngest the small one 8
H6996-11 מִ/קָּטֹ֖ן miqaton HR/Aamsa from small from smallness 7
H6996-03 הַ/קְּטַנָּ֖ה haqetanah HTd/Aafsa the younger the small one 6
H6996-13 קָטָ֑ן qatan HAamsa small small 6
H6996-07 כַּ/קָּטֹ֤ן kaqaton HRd/Aamsa as the small small 3
H6996-04 הַ/קְּטַנִּ֑ים haqetanim HTd/Aampa the least the small ones 3
H6996-21 וּ/קְטַנָּֽה uqetanah HC/Aafsa and small and small 2

Occurrences in Scripture

101 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6996-02 Genesis 1:16 הַ/קָּטֹן֙ haqaton HTd/Aamsa lesser the small one
H6996-01 Genesis 9:24 הַ/קָּטָֽן haqatan HTd/Aamsa the youngest the small one
H6996-11 Genesis 19:11 מִ/קָּטֹ֖ן miqaton HR/Aamsa from small from smallness
H6996-01 Genesis 27:15 הַ/קָּטָֽן haqatan HTd/Aamsa the younger the small one
H6996-01 Genesis 27:42 הַ/קָּטָ֔ן haqatan HTd/Aamsa the younger the small one
H6996-03 Genesis 29:16 הַ/קְּטַנָּ֖ה haqetanah HTd/Aafsa of the younger the small one
H6996-03 Genesis 29:18 הַ/קְּטַנָּֽה haqetanah HTd/Aafsa the younger the small one
H6996-02 Genesis 42:13 הַ/קָּטֹ֤ן haqaton HTd/Aamsa the youngest the small one
H6996-02 Genesis 42:15 הַ/קָּטֹ֖ן haqaton HTd/Aamsa youngest the small one
H6996-02 Genesis 42:20 הַ/קָּטֹן֙ haqaton HTd/Aamsa the youngest the small one
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