קָטָן
𐤒𐤈𐤍
Qatan
H6997 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Adjective primarily meaning 'small' or 'insignificant' in size, number, amount, status, or age. In personal or social contexts, refers to the 'younger' sibling, member, or lesser in rank or significance. May express comparative or relative smallness, including 'least', 'junior', or 'minor'. As a proper name (Katan, Hakkatan), identifies an individual or ancestor in post-exilic genealogies.
Semantic Range
small in size, minor in rank, insignificant, young (in age), least, junior, little one (of siblings or groups), personal name (Katan, Hakkatan)
Root / Etymology
From the root קטן, which fundamentally means 'to be small, to be insignificant, to be young'. The word derives directly from this root, forming both its adjectival use ('small') and nominal meaning (a name, often indicating youth or insignificance).
Historical & Contextual Notes
קָטָן functions as a common adjective across all periods of Biblical Hebrew. In narrative texts, it frequently contrasts with גָּדוֹל (gadol, 'great'), as in descriptions of the 'greater and the smaller' or 'older and younger' (e.g., among siblings or ranks). The term can describe physical dimensions, social status, or chronological age—often without sharp distinction. In genealogical lists and post-exilic records (Ezra 8:12), קָטָן and its definite form הַקָּטָן (Hakkatan) function as proper names. English translations often render the term as 'small', 'little', 'young', or 'least', but may not consistently capture the subtler distinctions between rank and age possible in ancient Israelite society. Unlike מְעַט (meʿat, 'few, little' in number), קָטָן generally pertains to stature, age, or rank rather than quantity. The evolution of meaning is stable across periods, with shifts mainly related to idiomatic and naming practices.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as קָטָן; small; Katan, an Israelite; Hakkatan (including the article).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קטנ (q-ṭ-n) — smallness, littleness, insignificance, diminution
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6996 | קָטָן | the small one |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6997-01 |
הַ/קָּטָ֑ן | haqatan | HTd/Np |
Hakkatan | the small one | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6997-01 |
Ezra 8:12 | הַ/קָּטָ֑ן | haqatan | HTd/Np |
Hakkatan | the small one |