מָעַט
ma.at
to diminish
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Hebrew word "ma.at" (H4591) means "to diminish" or "to be small". This verb is used 22 times in the Bible, indicating its significance in various contexts. In its most basic sense, "ma.at" describes something or someone that is reduced in size, quantity, or power. The range of usage for "ma.at" is quite broad, as it can be applied to physical objects, numbers, or even emotions. For example, it can describe a small amount of food or a limited number of people. In other cases, it may convey a sense of weakness or diminishment, such as when someone's strength or influence is reduced. The significance of "ma.at" lies in its ability to convey a sense of contrast or comparison. By using this word, the author can highlight the difference between something that is small or weak and something that is large or powerful. This contrast can be used to illustrate various themes, such as the power of God compared to human weakness, or the importance of humility in the face of greatness.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
22 total occurrences across the text
Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness, don’t let all the travail seem little before you, that has come on us, on our kings, on our princes, on our priests, on our prophets, on our fathers, and on all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria to this day.
Psalms 107:38He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly. He doesn’t allow their livestock to decrease.
Psalms 107:39Again, they are diminished and bowed down through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.
Proverbs 13:11Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.
Ecclesiastes 12:3in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look out of the windows are darkened,
Isaiah 21:17and the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, will be few; for Yahweh, the God of Israel, has spoken it.”
Jeremiah 29:6Take wives and father sons and daughters. Take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters. Multiply there, and don’t be diminished.
Jeremiah 10:24Yahweh, correct me, but gently; not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing.
Jeremiah 30:19Thanksgiving will proceed out of them with the voice of those who make merry. I will multiply them, and they will not be few; I will also glorify them, and they will not be small.
Ezekiel 29:15It will be the lowest of the kingdoms. It won’t lift itself up above the nations any more. I will diminish them, so that they will no longer rule over the nations.
Exodus 12:4and if the household is too little for a lamb, then he and his neighbor next to his house shall take one according to the number of the souls. You shall make your count for the lamb according to what everyone can eat.
Exodus 16:17The children of Israel did so, and some gathered more, some less.
Exodus 16:18When they measured it with an omer, he who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little had no lack. They each gathered according to his eating.
Exodus 30:15The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when they give the offering of Yahweh, to make atonement for your souls.
Leviticus 25:16According to the length of the years you shall increase its price, and according to the shortness of the years you shall diminish its price; for he is selling the number of the crops to you.
Leviticus 25:16According to the length of the years you shall increase its price, and according to the shortness of the years you shall diminish its price; for he is selling the number of the crops to you.
Leviticus 26:22I will send the wild animals among you, which will rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and make you few in number. Your roads will become desolate.
Numbers 11:32The people rose up all that day, and all of that night, and all the next day, and gathered the quails. He who gathered least gathered ten homers; and they spread them all out for themselves around the camp.
Numbers 26:54To the more you shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer you shall give the less inheritance. To everyone according to those who were counted of him shall his inheritance be given.
Numbers 33:54You shall inherit the land by lot according to your families; to the more you shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer you shall give the less inheritance. Wherever the lot falls to any man, that shall be his. You shall inherit according to the tribes of your fathers.
Numbers 35:8Concerning the cities which you shall give of the possession of the children of Israel, from the many you shall take many, and from the few you shall take few. Everyone according to his inheritance which he inherits shall give some of his cities to the Levites.”
2 Kings 4:3Then he said, “Go, borrow empty containers from all your neighbors. Don’t borrow just a few containers.