מָעַט

properly, to pare off, i.e. lessen; intransitively, to be (or causatively, to make) small or few (or figuratively

Definition

The Hebrew word מָעַט (mâʻaṭ) fundamentally means 'a little,' 'few,' or 'small.' It describes a small quantity, number, or degree, often in contrast to abundance. In a literal sense, it refers to a small amount of something, such as the manna gathered in Exodus 16:17-18. Figuratively, it can denote something diminished, insufficient, or of little significance, as in the warning of decreased crops in Leviticus 26:22. The word can also function verbally, meaning 'to diminish' or 'to make few,' highlighting a process of reduction.

Biblical Usage

מָעַט is used across the Pentateuch, especially in legal and narrative contexts concerning measurement, proportion, and consequence. It frequently appears in instructions about proportional giving or assessment, such as the half-shekel offering where the rich and poor give the same 'little' amount (Exodus 30:15), and in the census-based inheritance rules in Numbers 26:54. It is also used in divine warnings of judgment, where blessings are reduced and populations are made 'few' (Leviticus 26:22).

Etymology

Derived from a primitive root meaning 'to be or become small.' The core idea is of being pared off, lessened, or diminished. It is related to the adjective מְעַט (meʻaṭ, H4592), meaning 'few, little.'

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it highlights God's principles of equity, sufficiency, and justice. In Exodus 30:15, it underscores that all people, regardless of wealth, have equal standing in atonement. In contexts of blessing and curse (Leviticus 26), it reveals that covenant disobedience leads to diminishment—a reduction in life, fruitfulness, and number. Understanding מָעַט enriches reading by showing how biblical law values proportional fairness and how divine judgment is often framed as a reversal of abundance into scarcity.

In an ancient agrarian society, concepts of 'little' versus 'much' were directly tied to survival, wealth, and divine favor. A 'small' number of people or a 'little' harvest could indicate vulnerability, poverty, or divine disfavor. The instruction in Exodus 12:4, where a household too 'small' for a lamb must share with a neighbor, reflects a communal approach to religious observance and resource management, ensuring participation and preventing waste.

זְעֵיר (zəʻêr, H6810) — emphasizes smallness in size or insignificance. מִסְפָּר (mispar, H4557) — focuses on a counted number, which can be small. קָטָן (qāṭān, H6996) — describes small in size, young in age, or lesser in importance.

Word Details

Scripture References