מִזְעָר
fewness; by implication, as superl. diminutiveness
Definition
The Hebrew noun מִזְעָר (mizʻâr) primarily denotes 'fewness' or 'smallness' in quantity, extent, or degree. It often describes a small, limited number of people or a brief, short period of time. In Isaiah 10:25, it refers to a 'little while' of God's anger, indicating a limited duration. In other contexts, it can imply something minimal or insignificant, as in Isaiah 24:6 where a 'very few' people remain after judgment. The word carries a superlative sense of extreme diminutiveness or scarcity.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the book of Isaiah, appearing four times. It consistently describes limitation or scarcity, often in prophetic contexts of judgment and restoration. In Isaiah 10:25 and 29:17, it refers to a short, finite period ('yet a very little while'). In Isaiah 16:14 and 24:6, it describes a drastically reduced number of people ('very few... left'), emphasizing the severity of God's coming judgment on Moab and the earth, respectively.
Etymology
Derived from the root זָעַר (zāʻar, H6819), meaning 'to be small' or 'to be insignificant.' It is related to the adjective זְעֵיר (zᵉʻêyr, H2191), meaning 'little' or 'small.' מִזְעָר is a noun form that intensifies the concept of smallness, conveying a sense of extreme paucity or minimal degree. The construction suggests a state or condition of being made small.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it highlights God's sovereignty in both judgment and mercy within the prophetic literature. It underscores that divine wrath has a defined, limited duration (Isaiah 10:25), offering hope. Conversely, it starkly portrays the devastating consequences of sin, reducing nations to a 'very few' (Isaiah 24:6). Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by emphasizing the precision and intentionality of God's actions—His judgments are severe yet bounded, and His restoration follows a measured timeline.
In an ancient Near Eastern context, where a nation's strength and divine favor were often measured by population size and longevity, describing a people or a timeframe as מִזְעָר conveyed a powerful image of loss, vulnerability, and divine disfavor. The concept of a 'little while' also contrasts with human perceptions of time, pointing to God's control over history's pace and outcome.
מְעַט (mᵉʻaṭ, H4592) — a more general term for 'few' or 'little' in quantity or degree. קָטָן (qāṭān, H6996) — primarily describes physical smallness or youth. מִסְפָּר (mispār, H4557) — emphasizes a countable number, often a small one.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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