קַט
a little, i.e. (adverbially) merely
Definition
The Hebrew word קַט (qaṭ) is a noun meaning 'a little' or 'a small amount.' It is used adverbially to convey the sense of 'merely,' 'only a little,' or 'very slightly.' Its sole biblical occurrence is in Ezekiel 16:47, where it intensifies a comparison of unfaithfulness. The word emphasizes a minimal degree or quantity, often in a comparative or qualifying context. Derived from a root meaning to cut off or diminish, it consistently carries this nuance of smallness or limitation.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Ezekiel 16:47. In this prophetic oracle, God condemns Jerusalem, stating, 'You not only walked in their ways and did according to their abominations; within a very little time (בִּקְטַט, biqṭaṭ) you were more corrupt than they in all your ways.' Here, it functions adverbially to modify 'time,' indicating that Jerusalem's moral descent into greater corruption than even Sodom happened swiftly or with only a slight provocation. Its usage is specific to this comparative judgment context.
Etymology
The noun קַט (qaṭ) is derived from the root קָטַט (qāṭaṭ, H6990), which means 'to cut off' or 'to diminish.' This root conveys the idea of making something small or short. The noun form, therefore, inherently carries the sense of something that is abbreviated, lessened, or minimal. It is related to other Semitic roots indicating smallness or brevity.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, קַט (qaṭ) in Ezekiel 16:47 serves a potent theological function in highlighting the swift and profound nature of human sin and rebellion against God. It underscores that spiritual corruption does not always require a long period; even a 'very little' deviation or time can lead to a state worse than notorious examples of wickedness (like Sodom). This enriches the reading of Ezekiel's prophecy by emphasizing the gravity of covenant unfaithfulness and the rapidity of moral decline when people abandon God's ways.
In its ancient Near Eastern context, the concept of a 'little' time or amount being significant often related to proverbial wisdom about the consequences of small actions. The use in Ezekiel taps into this understanding to shock the audience: Jerusalem needed only a minimal trigger or short period to surpass the proverbial evil of Sodom, a city synonymous with judgment. This rhetorical comparison would have been culturally powerful.
מְעַט (məʿaṭ, H4592) — A more common term for 'a little' or 'few,' used in various quantitative contexts. קָטָן (qāṭān, H6996) — An adjective meaning 'small' or 'young,' describing size or age rather than an adverbial quantity. מִצְעָר (miṣʿār, H4705) — Denotes 'a small thing' or 'a little while,' often used for insignificance or brevity.
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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