Minish
An Obsolete Word for Diminishing
The word "minish" is an archaic English verb meaning "to make small," "to reduce," or "to lessen." It is the root word from which the more familiar "diminish" derives. While "minish" has fallen completely out of modern usage, it appears in several passages of the King James Version and the English Revised Version, where modern translations simply use "diminish" or related terms.
Minish in the Song of Moses
The most notable appearance of "minish" is in Exodus 5:19, though the concept is more prominently seen in the broader context of Israel's experience in Egypt. The Israelites were told not to "minish" (diminish) their daily quota of bricks even though they now had to gather their own straw (Exodus 5:19). Pharaoh's oppressive demand illustrates the cruelty of unchecked power and sets the stage for God's dramatic intervention in the exodus.
God's Power to Diminish and Increase
Psalm 107:39 uses the concept powerfully: "Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow" (KJV). The psalm describes how people who were once numerous and prosperous can be reduced by hardship and suffering. But the passage does not end in despair — God raises up the poor and multiplies their families (Psalm 107:41). The movement from being "minished" to being restored demonstrates God's sovereignty over the rise and fall of human fortunes.
The Drying of the Nile
In Isaiah 19:6, the concept appears in connection with Egypt's future judgment: the rivers shall "be emptied and dried up" (modern translations), or as the KJV renders it, the streams shall be "minished." This prophecy against Egypt uses the diminishing of the Nile — the lifeblood of Egyptian civilization — as a symbol of God's judgment on the nation's pride and self-sufficiency.
Hosea's Warning
In Hosea 8:10, the prophet warns that because of Israel's unfaithfulness, they "shall begin to be minished" (KJV) — that is, they will be reduced or diminished as a consequence of their sin. The idea is that the nation that was promised multiplication and blessing (Genesis 22:17) will experience the reverse because of covenant unfaithfulness.
The Theology of Increase and Decrease
The concept behind "minish" connects to a fundamental biblical theme: God controls the increase and decrease of nations, families, and individuals. The blessing of multiplication — of descendants, livestock, and prosperity — was central to God's covenant promises (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). Conversely, diminishing was a consequence of disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:62). The word "minish" thus carries covenant weight, pointing to the consequences of faithfulness or rebellion.
Language Evolution and Scripture
The replacement of "minish" with "diminish" in modern translations is a straightforward example of how language evolves. The prefix "di-" was added to "minish" to create a new word that eventually supplanted its parent. Understanding these linguistic shifts helps readers appreciate why modern translations occasionally differ from the KJV — not because the meaning has changed, but because the vocabulary has moved on.
Biblical Context
Minish appears in the KJV in Exodus 5:19 (not diminishing brick quotas), Psalm 107:39 (people diminished by oppression), Isaiah 19:6 (Egypt's rivers diminishing), and Hosea 8:10 (Israel being diminished). Modern translations replace it with 'diminish,' 'reduce,' or similar terms.
Theological Significance
The concept behind 'minish' connects to the biblical theme of God's sovereign control over increase and decrease. Blessing in the covenant included multiplication; curse included diminishing (Deuteronomy 28). When nations or individuals are 'minished,' it reflects either divine judgment or the natural consequences of turning away from God. But Scripture also promises restoration — those who are diminished can be raised up again by God's grace.
Historical Background
The English word 'minish' comes from the Old French 'menuisier' and ultimately from the Latin 'minuere' meaning 'to make small.' It was common in Middle English but began to be supplanted by 'diminish' (from Latin 'diminuere') by the 16th century. The KJV translators in 1611 used both forms, but 'minish' was already becoming archaic. The American Standard Revised Version (1901) consistently replaced 'minish' with 'diminish' in all occurrences.