מְעַט (me.at)
me.at
little
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 82 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word me‘at denotes a small quantity or brief duration, functioning as both a noun meaning "a little" and an adverb indicating "soon" or "for a short time." It appears frequently in Genesis and Proverbs to describe limited resources, such as the small amount of water Abraham’s servant requests (Genesis 24:17) or the meager food found by Hagar’s son (Genesis 21:14). The term captures insufficiency without implying total absence.
A distinctive usage occurs in Deuteronomy 7:22 and Exodus 23:30, where God promises to drive out nations "little by little" (me‘at me‘at). This phrase suggests a gradual process rather than an immediate conquest, reflecting divine patience and strategic provision. The repetition emphasizes the incremental nature of this change.
Translators often render me‘at as "few," "small," or "soon" depending on context. In Proverbs 6:10, it warns against sleeping "a little" (me‘at), highlighting how minor delays can lead to significant loss. The word’s flexibility allows it to describe both physical scarcity and temporal brevity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word me‘at describes a small quantity or a brief moment in time. It appears often in Genesis and Proverbs to show that resources are limited, such as when Abraham’s servant asks for just a little water or when Jacob notes his life has been few in years. This usage reminds us that scarcity is a real part of human experience, yet it never implies total absence or abandonment.
God uses this concept to teach patience and trust. In Deuteronomy 7:22, He promises to drive out nations little by little, showing that His work often unfolds gradually rather than all at once. This incremental approach prevents overwhelming the people and allows them to grow into their inheritance. When you face small delays or limited means, remember that God’s timing is precise and His provision is sufficient for each step.
Even in moments of weakness or minor delays, as warned in Proverbs 6:10, these small things matter. Yet they are never beyond the reach of divine care. Whether you have little time or few resources, your faithfulness in the small is seen and valued by God. Rest in the assurance that He sustains you through every brief season and every modest provision.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 82 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a little of18×
- a little15×
- like/ a little11×
- little8×
- few4×
- a few4×
- ¿/ [too] little2×
- like/ a little of2×
- fewness2×
- and/ for the/ few2×
- and/ a little of2×
- [were] few2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְעַ֣ט10×
- מְעַט\־7×
- מְעָ֑ט5×
- מְעַ֖ט5×
- מְ֭עַט4×
- מְעָֽט\׃3×
- כִּ֭/מְעַט3×
- מְּעָ֔ט2×
- מְעָ֔ט2×
- מְעַט֙2×
- מְעַ֥ט2×
- מְעַ֛ט2×
Key Verses
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Genesis 24:17
The servant ran to meet her, and said, “Please give me a drink, a little water from your pitcher.”
The servant’s request for a little water highlights how even small acts of hospitality are vital in fulfilling God’s larger plan.
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Exodus 23:30
Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and inherit the land.
God drives out nations little by little, demonstrating His patience and strategic care for Israel’s gradual growth.
-
Deuteronomy 7:22
Yahweh your God will cast out those nations before you little by little. You may not consume them at once, lest the animals of the field increase on you.
This verse explicitly links the phrase 'little by little' to divine restraint, preventing the land from becoming overgrown with wild animals.
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Genesis 30:30
For it was little which you had before I came, and it has increased to a multitude. Yahweh has blessed you wherever I turned. Now when will I provide for my own house also?”
Jacob acknowledges that what was once a small amount has increased greatly, attributing this growth directly to Yahweh’s blessing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word me‘at mean?
How is me‘at different from words for 'nothing'?
Where does me‘at appear most frequently?
Every Occurrence (82 verses across 27 books)
Genesis 10 verses
Now let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
Genesis 24:17The servant ran to meet her, and said, “Please give me a drink, a little water from your pitcher.”
Genesis 24:43behold, I am standing by this spring of water. Let it happen, that the maiden who comes out to draw, to whom I will…
Genesis 26:10Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you…
Genesis 30:15Leah said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes,…
Genesis 30:30For it was little which you had before I came, and it has increased to a multitude. Yahweh has blessed you wherever I…
Genesis 43:2When they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a…
Genesis 43:11Their father, Israel, said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take from the choice fruits of the land in your…
Genesis 44:25Our father said, ‘Go again and buy us a little food.’
Genesis 47:9Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are one hundred thirty years. The days of the years of my life have…