מִצְעָר (mits.ar)
mits.ar
little
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun mits’ar denotes something small, whether in physical size or duration. It appears only four times in the Old Testament, primarily in Genesis, Job, and Isaiah. The word captures the essence of littleness, referring to a "small thing" or a brief period of time.
In its temporal sense, it describes a short while. For instance, in Job 14:2, human life is compared to a flower that withers quickly, lasting only a mits’ar. This usage emphasizes the fleeting nature of existence. In other contexts, such as Isaiah 54:7-8, it contrasts God’s momentary anger with His enduring kindness, highlighting how brief divine discipline is compared to eternal mercy.
The term’s simplicity makes it versatile yet precise. It avoids grandeur, focusing instead on the modest or transient aspects of life. Translators often render it as "little" or "short time," depending on context. Its rarity in Scripture underscores its role in conveying humility and impermanence, reminding readers of the fragility of human endeavors against the backdrop of divine constancy.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mits’ar reminds us that smallness is not a flaw in God’s design. It appears in Scripture to describe physical size, brief moments, or humble beginnings. When Job speaks of life lasting only a mits’ar, he does not diminish its value but highlights its fragility. This perspective invites us to trust God with the short seasons we cannot control.
Even when our circumstances feel limited, like the small city Lot chose for safety, God’s care remains vast. Isaiah contrasts God’s momentary anger with His enduring kindness, showing that His love outlasts every brief trial. We do not need to achieve greatness to be seen by Him. Instead, we find rest in knowing He sustains us through every little thing.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- with/ smallness of1×
- for <the>/ little while1×
- a small thing1×
- a small place1×
- [is] a small place1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִצְעָ֑ר2×
- מִצְעָ֛ר1×
- לַ/מִּצְעָ֕ר1×
- בְ/מִצְעַ֨ר1×
Key Verses
-
Job 8:7
Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.
This verse uses mits’ar to describe a humble beginning, offering hope that God can bring significant growth from modest starts.
-
Genesis 19:20
See now, this city is near to flee to, and it is a little one. Oh let me escape there (isn’t it a little one?), and my soul will live.”
Lot refers to Zoar as a 'little one,' showing how the word captures physical smallness while highlighting God's provision for survival.
-
Isaiah 63:18
Your holy people possessed it but a little while. Our adversaries have trodden down your sanctuary.
Here mits’ar marks a short period of possession, contrasting human transience with the eternal nature of God’s covenant people.