צָעַר (tsa.ar)
tsa.ar
be little
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb tsa’ar describes a process of becoming small, insignificant, or diminished. It does not refer to physical shrinking in size, but rather to a loss of status, power, or importance. In the Old Testament, this word captures the experience of being reduced from a position of strength or prominence to one of weakness or obscurity.
With only three occurrences in Scripture, its usage is precise and striking. In Jeremiah 46:27, God promises that Jacob will not be insignificant or crushed by his enemies, contrasting human fear with divine preservation. Similarly, in Job 14:7, the metaphor of a tree suggests hope for renewal even when life seems diminished. Zechariah 11:16 uses it to describe a foolish shepherd who fails to strengthen the weak, leaving them to grow insignificant.
This term highlights a central biblical theme: human frailty and the danger of losing one’s standing. It serves as a reminder that true significance comes not from earthly power, but from God’s sustaining presence. When people feel reduced or overlooked, tsa’ar names that reality, pointing toward the hope that God restores what is diminished.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tsa’ar speaks to the quiet fear that we might become insignificant or overlooked. It describes a process of being diminished, not in physical size, but in status and strength. This reality touches many who feel their contributions are unnoticed or their influence fading away.
Yet Scripture offers a counter-narrative to this shrinking feeling. In Jeremiah 30:19, God promises that He will glorify His people so they will not be small. This assurance reminds us that our worth is not determined by human recognition but by divine purpose. Even when life feels like it is reducing our impact, God’s commitment to restore and multiply remains steady.
This perspective invites peace. Instead of striving to maintain a fragile sense of importance, we can rest in the knowledge that God sees us. He preserves those who feel weak and restores what seems lost. Our significance is anchored in His sustaining presence, not in our own ability to stand tall.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they will be insignificant1×
- the/ little [ones]1×
- and/ they may be insignificant1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יִצְעָֽרוּ\׃1×
- וְ֝/יִצְעֲר֗וּ1×
- הַ/צֹּעֲרִֽים\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 30:19
Thanksgiving will proceed out of them with the voice of those who make merry. I will multiply them, and they will not be few; I will also glorify them, and they will not be small.
This verse uses the word to affirm God's promise that He will glorify His people so they will not be diminished in status or number.
-
Zechariah 13:7
“Awake, sword, against my shepherd, and against the man who is close to me,” says Yahweh of Armies. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; and I will turn my hand against the little ones.
Here the term describes 'little ones' who are vulnerable after the shepherd is struck, highlighting their fragility and need for divine care.
-
Job 14:21
His sons come to honor, and he doesn’t know it. They are brought low, but he doesn’t perceive it of them.
Although this verse uses a related concept of being brought low, it reflects the human experience of failing to perceive when one's standing or family is diminished.