קָטָן (qa.tan)
qa.tan
small; small: young
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 96 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adjective qatan describes something that is small, young, or insignificant. It appears in ninety-six verses, frequently in Genesis, 1 Samuel, and Jeremiah. The word captures physical size, such as a child’s youth, but also carries a social weight, pointing to low status or lack of importance.
Its meaning shifts with context. When applied to people, it often highlights vulnerability or humble beginnings. In narratives like those in Genesis, it marks the early stages of life or lineage. In prophetic books like Jeremiah, it can describe nations or individuals who are politically weak or socially overlooked. The term does not imply worthlessness but rather a temporary state of being small in scale or power.
Translators usually render qatan as "small," "young," or "insignificant" depending on the sentence. This flexibility shows how Hebrew thought links physical size with social standing. A young child is small; a minor tribe is insignificant. The word reminds readers that what appears small in human eyes may hold significant role in biblical history.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word qatan describes what is small, young, or insignificant. It appears ninety-six times in Scripture, often marking physical size or social standing. When applied to people, it highlights vulnerability or humble beginnings. In narratives like Genesis, it marks early stages of life or lineage. In prophetic books like Jeremiah, it can describe nations or individuals who are politically weak. The term does not imply worthlessness but rather a temporary state of being small in scale or power.
This flexibility shows how Hebrew thought links physical size with social standing. A young child is small; a minor tribe is insignificant. The word reminds readers that what appears small in human eyes may hold a significant role in biblical history. God often chooses the overlooked to accomplish His purposes, showing that true value comes from Him, not from human metrics of success or status.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 96 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- small21×
- <the>/ young18×
- young7×
- <the>/ small6×
- the/ small4×
- from/ [the] small4×
- as the/ small4×
- the/ young [one]3×
- the/ young [brother]2×
- insignificant2×
- from/ small2×
- and/ small2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קָטֹ֖ן8×
- הַ/קָּטֹ֖ן8×
- הַ/קָּטֹן֙5×
- קָטֹ֛ן3×
- קְטַנָּ֔ה3×
- קָטֹן֙2×
- קָטֹ֔ן2×
- קָטָֽן\׃2×
- קָטָ֑ן2×
- קְטַנָּה֙2×
- מִ/קָּטֹן֙2×
- מִ/קָּטֹ֖ן2×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 42:13
They said, “We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold, the youngest is today with our father, and one is no more.”
The brothers mention Benjamin as the youngest to explain their family structure and vulnerability before Joseph.
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Deuteronomy 1:17
You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God’s. The case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.”
Moses instructs judges to hear both the small and the great alike, emphasizing impartiality in divine justice.
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Genesis 48:19
His father refused, and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also will become a people, and he also will be great. However, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his offspring will become a multitude of nations.”
Jacob acknowledges that Ephraim, the younger brother, will be greater than Manasseh, reversing expected social hierarchy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does qatan mean in the Bible?
How is qatan different from other words for small?
Where does qatan appear most frequently?
Every Occurrence (96 verses across 23 books)
Genesis 19 verses
God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made…
Genesis 9:24Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his youngest son had done to him.
Genesis 19:11They struck the men who were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied…
Genesis 27:15Rebekah took the good clothes of Esau, her elder son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob, her…
Genesis 27:42The words of Esau, her elder son, were told to Rebekah. She sent and called Jacob, her younger son, and said to him,…
Genesis 29:16Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
Genesis 29:18Jacob loved Rachel. He said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”
Genesis 42:13They said, “We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold, the youngest…
Genesis 42:15By this you shall be tested. By the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go out from here, unless your youngest brother comes…
Genesis 42:20Bring your youngest brother to me; so will your words be verified, and you won’t die.” They did so.
Genesis 42:32We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is today with our father in the land of…
Genesis 42:34Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I will know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. So I will…
Genesis 43:29He lifted up his eyes, and saw Benjamin, his brother, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of…
Genesis 44:2Put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, with his grain money.” He did according to the word…
Genesis 44:12He searched, beginning with the oldest, and ending at the youngest. The cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.
Genesis 44:20We said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead,…
Genesis 44:23You said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will see my face no more.’
Genesis 44:26We said, ‘We can’t go down. If our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down: for we may not see the man’s…
Genesis 48:19His father refused, and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also will become a people, and he also will be great.…