What does מָעַט mean in the Bible?
e. lessen ; intransitively, to be (or causatively, to make ) small or few (or figuratively, ineffective )".
Hebrew · H4591
מָעַט
מָעַט is a Hebrew word meaning "properly, to pare off, i.e. lessen ; intransitively, to be (or causatively, to make ) small or few (or figuratively, ineffective )".
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מָעַטH4591
What does מָעַט mean in the Bible?
Full entry for מָעַט (H4591) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4591?
The BSB source-word alignment has 22 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include a lesser (1), and a smaller (1), and decrease (1), and he who gathered little (1), and less from (1).
Where does מָעַט appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 12:4. Its strongest book concentrations include Exodus (4), Numbers (4), Jeremiah (3), Leviticus (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItSeparate English wording is recorded for 22 of 22 aligned rows. Rows without separate wording remain in the aligned-row total.
a lesser1×Leviticus 25:16
and a smaller1×Numbers 33:54
and decrease1×Numbers 26:54
and he who gathered little1×Exodus 16:18
and less from1×Numbers 35:8
and reduce1×Leviticus 26:22
and some less1×Exodus 16:17
be decreased1×Jeremiah 30:19
decrease1×Jeremiah 29:6
diminish1×Psalms 107:38
For I will diminish [Egypt]1×Ezekiel 29:15
gather just a few1×2 Kings 4:3
give less1×Exodus 30:15
is too small1×Exodus 12:4
less than1×Numbers 11:32
or decrease1×Leviticus 25:16
they are few1×Ecclesiastes 12:3
view lightly1×Nehemiah 9:32
When they are decreased1×Psalms 107:39
will be few1×Isaiah 21:17
will dwindle1×Proverbs 13:11
You will bring me to nothing1×Jeremiah 10:24
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 12:4יִמְעַ֣טtois too smallVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularExodus 16:17וְהַמַּמְעִֽיט׃toand some lessConjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singularExodus 16:18וְהַמַּמְעִ֖יטtoand he who gathered littleConjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singularExodus 30:15יַמְעִ֔יטtogive lessVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 25:16מְעֹ֣טtoor decreaseVerb - Qal - Infinitive constructLeviticus 25:16תַּמְעִ֖יטtoa lesserVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singularLeviticus 26:22וְהִמְעִ֖יטָהtoand reduceConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singularNumbers 11:32הַמַּמְעִ֕יטtoless thanArticle | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singularNumbers 26:54תַּמְעִ֖יטtoand decreaseVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singularNumbers 33:54תַּמְעִ֣יטtoand a smallerVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 12:4
Aligned rows22
Books represented11
Exodus4Leviticus3Numbers42 Kings1Nehemiah1Psalms2Proverbs1Ecclesiastes1Isaiah1Jeremiah3Ezekiel1
BSB source-word forms
יִמְעַ֣ט2xyim·‘aṭExodus 12:4, Nehemiah 9:32
תַּמְעִ֖יט2xtam·‘îṭLeviticus 25:16, Numbers 26:54
הַמַּמְעִ֕יט1xham·mam·‘îṭNumbers 11:32
וְהַמַּמְעִ֖יט1xwə·ham·mam·‘îṭExodus 16:18
וְהַמַּמְעִֽיט׃1xwə·ham·mam·‘îṭExodus 16:17
וְהִ֨מְעַטְתִּ֔ים1xwə·him·‘aṭ·tîmEzekiel 29:15
וְהִמְעִ֖יטָה1xwə·him·‘î·ṭāhLeviticus 26:22
וַיִּמְעֲט֥וּ1xway·yim·‘ă·ṭūPsalms 107:39
BSB parsing patterns
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular3xLeviticus 25:16, Numbers 26:54, Numbers 33:54
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular3xExodus 12:4, Nehemiah 9:32, Proverbs 13:11
Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular2xExodus 16:17, Exodus 16:18
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular2xExodus 30:15, Psalms 107:38
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural2xIsaiah 21:17, Jeremiah 30:19
Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular1xNumbers 11:32
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural1xEzekiel 29:15
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular1xLeviticus 26:22
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. properly, to pare off, i.e. lessen ; intransitively, to be (or causatively, to make ) small or few (or figuratively, ineffective )
Source Gloss
properly, to pare off, i.e. lessen ; intransitively, to be (or causatively, to make ) small or few (or figuratively, ineffective )
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
properly, to pare off, i.e. lessen; intransitively, to be (or causatively, to make) small or few (or figuratively, ineffective) Usage: suffer to decrease, diminish, (be, × borrow a, give, make) few (in number, -ness), gather least (little), be (seem) little, (× give the) less, be minished, bring to nothing.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups3Tagged tokens15
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action7×
ImperfectLev 25:16 · Num 26:54 · Num 33:54 · Exod 30:15 · Ps 107:38 · Num 35:86×
Jussive2Kgs 4:31×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense7×
ImperfectExod 12:4 · Prov 13:11 · Isa 21:17 · Jer 30:194×
JussiveJer 29:6 · Neh 9:322×
Infinitive constructLev 25:161×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action1×
PerfectEccl 12:31×
Word Origins
מָעַט is a primitive root - no further derivation.