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מִצְעָר

𐤌𐤑𐤏𐤓

mitsʻâr

H4705 noun

SILEX Entry

Root צער to be small, to be insignificant, to be young

Definition

Smallness or littleness, often with reference to quantity, size, number, or age; refers to something minor, of limited extent, or briefly lasting. The term most commonly functions as an adjective meaning 'small, young, insignificant, short (in time),' but can also serve as a noun denoting 'a little, a few, a brief while.'

Semantic Range

small in quantity, small in size, few in number, short in duration, young, minor, insignificant, briefly, for a little while, a little one

Root / Etymology

From the root צער (ts-ʿ-r), which conveys the idea of being small, insignificant, or restricted. The noun מִצְעָר is derived by the addition of the nominal prefix מִ- to the root, forming a collective or abstract noun referring to a small quantity, limited duration, or minor extent.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מִצְעָר appears sparingly in the Hebrew Bible, notably in Genesis 19:20, 19:20 ('a little city, is it not a little one?') and elsewhere with the sense of something 'small' in amount, number, or time. The term is often used in contrast to major or significant entities, emphasizing insignificance or brevity. It can be adverbial ('for a short while') or nominal/adjectival ('a small/little one'). In patriarchal and monarchic contexts, the focus is on relative size or number (a 'minor' city, a 'few' people), and in later periods, the sense may extend to brevity of time. English versions sometimes render the word as 'a little,' 'small,' or 'few,' but this may miss nuances relating to social or hierarchical significance. The related adjective and verb forms (e.g., צָעִיר 'young, small') are more widely attested and share the semantic range of 'lesser, junior, minor.' Distinct from קָטָן, which focuses on physical smallness, מִצְעָר more often emphasizes relative status or duration.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from צָעַר; petty (in size or number); adverbially, a short (time); little one (while), small.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צער (ts-ʿ-r) — smallness, insignificance, youthfulness

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4706 מִצְעָר Small Peak
H6686 צוּעָר Tsuar
H6730 צִיעֹר and Zior
H6810 צָעִיר the lesser one
H6811 צָעִיר toward Tsair

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4705-02 מִצְעָ֑ר mitsear HNcmsa small a small amount 3
H4705-01 לַ/מִּצְעָ֕ר lamitsear HRd/Ncmsa for a little while for a little while 1
H4705-03 בְ/מִצְעַ֨ר vemitsear HR/Ncmsc with a small number in smallness of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4705-02 Genesis 19:20 מִצְעָ֑ר mitsear HNcmsa small a small amount
H4705-02 Genesis 19:20 מִצְעָ֛ר mitsear-2 HNcmsa small a small amount
H4705-01 Isaiah 63:18 לַ/מִּצְעָ֕ר lamitsear HRd/Ncmsa for a little while for a little while
H4705-02 Job 8:7 מִצְעָ֑ר mitsear HNcmsa small a small amount
H4705-03 2 Chronicles 24:24 בְ/מִצְעַ֨ר vemitsear HR/Ncmsc with a small number in smallness of
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