The Hebrew word mitsʻâr, represented by H4705, denotes something petty (in size or number), and can be used adverbially to mean a short (time) or little while. It appears 5 times across 4 verses, consistently pointing to concepts of smallness, whether in quantity, dimension, or duration.
In its scriptural occurrences, H4705 is used to describe various forms of smallness. It can refer to a humble start, where a small beginning is contrasted with a future of great increase Job 8:7. It is also used to describe the size of an armed force, where a small company of men from the Syrian army came against a great host 2 Chronicles 24:24. The word can signify a brief period of time, as when the people of God's holiness possessed the sanctuary for but a little while Isaiah 63:18. Finally, it describes physical size, as Lot pleads to escape to a city precisely because it is a little one Genesis 19:20.
Several related words help clarify the meaning and context of H4705:
- H7225 rêʼshîyth (beginning): This word is directly contrasted with H4705 in the context of a small beginning that is destined for a greater future Job 8:7.
- H319 ʼachărîyth (latter end): As the counterpart to a beginning, this term highlights the outcome that follows a small start, which in one case is promised to be a great increase Job 8:7.
- H7230 rôb (great): This word for abundance or multitude stands in direct opposition to H4705. In 2 Chronicles 24:24, the LORD H3068 delivers a great host into the hands of a small company.
- H5892 ʻîyr (city): This is the object described as a little one in Lot's plea for a place of refuge, showing a literal application of H4705 to a physical location Genesis 19:20.
The theological weight of H4705 is seen in its use within contexts of divine power and human perspective.
- Divine Sovereignty over Strength: The word underscores that God's power is not contingent on numbers. The LORD H3068 can use a small company of men to execute judgment and deliver a very great host into their hand 2 Chronicles 24:24.
- Promise in Humility: A small beginning does not preclude a greatly increased latter end, illustrating a principle of faith and future hope Job 8:7.
- Mercy in Insignificance: The word is used in a plea for life, where a little one city is seen as a viable place to escape and preserve one's soul H5315, showing that even what is considered insignificant can serve as a means of deliverance Genesis 19:20.
- Transience of Human Endeavor: The description of possessing the sanctuary for only a little while highlights the fleeting nature of human control, even over holy things, when faced with adversaries Isaiah 63:18.
In summary, H4705 is more than a simple descriptor of size. It is a word that functions within narratives of contrast, highlighting the difference between small beginnings and great ends, and between human weakness and divine strength. It illustrates that in God's economy, the small, the few, and the brief can all play significant roles in the unfolding of His sovereign judgments and promises.
TRV