English · KJV
H6819

צָעַר

tsâʻar /tsaw-ar'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto be small, i.e. (figuratively) ignoble
KJV usagebe brought low, little one, be small.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of tsâʻar — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word tsâʻar, represented by H6819, is a primitive root meaning to be small, i.e. (figuratively) ignoble; be brought low, little one, be small. Though it appears only 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible, it conveys a significant concept of being diminished in status, honor, or importance.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H6819 illustrates a state of being made insignificant. In a promise of restoration, the LORD declares through Jeremiah that His people will be multiplied and glorified, stating they "shall not be small" Jeremiah 30:19. Conversely, the word depicts a state of humbling in Job, where a man's sons are "brought low" by circumstances he cannot perceive Job 14:21. The term is also used to identify a specific group, "the little ones," upon whom the LORD turns His hand after the shepherd is struck Zechariah 13:7.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the concept of being small or diminished:

  • H6810 tsâʻîyr: This word is derived from H6819 and means little, few, young, or ignoble. It is used to describe being the "least" in a family Judges 6:15, the "younger" of two brothers Genesis 25:23, or a nation that is "little" among others Micah 5:2.
  • H4591 mâʻaṭ: Meaning to lessen, diminish, or be few, this word appears alongside H6819 in Jeremiah 30:19, where the promise that the people will "not be small" is preceded by the promise that they will "not be few."

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6819 is found in its contrast between divine action and human condition.

  • Humiliation and Frailty: The word can describe a state of being humbled or brought into a position of weakness. This is seen when Job's sons are "brought low," highlighting human frailty Job 14:21, and when the "little ones" are subject to divine action after a crisis Zechariah 13:7.
  • Promise of Restoration: The state of being "small" is presented as a condition that God can reverse. His power and favor are demonstrated by making His people numerous and honored, promising they "shall not be small" as part of their restoration and glorification Jeremiah 30:19.

Summary

In summary, H6819 is a concise but potent term that defines a state of being made low or insignificant. While its occurrences are few, they effectively illustrate both the vulnerability associated with being humbled and the divine power to exalt and glorify. The word captures a powerful dynamic between a state of ignobility and the promise of divine reversal.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 3 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • יִצְעֲרוּ
  • יִצְעָרוּ
  • צֹּעֲרִים

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H6810 צָעִיר or צָעוֹר; from צָעַר; little; (in number) few; (in age) young, (in value) ignoble; least, little (one), small (one), [p H4591 מָעַט a primitive root; properly, to pare off, i.e. lessen; intransitively, to be (or causatively, to make) small or few (or f

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 3 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Job, Jeremiah, and Zechariah (1 verse each); never once in the other 36.

1
Job
1
Jeremiah
1
Zechariah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.