### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **qaṭ**, represented by `{{H6985}}`, is an adverb derived from a root meaning "abbreviation." It is used to mean **merely** or **very**. This word is exceptionally rare, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible, highlighting its specific and impactful use.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H6985}}` is in [[Ezekiel 16:47]], where God rebukes Jerusalem for its profound spiritual corruption. The verse states that Israel did not just follow the wicked ways of other nations, "but, as if that were a **very** little thing, thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways." Here, **qaṭ** intensifies the idea of "a little thing," emphasizing how Israel treated its initial abominations with dismissive triviality, a mindset that led to even deeper sin.
### Related Words & Concepts
The context of `{{H6985}}` is illuminated by the words surrounding it in its only appearance:
* `{{H4592}}` **mᵉʻaṭ** (a little or few): This word is used in direct combination with **qaṭ** in [[Ezekiel 16:47]] to form the phrase "a very little thing." It often denotes insufficiency or a small quantity, as seen when the people "bring in **little**" despite sowing much [[Haggai 1:6]].
* `{{H7843}}` **shâchath** (to decay, ruin, corrupt): This word describes the consequence of treating sin as a small matter. In [[Ezekiel 16:47]], Israel becomes **corrupted** (`shâchath`) after dismissing its wickedness. This term is also used for the total ruin God brought upon the earth with the flood, to **destroy** all flesh [[Genesis 6:17]].
* `{{H8441}}` **tôwʻêbah** (an abhorrence, abomination): This is the object that Israel considered a "very little thing." These **abominations** are morally disgusting to God. The term is used to describe acts like lying with mankind [[Leviticus 18:22]] and the wickedness that grieves God [[Ezekiel 6:9]].
* `{{H6962}}` **qûwṭ** (to detest, be grieved, loathe self): This word shares a root sense of "cutting off" with **qaṭ** and is linked to the same verse in the biblical record. It expresses God's emotional response to sin, as when He was **grieved** with the generation in the wilderness [[Psalms 95:10]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H6985}}`, despite its single use, is significant. It serves as a powerful illustration of key spiritual principles.
* **The Minimization of Sin:** The use of **qaṭ** in [[Ezekiel 16:47]] is a stark warning against minimizing transgression. It captures the human tendency to view disobedience as a "very little thing," failing to recognize its true weight before God.
* **The Progression of Corruption:** The verse demonstrates that treating sin lightly is the first step toward complete moral decay. Viewing abominations (`tôwʻêbah`) as insignificant directly led to Israel becoming utterly **corrupted** (`shâchath`).
* **Divine versus Human Perspective:** The term highlights the dangerous gap between God's view of sin and humanity's. What Jerusalem dismissed as **merely** a small issue was, in God's eyes, a profound betrayal that provoked grief and judgment.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6985}}` **qaṭ** provides a crucial insight within its single biblical appearance. It is not just an adverb but a theological marker, signifying the critical error of underestimating sin. Its placement in [[Ezekiel 16:47]] shows how regarding abominations as a "very little thing" is the gateway to profound and widespread corruption, clarifying the devastating consequences of spiritual apathy.
TRV