4705. mitsar

Lexicon

mitsar: Distress, narrow place, straits

Original Word: מִצְעָר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: mits`ar
Pronunciation: mits-ahr'
Phonetic Spelling: (mits-awr')
Definition: Distress, narrow place, straits
Meaning: petty, a short

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

little one while, small

From tsa'ar; petty (in size or number); adverbially, a short (time) -- little one (while), small.

see HEBREW tsa'ar

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from tsaar
Definition
a small thing
NASB Translation
insignificant (1), little while (1), small (3).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. מִצְעָר noun masculine a small thing ("" מִזְעָר); —

1 absolute ׳מ a small thing, of city Genesis 19:20 (twice in verse) (J); of Job's fortunes, ׳רֵאשִׁיתְֱ מ Job 8:7 (opposed to יִשְׂגֶּה מְאֹר); construct מִצְעַר אֲנָשִׁים2Chronicles 24:24 a few men; of time ׳לַמּ Isaiah 63:18 for the [a] little while. — Psalm 42:7 see II.׳מ.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root צָעַר (tsa'ar), which means "to be small" or "to be insignificant."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G3398: μικρός (mikros) • This Greek word is used in the New Testament to describe something small in size or quantity. It shares a similar semantic range with מִצְעָר, emphasizing the concept of smallness or insignificance.
• G3641: ὀλίγος (oligos) • This term is used to denote something that is few in number or limited in extent. It corresponds to the idea of brevity or scarcity, akin to the Hebrew מִצְעָר.

These entries highlight the consistent biblical theme of recognizing the limitations of human endeavors and the importance of humility before God.

Usage: The word מִצְעָר appears in the Hebrew Bible to describe something small or insignificant. It is used in contexts where the emphasis is on the brevity or diminutive nature of an object or period.

Context: • מִצְעָר (mitz'ar) is a noun that appears in the Hebrew Bible to convey the idea of smallness or brevity. It is often used in a literal sense to describe something that is physically small or short in duration. The term can also carry a metaphorical meaning, indicating something of little importance or significance.
• In the Berean Standard Bible, מִצְעָר is translated in contexts that highlight the transient or minor nature of the subject. For example, in Genesis 19:20, Lot refers to a "small town" (mitz'ar) when negotiating with the angels to spare it from destruction: "Look, this town is close enough for me to flee to, and it is small. Let me flee there—is it not a small place? Then my life will be saved."
• The usage of מִצְעָר underscores the biblical theme of humility and the recognition of human limitations in contrast to the greatness of God. It serves as a reminder of the fleeting nature of earthly concerns and the importance of focusing on eternal values.

Forms and Transliterations

בְמִצְעַ֨ר במצער לַמִּצְעָ֕ר למצער מִצְעָ֑ר מִצְעָ֛ר מצער ḇə·miṣ·‘ar ḇəmiṣ‘ar lam·miṣ·‘ār lammiṣ‘ār lammitzAr miṣ‘ār miṣ·‘ār mitzAr vemitzAr

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 19:20
HEB: שָׁ֖מָּה וְהִ֣יא מִצְעָ֑ר אִמָּלְטָ֨ה נָּ֜א
NAS: [enough] to flee to, and it is small. Please,
KJV: unto, and it [is] a little one: Oh, let me escape
INT: there and it is small escape Please

Genesis 19:20
HEB: שָׁ֗מָּה הֲלֹ֥א מִצְעָ֛ר הִ֖וא וּתְחִ֥י
NAS: there (is it not small?) that my life
KJV: Oh, let me escape thither, ([is] it not a little one?) and my soul
INT: there not is small he may be saved

2 Chronicles 24:24
HEB: כִּי֩ בְמִצְעַ֨ר אֲנָשִׁ֜ים בָּ֣אוּ ׀
NAS: came with a small number of men;
KJV: came with a small company of men,
INT: Indeed A small of men came

Job 8:7
HEB: וְהָיָ֣ה רֵאשִׁיתְךָ֣ מִצְעָ֑ר וְ֝אַחֲרִיתְךָ֗ יִשְׂגֶּ֥ה
NAS: Though your beginning was insignificant, Yet your end
KJV: Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end
INT: become your beginning was insignificant your end will increase

Isaiah 63:18
HEB: לַמִּצְעָ֕ר יָרְשׁ֖וּ עַם־
NAS: Your sanctuary for a little while, Our adversaries
KJV: have possessed [it] but a little while: our adversaries
INT: A little possessed people

5 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4705
5 Occurrences

lam·miṣ·‘ār — 1 Occ.
miṣ·‘ār — 3 Occ.
ḇə·miṣ·‘ar — 1 Occ.