To make less
ἐλαττόωStrong’s G1642elattoō
Appears in 3 verses of the New Testament
In short
Elattoō is the Greek word usually translated “decrease” and “made lower”. It appears in 3 verses of the New Testament.
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Meaning
Usually translated “decrease” and “made lower”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.
How it's translated
- to decrease 1
- you made lower 1
- made lower 1
Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.
Where it's used most
- Hebrews 2
- John 1
2 books in all.
Explore in Scripture
- Hebrews 2:7Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
- Hebrews 2:9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Greek dictionary
ἐλαττόω elattoō · to make less
ἐλαττόω, -ῶ (ἐλάιττων), [in LXX (where also -σσῶ) chiefly for חָסֵר, and very frequently in Sir ;] to make less: Heb.2:7 (LXX); pass., Jhn.3:30, Heb.2:9.† (AS)
From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).
Webster's 1828 Dictionary
How the English word “decrease” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.
DECREASE, verb intransitive
[Latin To grow.]
To become less; to be diminished gradually, in extent, bulk, quantity, or amount, or in strength, quality, or excellence; as, the days decrease in length from June to December.
- “He must increase, but I must decrease” John 3:30
All definitions and other forms of “decrease”
DECREASE, verb transitive
To lessen; to make smaller in dimensions, amount, quality or excellence, etc.; to diminish gradually or by small deductions; as, extravagance decreases the means of charity; every payment decreases a debt; intemperance decreases the strength and powers of life.
DECREASE, noun
- A becoming less; gradual diminution; decay; as a decrease of revenue; a decrease of strength.
- The wane of the moon; the gradual diminution of the visible face of the moon from the full to the change.
Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.
Verses are from the King James Version. Word meanings come from the original Greek, not from any one translation.