Least
ἐλάχιστοςStrong’s G1646elachistos
Appears in 12 verses of the New Testament
In short
Elachistos is the Greek word usually translated “least”, “very little” and “smallest matter”. It appears in 12 verses of the New Testament.
“And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.”
Meaning
Usually translated “least”, “very little” and “smallest matter”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.
How it's translated
- least 7
- very little 3
- smallest matter 1
- of the smallest 1
- very least 1
- a very small 1
Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.
Where it's used most
- Matthew 4
- Luke 3
- 1 Corinthians 3
- Ephesians 1
- James 1
5 books in all.
Related words
Explore in Scripture
- Matthew 5:19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
- Matthew 25:40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
- Matthew 25:45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
- Luke 12:26If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
- Luke 16:10He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
- Luke 19:17And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
Greek dictionary
ἐλάχιστος elachistos · least
ἐλάχιστος, -η, -ον (see: ἐλάσσων), smallest, least: as proper superlat., 1Co.15:9; elsewhere, as usually in late Gk., intensive (B1., § 11, 3); Mat.2:6 (LXX) Mat.25:40, 45 Luk.12:26 16:10 19:17, 1Co.4:3 6:2, Jas.3:4; ἐ. ἐν τ. βασιλείᾳ τ. οὐρανῶν, Mat.5:19 (see Dalman, Words, 113). Compar., ἐλαχιστότερος (for corresp. superl., see LS; see also Bl., § 44, 3); less than the least: Eph.3:8.† (AS)
From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).
Webster's 1828 Dictionary
How the English word “least” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.
LEAST, adjective
All definitions and other forms of “least”
LEAST, adverb
- In the smallest or lowest degree; in a degree below all others; as, to reward those who least deserve it.
- To say no more.
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.