Strong G1646ἐλάχιστος
least
- Transliteration
- elachistos
- Pronunciation
- el-akh'-is-tos
- Morphology
- Greek Adjective - Superlative
Definition
The superlative of ἔλαχυς elachus (short); used as equivalent to G3398; least (in size amount dignity etc.): - least very little (small) smallest.
Detailed definition
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)
(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)
In the Bible
Strong G1646 appears in 11 verses of the KJV.
Translated in the KJV by
- least7
- little1
- matter1
- small1
- thing1
First verses
- Matthew 2:6And 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.
- 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.
- 1 Corinthians 4:3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
- 1 Corinthians 6:2Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
- 1 Corinthians 15:9For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
- James 3:4Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
Occurrences by book
Related words
Word family
Same identity
Detailed Greek dictionary
ἐλᾰχιστ-ος [ᾰ], η, ον,
superlative of ἐλαχύς: comparative ἐλάσσων (which see):— smallest, least, frequently with a negative, γέρας, δύναμις οὐκ ἐ., [Refs 5th c.BC+ (“hymnus ad Mercurium” 573, 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 7.168, etc.)]; λόγου ἐλαχίστου of least account, [Refs ([prev. author] 1.143)]; ἐλαχίστου ἐδέησε διαφθεῖραι narrowly missed destroying them, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 2.77; περὶ ἐλαχίστου ποιεῖσθαι 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Apologia” 30a; παρ᾽ ἐλάχιστον ἐποίησεν αὐτοὺς ἀφαιρεθῆναι 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 17.22.)]
2 of Time, shortest, δι᾽ ἐλαχίστου (i.e. χρόνου) [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 3.39)]; δι᾽ ἐλαχίστης βουλῆς with shortest deliberation, [Refs ([prev. author] 1.138.)]
3 of Number, fewest, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Respublica” 378a; ἐ. τὸν ἀριθμόν 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Politica” 1312a30)]; ἐν ἐλαχίστοις δυσίν between two at least. [Refs ([prev. author] “EN” 1131a15.)]
4 in Mathematics texts, ἐλάχιστα καὶ μέγιστα minima and maxima, [Refs 3rd c.BC+ (3rd-2nd c.BC: Apollonius Pergaeus Geometra “Conica” 1 “Praef.”)]
II τὸ ἐλάχιστον, τοὐλάχιστον, at the least, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 2.13, 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 5.7.8, 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 4.21)]; ἐλάχιστα least of any one, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 1.70)]; ὡς ἐ. as little as possible, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Phaedo” 63d.)]
III from ἐλάχιστος came a new comparative ἐλαχιστότερος less than the least, ἐ. πάντων ἁγίων [NT (NT.Eph.3.8: _superlative_ ἐλαχιστότατος)] very least of all, [Refs 2nd c.AD+ (2nd c.AD: Sextus Empiricus Philosophus “adversus Mathematicos” 3.54, 9.406.)]
superlative of ἐλαχύς: comparative ἐλάσσων (which see):— smallest, least, frequently with a negative, γέρας, δύναμις οὐκ ἐ., [Refs 5th c.BC+ (“hymnus ad Mercurium” 573, 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 7.168, etc.)]; λόγου ἐλαχίστου of least account, [Refs ([prev. author] 1.143)]; ἐλαχίστου ἐδέησε διαφθεῖραι narrowly missed destroying them, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 2.77; περὶ ἐλαχίστου ποιεῖσθαι 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Apologia” 30a; παρ᾽ ἐλάχιστον ἐποίησεν αὐτοὺς ἀφαιρεθῆναι 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 17.22.)]
2 of Time, shortest, δι᾽ ἐλαχίστου (i.e. χρόνου) [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 3.39)]; δι᾽ ἐλαχίστης βουλῆς with shortest deliberation, [Refs ([prev. author] 1.138.)]
3 of Number, fewest, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Respublica” 378a; ἐ. τὸν ἀριθμόν 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Politica” 1312a30)]; ἐν ἐλαχίστοις δυσίν between two at least. [Refs ([prev. author] “EN” 1131a15.)]
4 in Mathematics texts, ἐλάχιστα καὶ μέγιστα minima and maxima, [Refs 3rd c.BC+ (3rd-2nd c.BC: Apollonius Pergaeus Geometra “Conica” 1 “Praef.”)]
II τὸ ἐλάχιστον, τοὐλάχιστον, at the least, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 2.13, 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 5.7.8, 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 4.21)]; ἐλάχιστα least of any one, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 1.70)]; ὡς ἐ. as little as possible, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Phaedo” 63d.)]
III from ἐλάχιστος came a new comparative ἐλαχιστότερος less than the least, ἐ. πάντων ἁγίων [NT (NT.Eph.3.8: _superlative_ ἐλαχιστότατος)] very least of all, [Refs 2nd c.AD+ (2nd c.AD: Sextus Empiricus Philosophus “adversus Mathematicos” 3.54, 9.406.)]