Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Concept:Littleness, in a biblical context, often refers to humility, insignificance, or smallness in stature, influence, or importance. It is a theme that runs throughout Scripture, highlighting the value God places on humility and the ways He uses the seemingly insignificant to accomplish His purposes.
Biblical Instances and Themes:1.
Humility and Childlikeness: Littleness is frequently associated with humility and the virtues of a childlike spirit. Jesus emphasized the importance of becoming like little children to enter the kingdom of heaven. In
Matthew 18:3-4 , Jesus states, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
2.
God's Preference for the Humble: Throughout the Bible, God often chooses the humble and lowly to fulfill His plans, demonstrating His power and wisdom. In
1 Samuel 16:7 , when Samuel is sent to anoint a new king, God reminds him, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart."
3.
The Paradox of Strength in Weakness: The Apostle Paul speaks to the paradox of strength in weakness, a concept closely related to littleness. In
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 , Paul writes, "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
4.
The Role of the Remnant: The concept of a faithful remnant, often small and seemingly insignificant, is a recurring theme in the Bible. God frequently works through a small group of faithful individuals to bring about His purposes. In
Zechariah 4:10 , the prophet encourages the people not to despise small beginnings: "For who has despised the day of small things? These seven eyes of the LORD, which roam throughout the earth, will rejoice when they see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand."
5.
The Kingdom of God: Jesus uses the imagery of littleness to describe the kingdom of God. In the parable of the mustard seed, He illustrates how something small can grow into something great. In
Matthew 13:31-32 , Jesus says, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field. Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."
Theological Implications:Littleness, as portrayed in the Bible, underscores the value of humility and the divine principle that God often chooses the lowly and humble to achieve His purposes. It challenges human perceptions of greatness and power, inviting believers to trust in God's wisdom and strength rather than their own. The theme of littleness encourages a posture of humility, dependence on God, and faith in His ability to use the small and insignificant for His glory.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) The state or quality of being little; as, littleness of size, thought, duration, power, etc.
Greek
3640a. oligopistia -- little faith... 3640, 3640a. oligopistia. 3640b . little faith. Transliteration: oligopistia
Short Definition:
littleness. Word Origin from oligos
...5012. tapeinophrosune -- lowliness of mind, humility
... of human pride (self-government); that of mindset of "having a humble opinion of
oneself, ie a deep sense of one's (moral)littleness -- ie lowliness of mind...
Strong's Hebrew
4704. mitstseirah -- little... Word Origin see tsair. little Feminine of mits'ar; properly,
littleness; concretely,
diminutive -- little. see HEBREW mits'ar. 4703, 4704. mitstseirah. 4705
...7005. Qattath -- a city in Zebulun
... Kattath. From qatan;littleness; Kattath, a place in Palestine -- Kattath. see
HEBREW qatan. 7004, 7005. Qattath. 7006 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
TheLittleness of the Human Mind a Ground of Hope.
... Section IV. Thelittleness of the human mind a ground of hope.... I scarcely know
which amazes me the more, itslittleness or its grandeur....
But if You Depreciate theLittleness of Man, not on Account of his...
... Chapter XXV. But if you depreciate thelittleness of man, not on account
of his body? But if you depreciate thelittleness of...
Whether a Person's Defect is a Reason for Being More Easily Angry...
... Wherefore dogs bite not those who sit down." But these things savor of
littleness and defect. Thereforelittleness of a person is...
The System of the Moral Universe not Purposely Involved in...
... divine perfections are displayed in the constitution and government of the world,
the more clearly shall we see the greatness of God and thelittleness of man....
The Heavenly Treasure in Earthen Vessels
... to reveal the mystery, to reconcile the strange inconsistencies, in him, " the
wonderful mixture of good and evil, of greatness andlittleness, of nobleness...
In Reply to These, we Ask of those who Accept Such Aspersions as...
... it be supposed that you say justly that all men, as compared with God, are (rightly)
likened to these worthless [3772] animals, since theirlittleness is not...
Concerning Great, Small, Same, Different, Similar, Dissimilar...
... Almighty God, then, is celebrated in the Oracles as great, both in greatness and
in a gentle breeze, which manifests the Divinelittleness; and as the same...
My Dearest Sister
... soul. What does please Him is to find me love mylittleness, my poverty:
it is the blind trust which I have in His Mercy. . . ....
Thou Dost not Hide Thyself in Thy Bareness, O Pearl!
... 4. There are in the sea divers fishes of many cubits, and with all their greatness
they are very small; but by thylittleness the crown is made great, like as...
O Gift that Camest up Without Price with the Diver!
... thou art not to be drunk, yet by thy story, a fountain of types art thou made unto
the ears! 2. It is thou which art great in thylittleness, O pearl!...
Thesaurus
Littleness (1 Occurrence)... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The state or quality of being little; as,
littleness of size, thought, duration, power, etc.
...Littleness (1 Occurrence).
...Live (3203 Occurrences)
Little (2458 Occurrences)
Zior (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible DictionaryLittleness, a city in the mountains of Judah (Joshua
15:54); the modern Si'air, 4 1/2 miles north-north-east of Hebron. Int....
Zoar (12 Occurrences)
... In 19:22, its name is said to have been given because of itslittleness,
which also seems to have accounted for its being spared....
Mizar (1 Occurrence)
... 42:6; "I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and the Hermons, from the hill Mizar."
The term may be taken as an appellative meaning "littleness" and the...
Pitiful (5 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Piteous; lamentable; eliciting compassion. 3. (v.) To be pitied forlittleness
or meanness; miserable; paltry; contemptible; despicable. Int....
Hill (217 Occurrences)
... 42:6; "I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and the Hermons, from the hill Mizar."
The term may be taken as an appellative meaning "littleness" and the...
Resources
Who was Thérèse of Lisieux? | GotQuestions.orgLittleness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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