elachistos · least, smallest

What it means

elachistos (ἐλάχιστος) is a Greek word of the Bible that means “least, smallest”.

The lowest in size or importance.

How to say it

Approximate pronunciation. Vowels sound as in Spanish (a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in note, u as in rule); the syllable in bold is stressed. The voice is your device's.

Its senses in the Bible

1. The one of lowest size or rank.

From Abbott-Smith (1922) · Thayer (1889)

How it is translated

The words this translation uses for it, most frequent first.

• least ×8
• very little ×3
• very small ×2
• smallest ×1

Related words

Words of the same family, by Strong’s numbering.

Where it appears

• Matthew×5
• Luke×4
• 1 Corinthians×3
• Ephesians×1
• James×1

• Matthew 2:6

  ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you will come a leader who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

• Matthew 5:19

  So whoever breaks one of these least commandments and teaches people to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, this one will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

• Matthew 25:40

  And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I tell you, as much as you did it to one of these least brothers of mine, you did it to me.’

• Matthew 25:45

  Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly I tell you, as much as you did not do it to one of these least, you did not do it to me either.’

• Luke 12:26

  If then you cannot even do the least thing, why do you worry about the rest?

• Luke 16:10

  The one who is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and the one who is unjust in very little is also unjust in much.

• Luke 19:17

  And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’

• 1 Corinthians 4:3

  But to me it is a very small thing that I should be examined by you or by a human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself.

• 1 Corinthians 6:2

  Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy of the smallest cases?

• 1 Corinthians 15:9

  For I am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God.

• Ephesians 3:8

  To me, less than the least of all saints, was given this grace: to proclaim to the nations the good news of the unfathomable riches of the Messiah,

• James 3:4

  Look also at the ships: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the pilot wants.

And 2 more times.