Original Word: מִזְעָר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: miz`ar
Pronunciation: miz-awr'
Phonetic Spelling: (miz-awr')
KJV: few, X very
NASB: very, few
Word Origin: [from the same as H2191 (זְעֵיר - little)]

1. fewness
2. (by implication as superlative) diminutiveness

few, very

From the same as ze'eyr; fewness; by implication, as superl. Diminutiveness -- few, X very.

see HEBREW ze'eyr

Word Origin
from the same as zeer
Definition
a little, a trifle, a few
NASB Translation
few (1), very (2).

מִזְעָר noun [masculine] a little, a trifle, a few.

1 of time עוֺד מְעַט מִזְעָ֑ר Isaiah 10:25; Isaiah 29:17 yet a trifle, a little = a very little while.

2 of number מְעַט מִזְעָר שְׁאָר Isaiah 16:14 a remnant, a very few (opposed to לוֺא כַּ בִּיר). In Isa³ without מעט: — מִזְעָֽר ׃ונשׁאר אנושׁ Isaiah 24:6.

Overview

The Hebrew term מִזְעָר (mizʿar) conveys the notion of something “very small” in quantity or in duration. All four occurrences fall within the prophecies of Isaiah, where the word consistently highlights that the LORD’s interventions—whether judgment or restoration—are certain, precise, and limited in scope or time according to His sovereign plan.

Prophetic Usage in Isaiah

1. Isaiah 10:25 couples מִזְעָר with the nearness of relief for beleaguered Judah: “For in just a little while My wrath will be spent and My anger will turn to their destruction”. The “little while” underscores both the impending end of Assyria’s oppression and the measured nature of divine indignation.
2. Isaiah 16:14 promises a drastic reduction of Moabite power: “...the survivors will be very few and feeble.” Here מִזְעָר characterizes the remnant left after judgment, accentuating how completely the LORD can humble a nation.
3. Isaiah 24:6 depicts worldwide desolation, yet notes that “few men are left.” The word presses home the severity of global judgment while preserving the biblical motif of a remnant through whom God continues His purposes.
4. Isaiah 29:17 pivots from judgment to hope: “Is it not yet a very little while until Lebanon will become an orchard…?” The transformation of Lebanon heralds messianic renewal; the term stresses the imminence and certainty of that reversal.

Themes of Divine Judgment and Mercy

Mizʿar binds together judgment and mercy. The same God who reduces armies, nations, and populations to “very few” is also the One who limits His wrath to “a little while” for the sake of His people. The word thus reinforces the holiness of God (He must judge) and His covenant faithfulness (He will not abandon).

Temporal Dimension: “A Little While” in Salvation History

The phrase signals divine timing rather than human impatience. What seems brief to the LORD may span years (Isaiah 16:14) or appear imminent (Isaiah 29:17). Such passages train believers to read history through the lens of promise; apparent delays never threaten the certainty of fulfillment (compare Habakkuk 2:3; Hebrews 10:37).

Remnant Theology

Isaiah frequently links מִזְעָר with a surviving remnant (10:25; 16:14; 24:6). This remnant concept blossoms throughout Scripture as God preserves a purified people for His name (Romans 9:27). Mizʿar reminds readers that size is never the measure of significance in the kingdom; God accomplishes great purposes through what remains “very small.”

Eschatological and Messianic Overtones

Isaiah 29:17 anticipates a future reversal when devastated landscapes flourish—a motif expanded in Isaiah 35 and fulfilled ultimately in the reign of Messiah. The “little while” invites hope, echoing New Testament assurances such as Revelation 6:11 and 1 Peter 1:6 where present trials are temporary preludes to eternal glory.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Encouragement amid oppression: Believers facing hostility can take heart that divine deliverance may be “in just a little while” (Isaiah 10:25; Hebrews 10:37).
• Humility in prosperity: Nations and individuals alike should heed Moab’s downfall; greatness can shrink to “very few and feeble” (Isaiah 16:14) when pride rebels against God.
• Perseverance in preaching: Isaiah’s ministry spanned years, yet he spoke of imminent change. Faithful proclamation trusts God’s timetable, not visible results.
• Perspective on church size: Congregations or ministries that feel “very small” should recall the biblical pattern of God working powerfully through a mizʿar remnant.

Key Takeaways

Mizʿar in Isaiah situates God’s people between the certainty of coming judgment and the assurance of eventual restoration. Whether referring to time (“a little while”) or number (“very few”), the term magnifies God’s sovereignty over both chronology and quantity, calling the faithful to patient hope, reverent fear, and steadfast obedience.

מִזְעָ֑ר מִזְעָ֔ר מִזְעָ֖ר מִזְעָֽר׃ מזער מזער׃ miz‘ār miz·‘ār mizArInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts