ἐλάχιστοςeláchistos
used as equivalent to G3398 (μικρός); least (in size, amount, dignity, etc.)
Greek (New Testament) · G1646
Meanings
smallest, least: as proper superlat., 1 Corinthians 15:9; elsewhere, as usually in late Gk., intensive (B1., § 11, 3); Matthew 2:6 (LXX) Matthew 25:40, Matthew 25:45, Luke 12:26, Luke 16:10, Luke 19:17, 1 Corinthians 4:3, 1 Corinthians 6:2, James 3:4; ἐ. ἐν τ. βασιλείᾳ τ. οὐρανῶν, Matthew 5:19. Compar., ἐλαχιστότερος; less than the least: Ephesians 3:8.
Same root
Where it appears
Appears 14 times in the Bible.
- Matthew 2:6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’”
- Matthew 5:19 So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
- Matthew 25:40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
- Matthew 25:45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
- Luke 12:26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?
- Luke 16:10 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.
Source: G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), public domain.