ἐλάσσ-ων G1640
smaller, lesser, inferior; younger or lower in status or degree
The comparative form of μικρός (by way of ἐλαχύς), this adjective conveys 'less' across multiple dimensions—size, age, rank, or quality. At the wedding in Cana, the steward notes that the inferior wine normally comes last (John 2:10). Paul quotes the oracle about Jacob and Esau: 'the elder shall serve the younger' (Rom 9:12). The 'undeniably lesser is blessed by the greater' principle governs the Melchizedek argument in Hebrews 7:7. French 'moindre' and 'plus petit' helpfully distinguish degree from size.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Smaller, lesser, or inferior in degree, rank, age, or quality. This comparative adjective flexes across contexts: John 2:10 contrasts wine quality (lesser vs. good); Rom 9:12 distinguishes the younger/lesser son in the Jacob-Esau narrative; 1 Tim 5:9 sets a minimum age threshold (not less than sixty); Heb 7:7 establishes a hierarchical principle where the lesser receives blessing from the greater. Spanish uses 'menor' (younger/lesser) and 'inferior,' reflecting the dual age-rank semantic range. 4×
AR["أَدْنَى", "أَقَلَّ", "الأَصْغَرَ", "الأَصْغَرُ"]·ben["কম", "ছোটের", "হীনতর"]·DE["kleiner"]·EN["less-than", "lesser"]·FR["moindre", "plus-petit"]·heb["פָּחוֹת", "קָטָן", "קָטֹן"]·HI["कम", "कमज़ोर;", "छोटा", "छोटे"]·ID["kurang-dari", "lebih-muda", "yang-lebih-rendah", "yang-lebih-rendah;"]·IT["elasso", "elatton", "piu-piccolo"]·jav["kirang", "kirang-saé;", "langkung-alit", "langkung-alit."]·KO["더-작은-이가", "더-저련한-것-을", "더-적은", "작은-자에게"]·PT["inferior;", "menor", "menor.", "menos"]·RU["меньше", "меньшее", "худшее"]·ES["inferior", "menor", "menos-de"]·SW["-", "mbaya-zaidi", "mdogo"]·TR["daha-az", "daha-kötüsünü", "daha-küçük", "küçüğe"]·urd["چھوٹا", "چھوٹے۔", "کم-سے", "کمٹر؛"]
Related Senses
H3605 1. all, every, whole (5352×)H0259 1. one (cardinal numeral) (940×)H8147 1. cardinal number two (666×)G3956 1. all (collective plural) (616×)H3967 1. cardinal numeral hundred (550×)H1419a 1. great, large (general quality) (486×)H7969 1. cardinal number three (431×)H0505 1. cardinal number thousand (427×)H7651 1. seven (cardinal number) (393×)G1520 1. cardinal number one (339×)H6240 1. ten (cardinal number) (334×)H6242 1. twenty (cardinal number) (315×)H2568 1. cardinal number five (309×)H0702 1. four (cardinal number) (277×)G3956 2. every, each (distributive) (227×)H8337 1. six (cardinal number) (215×)G3956 3. all things, everything (substantive) (211×)G3956 4. (187×)H6235 1. ten (177×)G3173 1. great in size or extent (176×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐλάσσ-ων, Attic dialect ἐλάττων, ον, genitive ονος: superlative ἐλάχιστος (which see): — smaller, less, formed from ἐλαχύς (which see), but serving as comparative to μικρός, δουρηνεκὲς ἢ καὶ ἔλασσον Refs 8th c.BC+; τοὔλασσον ἔχειν to have the worse, be worse off, πάντῃ Refs 6th c.BC+; ἐλάττω νομίσας τὴν ἀρχὴν ἢ κατὰ τὴν αὑτοῦ φύσιν εἶναι too small for.., Refs 5th c.BC+: absolutely, too small,…