This masculine plural noun refers to young boys or small children, likely pre-adolescent. Both occurrences are in Job, where social relationships have inverted painfully. Job 19:18 laments that 'even young children despise me,' marking his social humiliation. Job 21:11 describes the prosperity of the wicked, whose 'little ones' go forth dancing. The word emphasizes youth and vulnerability, making the contexts more poignant—either mocking an outcast elder or symbolizing blessing and joy in family life.