Word study · Greek
elachistos
least, smallest
Say it: eh-LAH-khis-tos (approximate)
ἐλάχιστος
What it means
The superlative of "small": the smallest or least important. In the judgment scene it describes those Jesus identifies with, "the least of these my brothers." Who exactly they are, any person in need or Jesus' followers, is debated.
Open question Debated
Whether "the least of these my brothers" means any person in need or Jesus' followers in particular is debated.
Range of meaning
- SmallestLeast in size or amount.
- Least importantLowest in rank or status.
In Matthew
- Chapter 25
"One of the least of these my brothers" (25:40, 25:45).
Every verse (4)
Verses where G1646 is tagged in the Hebrew text: STEPBible Data (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. About our sources