qa.ton marks what is lesser or smaller, including younger family members, minor matters, and smaller things.

The adjective most often marks the lesser side of a stated contrast, especially in formulas embracing people or matters from small to great. It also identifies a younger son among brothers, describes physically limited things or persons, and can characterize a matter, group, period, or standing as limited.

1. the lesser member of a small–great contrast · dominant

   The masculine singular adjective repeatedly stands in clauses that pair the lesser with the great, encompassing all ranks of people or the full range of matters. In Deuteronomy 1:17 the APB renders the judicial instruction as hearing “the small and the great alike,” while 1 Samuel 22:15 speaks of a matter “whether small or great.”

   Deuteronomy 1:171 Samuel 22:152 Kings 23:2Jeremiah 42:1Genesis 19:111 Chronicles 25:8
2. younger within a family · common

   In family narratives, the adjective identifies the younger or youngest son in relation to older brothers. Genesis 42:13 and Genesis 44:23 concern the brother who remains with his father, and Genesis 48:19 contrasts a younger brother with the one who will be greater.

   Genesis 42:13Genesis 42:20Genesis 43:29Genesis 44:23Genesis 48:192 Chronicles 21:17
3. physically smaller or limited · occasional

   The adjective describes items, persons, or structures presented as smaller in extent or size. In Genesis 1:16 the APB renders one of the lights as “the lesser light,” and 1 Kings 8:64 says the bronze altar was “too small” for the offerings; 1 Samuel 20:35 similarly mentions a small boy.

   Genesis 1:161 Kings 8:641 Samuel 20:351 Samuel 2:19Amos 6:11Isaiah 11:6
4. minor, lowly, or limited in scale · occasional

   The adjective can qualify matters, peoples, duration, or self-assessment as limited rather than great. Exodus 18:26 contrasts difficult cases with cases the judges decide themselves, Amos 7:2 describes Jacob as unable to stand because he is small, and Isaiah 54:7 speaks of a brief period of abandonment.

   Exodus 18:261 Samuel 15:17Amos 7:2Amos 7:5Isaiah 54:7Jeremiah 49:15

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across these verses, the APB variously uses “small,” “least,” “lesser,” “youngest,” “younger,” “minor,” and “brief.” These renderings confirm the clauses’ comparative settings rather than fixing a separate English equivalent in every instance.