"little, small, in number, etc.; pl. few, Mt. 7:14; 9:37; 20:16; Lk. 13:23; δι’ ὀλίγων, i.e. λόγων, in a few words, briefly, 1 Pet. 5:12; little in time, short, brief, Acts 14:28; Rev. 12:12; πρὸς ὀλίγον, i.e. χρόνον, for a short time, for a little while, Jas. 4:14; little, small,..."
Definition and meaning
little, small, in number, etc.; pl. few, Mt. 7:14; 9:37; 20:16; Lk. 13:23; δι’ ὀλίγων, i.e. λόγων, in a few words, briefly, 1 Pet. 5:12; little in time, short, brief, Acts 14:28; Rev. 12:12; πρὸς ὀλίγον, i.e. χρόνον, for a short time, for a little while, Jas. 4:14; little, small, light, etc., in magnitude, amount, etc., Lk. 7:47; Acts 12:18; 15:2; ἐν ὀλίγῳ, concisely, briefly, Eph. 3:3; almost, Acts 26:28, 29
In the original Greek the word is written: ὀλίγος
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of oligos (G3641) across the King James Bible.
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.
So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
For many are called, but few are chosen.
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.
And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
Refiner gives you the full lexicon entry, AI-powered verse insight, historical commentary, cross-references, and voice study — all in one place.
Free to start · Disciple $4.99/mo · Shepherd $9.99/mo
Common questions
Strong's G3641 (oligos) is a Greek word that means: little, small, in number, etc.; pl. few, Mt. 7:14; 9:37; 20:16; Lk. 13:23; δι’ ὀλίγων, i.e. λόγων, in a few words, briefly, 1 Pet. 5:12; little in time, short, brief, Acts 14:28; Rev. 12:12; πρὸς ὀλίγ... It appears 36 times in the King James Bible.
The word oligos (G3641) appears 36 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3641 is oligos, a Greek word defined as: little, small, in number, etc.; pl. few, Mt. 7:14; 9:37; 20:16; Lk. 13:23; δι’ ὀλίγων, i.e. λόγων, in a few words, briefly, 1 Pet. 5:12; little in tim. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
oligos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.