Bible Dictionary
WAY, LITTLE
“A little way” translates an undefined Hebrew measure of distance. It indicates some distance or a short journey, but the exact length cannot be determined.
Definition
“A little way” is an English rendering of an undefined Hebrew measure of distance. It indicates some distance or a journey of limited extent without specifying an exact length.
Biblical Usage
The expression appears in accounts involving Rachel’s death, Jacob’s journey, and Naaman’s departure. Revised translations use some way or some distance.
Historical Background
The Hebrew term is also found in Phoenician inscriptions as a measure of distance, but its precise extent is not known.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>(kibhrah, "length," "a measure"): A technical measure of distance in the Hebrew; but it must be considered undefined (Ge 35:16; 48:7 the King James Version, the English Revised Version "some way," the American Standard Revised Version "some distance"; 2Ki 5:19, the English Revised Version "some way," the American Revised Version margin "some distance"). The Hebrew term kibhrah is also found in Phoenician inscriptions as a measure of distance.</p>