“Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance.”Read in Context
Modern Meaning
What Does “A drop in the bucket” Mean?
An insignificant amount compared to what is needed.
Biblical Origin
Where Does This Phrase Come From?
Isaiah uses this image to convey how insignificant even the mightiest nations are before God. The translators of the 1611 KJV rendered it with a vivid domestic image — a single drop clinging to the rim of a bucket — that became a common English expression for anything negligibly small.
The phrase appears in Isaiah 40:15 in the King James Version of the Bible, first published in 1611.
Usage Today
How Is It Used Today?
Used to describe a contribution or amount that is too small to make a meaningful difference. "The donation was generous, but it's just a drop in the bucket compared to what we need."
The KJV Verse
Isaiah 40:15
“Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance.”
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