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לָחַץ

𐤋𐤇𐤑

lâchats

H3905 verb

SILEX Entry

Root לָחַץ to press, to squeeze, to exert pressure

Definition

To press or squeeze tightly; to exert pressure on physically or figuratively. In extended usage, to oppress, subject to hardship, treat harshly or forcefully. The semantic range encompasses literal pressing or squeezing, and is most often used figuratively in the Hebrew Bible for acts of oppression, coercion, or imposition of hardship upon others by individuals or groups.

Semantic Range

to press physically, to crush, to constrain, to oppress, to subject to hardship, to coerce, to overwhelm, to afflict by force

Root / Etymology

Root: לחץ. The root meaning relates to pressing, pushing, or exerting force. The derived verbal form לָחַץ takes on both literal and metaphorical senses: literally pressing something physically, but more frequently expressing pressure exerted through oppression or harsh treatment. Not to be confused with other roots meaning 'to afflict' (ענה) or 'to oppress' (עשק), though sometimes used in parallel.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, לָחַץ frequently describes social or political oppression, especially of vulnerable groups such as the poor, resident foreigners, or Israelites under foreign dominion. Texts from the monarchic and exilic periods especially employ the term to depict abuses of power or conditions of subjugation. The term is less common for physical, literal pressing—its primary nuance is relational or societal distress caused by human agents. English translations often render it as 'oppress,' 'crush,' or 'afflict,' but may at times blend its distinct emphasis on pressured, coercive treatment with other Hebrew roots for affliction or injustice. Unlike some synonyms, לחץ emphasizes the intensity or forcefulness of the act more than its legality or injustice. In post-biblical Hebrew, the sense of oppression continues but may be less frequent, with later terms developing more precise legal or social connotations.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to press, i.e. (figuratively) to distress; afflict, crush, force, hold fast, oppress(-or), thrust self.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

לחץ (l-ḥ-ṣ) — to press, to squeeze, to exert pressure

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3906 לַחַץ in the pressing-distress

Word Forms

16 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3905-02 לָחַ֞ץ lachats HVqp3ms oppressed he pressed 3
H3905-07 לֹחֲצִ֥ים lochatsim HVqrmpa are oppressing those who press hard 2
H3905-01 הַ/לֹּחֲצִ֖ים halochatsim HTd/Vqrmpa that oppressed the ones who press 1
H3905-16 יִלְחָצֵֽ/נִי yilechatseni HVqi3ms/Sp1cs oppresses me he presses me 1
H3905-06 לֹחֲצֵי/כֶ֑ם lochatseykhem HVqrmpc/Sp2mp your oppressors your pressers 1
H3905-12 וַ/תִּלְחַ֛ץ vatilechats HC/Vqw3fs and she pressed and she pressed 1
H3905-10 וּ/לְחַצְתֶּ֤ם ulechatsetem HC/Vqq2mp and hold him fast and you pressed 1
H3905-11 וַ/תִּלָּחֵץ֙ vatilachets HC/VNw3fs and she pressed she was pressed 1
H3905-13 וַ/יִּלְחֲצ֧וּ vayilechatsu HC/Vqw3mp and pressed and they pressed 1
H3905-04 לֹחֲצָֽי/ו lochatsayv HVqrmpc/Sp3ms his oppressors his pressers 1

Occurrences in Scripture

19 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3905-07 Exodus 3:9 לֹחֲצִ֥ים lochatsim HVqrmpa are oppressing those who press hard
H3905-09 Exodus 22:20 תִלְחָצֶ֑/נּוּ tilechatsenu HVqi2ms/Sp3ms you-shall-oppress-him you will press him
H3905-08 Exodus 23:9 תִלְחָ֑ץ tilechats HVqi2ms you shall oppress you press
H3905-11 Numbers 22:25 וַ/תִּלָּחֵץ֙ vatilachets HC/VNw3fs and she pressed she was pressed
H3905-12 Numbers 22:25 וַ/תִּלְחַ֛ץ vatilechats HC/Vqw3fs and she pressed and she pressed
H3905-13 Judges 1:34 וַ/יִּלְחֲצ֧וּ vayilechatsu HC/Vqw3mp and pressed and they pressed
H3905-05 Judges 2:18 לֹחֲצֵי/הֶ֖ם lochatseyhem HVqrmpc/Sp3mp their-oppressors the ones pressing them
H3905-02 Judges 4:3 לָחַ֞ץ lachats HVqp3ms had oppressed he pressed
H3905-06 Judges 6:9 לֹחֲצֵי/כֶ֑ם lochatseykhem HVqrmpc/Sp2mp your oppressors your pressers
H3905-03 Judges 10:12 לָחֲצ֖וּ lachatsu HVqp3cp oppressed they pressed
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