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נָגַשׂ

𐤍𐤂𐤔

nâgas

H5065 verb

SILEX Entry

Root נגשׂ to press, enforce, compel, oppress

Definition

To press forcefully or closely upon someone, especially in the sense of imposing labor, exaction of tribute, or exerting coercive authority over a person or group. Frequently denotes the role of one who imposes forced labor, exacts tribute, or otherwise acts as an agent of oppression. In various contexts, also conveys the act of driving or pressing forward, whether with physical force (animals, armies) or with authority (laborers, debtors).

Semantic Range

to press, to enforce labor, to exact tribute, to drive (an animal or person), to oppress, to act as a taskmaster, to subject to forced labor, to tax, to harass, to conscript, to coerce

Root / Etymology

From the root נגשׂ, which fundamentally means 'to press, approach, enforce upon.' The verb נָגַשׂ primarily developed the specialized meaning of compelling or constraining another, especially through force or authority. The root is distinct from נגשׁ ('to approach, come near'), though similar in spelling; the semantic development in נָגַשׂ has to do largely with forceful pressure or oppression rather than merely proximity.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, נָגַשׂ most often describes the actions of those with authority who enforce forced labor, tribute, or taxation, such as royal administrators, overseers, or foreign powers. The term is especially significant in Exodus, describing Egyptian overseers who pressed the Israelites into harsh labor, and in later books for monarchic or imperial officials who exact tribute or taxes. The noun form (נֹגֵשׂ, 'taskmaster') is often used for such overseers. Over time, the verb comes to encompass broader senses of oppression and coercion, not only in labor but also in taxation and general harassment by those in power. In some late biblical texts, the meaning may generalize to any form of heavy-handed oppression. Standard English translations like 'oppress' or 'taskmaster' capture key meanings, but can obscure non-labor contexts (such as taxation or military conscription). Not to be confused with נגשׁ ('to draw near'), which has a neutral or positive sense of approach. The semantic range in post-biblical Hebrew narrows to the sense of 'oppress,' but in biblical usage, it remains contextually varied.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to drive (an animal, a workman, a debtor, an army); by implication, to tax, harass, tyrannize; distress, driver, exact(-or), oppress(-or), [idiom] raiser of taxes, taskmaster.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נגשׂ (n-g-ś) — press, enforce, compel, oppress

Word Forms

14 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5065-06 נֹגֵ֔שׂ noges HVqrmsa a tax collector oppressor 6
H5065-05 נִגַּ֖שׂ nigas HVNp3ms He was oppressed he was pressed upon 3
H5065-07 נֹֽגְשָׂ֔י/ו nogesayv HVqrmpc/Sp3ms its oppressors his pressing-ones 2
H5065-08 נֹגְשֵׂ֤י nogesey HVqrmpc the taskmasters of pressing enforcers of 2
H5065-14 יִגֹּ֤שׂ yigos HVqi3ms he-shall-exact/press he will press 1
H5065-13 וְ/נֹגְשַׂ֖יִ/ךְ venogesayikhe HC/Vqrmpc/Sp2fs and your taskmasters and your oppressors 1
H5065-10 תִּנְגֹּֽשׂוּ tinegosu HVqi2mp you exact you press 1
H5065-03 הַ/נֹּגְשִׂ֣ים hanogesim HTd/Vqrmpa the taskmasters the pressing-ones 1
H5065-09 תִּגֹּ֑שׂ tigos HVqi2ms you may exact you will compel 1
H5065-11 וְ/הַ/נֹּגְשִׂ֖ים vehanogesim HC/Td/Vqrmpa And the taskmasters and the enforcers 1

Occurrences in Scripture

23 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5065-07 Exodus 3:7 נֹֽגְשָׂ֔י/ו nogesayv HVqrmpc/Sp3ms their taskmasters, his pressing-ones
H5065-03 Exodus 5:6 הַ/נֹּגְשִׂ֣ים hanogesim HTd/Vqrmpa the taskmasters the pressing-ones
H5065-08 Exodus 5:10 נֹגְשֵׂ֤י nogesey HVqrmpc the taskmasters of pressing enforcers of
H5065-11 Exodus 5:13 וְ/הַ/נֹּגְשִׂ֖ים vehanogesim HC/Td/Vqrmpa And the taskmasters and the enforcers
H5065-08 Exodus 5:14 נֹגְשֵׂ֥י nogesey HVqrmpc the taskmasters of pressing enforcers of
H5065-14 Deuteronomy 15:2 יִגֹּ֤שׂ yigos HVqi3ms he-shall-exact/press he will press
H5065-09 Deuteronomy 15:3 תִּגֹּ֑שׂ tigos HVqi2ms you may exact you will compel
H5065-05 1 Samuel 13:6 נִגַּ֖שׂ nigas HVNp3ms pressed he was pressed upon
H5065-05 1 Samuel 14:24 נִגַּ֖שׂ nigas HVNp3ms were hard pressed he was pressed upon
H5065-04 2 Kings 23:35 נָגַ֞שׂ nagas HVqp3ms he-exacted he enforced labor
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