עָקָה
𐤏𐤒𐤄
ʻâqâh
H6125 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A state or condition of distress resulting from external constraint or oppression; refers to circumstances marked by severe hardship or affliction caused by adversarial circumstances.
Semantic Range
constraint, oppression, state of affliction, distress, being hemmed in by trouble, severe hardship
Root / Etymology
The word עָקָה derives from the root עוק (ע-ו-ק), which fundamentally conveys the idea of pressing, constricting, or encircling. The noun עָקָה is a nominal formation indicating a quality or condition stemming from the verb's sense of pressing or restraining.
Historical & Contextual Notes
עָקָה appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible and functions as a general term for distress brought about primarily by others' oppressive actions or external, often hostile, forces. Its use in Job 36:15, for example, emphasizes the experience of being hemmed in by trouble or adversity, possibly suggesting both psychological and physical dimensions of hardship. Unlike more specific terms for 'oppression' that reference social or legal injustice (such as עֹשֶׁק, 'oppression, extortion'), עָקָה refers broadly to a state of affliction or distress caused by being constrained or pressured. In later Hebrew literature and modern usage (including Modern Hebrew), עֲקָה retains the sense of psychological or emotional stress, but in the biblical context it denotes tangible adversity or affliction that hems in the sufferer.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עוּק; constraint; oppression.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עוק (ʿ-w-q) — to press, to constrict, to encircle
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6125-01 |
עָקַ֣ת | aqat | HNcfsc |
of the oppression | pressing-distress of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6125-01 |
Psalms 55:4 | עָקַ֣ת | aqat | HNcfsc |
of the oppression | pressing-distress of |