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עָשׁוּק

𐤏𐤔𐤅𐤒

ʻâshûwq

H6217 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עָשַׁק to oppress, to extort, to exploit

Definition

Person who is oppressed, exploited, or subjected to unjust treatment; used especially of those deprived of rights, property, or justice by the actions of powerful individuals or groups. The term often describes those who are unjustly treated, marginalized, or victimized within a legal or social context.

Semantic Range

one who is oppressed, victim of exploitation or injustice, person wronged or deprived of rights; (in plural abstractly) oppression, injustice, exploitation

Root / Etymology

The word עָשׁוּק (ʻâshûwq) is the passive participle form of the root עָשַׁק (ʻashaq), which means 'to oppress, exploit, wrong, extort.' The participle form signifies someone who is the recipient of oppression or exploitation. The plural forms (עֲשׁוּקִים or עֲשׁוּקוֹת) can be used abstractly to denote 'oppression' in general. Root: ע-שׁ-ק.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, עָשׁוּק typically refers to individuals or groups who experience injustice, particularly social and economic exploitation (see, e.g., Ecclesiastes 4:1; Isaiah 1:17). The term is often used to highlight legal and societal failure to protect vulnerable persons. In prophetic texts, the plight of the עָשׁוּק is tied to demands for justice and righteousness. While later English translations sometimes render the plural abstractly ('oppression'), the original sense almost always focuses on the persons being mistreated rather than the abstract concept. The word is similar in meaning to דַּל (dal, 'poor, weak') and עָנִי (ani, 'afflicted, humble'), but specifically emphasizes unjust treatment by others. There is no evidence for a shift in meaning across major biblical time periods, but usage in Wisdom and Prophetic literature often has heightened rhetorical force. The translation ‘oppressed’ is generally accurate, but ‘one who is exploited, wronged, or deprived of justice’ better captures the social dynamic implied.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or עָשֻׁק; passive participle of עָשַׁק; used in plural masculine as abstractly, tyranny; oppressed(-ion). (Doubtful.)

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עשק (ʿ-š-q) — oppress, extort, exploit

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4642 מַעֲשַׁקָּה acts of exploitation
H6216 עָשׁוֹק oppressor
H6229 עָשַׂק they oppressed one another
H6230 עֵשֶׂק Contention
H6231 עָשַׁק he oppressed

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6217-02 הָ֣/עֲשֻׁקִ֔ים haashuqim HTd/Vqsmpa the oppressed ones 2
H6217-03 וַ/עֲשׁוּקִ֖ים vaashuqim HC/Ncmpa the oppressed oppressed ones 1
H6217-01 עֲשׁוּקִ֣ים ashuqim HNcmpa of oppressions oppressed ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6217-03 Amos 3:9 וַ/עֲשׁוּקִ֖ים vaashuqim HC/Ncmpa the oppressed oppressed ones
H6217-01 Job 35:9 עֲשׁוּקִ֣ים ashuqim HNcmpa of oppressions oppressed ones
H6217-02 Ecclesiastes 4:1 הָ֣/עֲשֻׁקִ֔ים haashuqim HTd/Vqsmpa the oppressed ones
H6217-02 Ecclesiastes 4:1 הָ/עֲשֻׁקִ֗ים haashuqim-2 HTd/Vqsmpa the oppressed ones
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