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עָשַׂק

𐤏𐤔𐤒

ʻâsaq

H6229 verb

SILEX Entry

Root עשק to oppress, to exploit, to wrong

Definition

To oppress, exploit, or wrong by force or deceit; to act violently or unjustly toward another. The verb indicates exerting power over someone in a way that deprives them of rightful property, justice, or well-being, whether through physical force, exploitation, or legal manipulation. The semantic range includes both literal and figurative oppression, including extortion, robbing, and subjecting others to hardship.

Semantic Range

to oppress, exploit, wrong, defraud, extort, treat violently or unjustly, subject to hardship; to withhold rightful wages or property; to act with economic or social violence

Root / Etymology

Root/Etymology: From the root עָשַׂק, commonly attested in several Semitic languages, meaning 'to oppress' or 'to extort.' While the root עָשַׁק (with shin) may share cognate development, עָשַׂק (with samekh) in Biblical Hebrew is consistently associated with acts of oppression, especially economic or social.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Historical & Contextual Notes: עָשַׂק occurs primarily in legal, prophetic, and wisdom contexts where concern for social justice is central. In the Torah and Former Prophets, it often addresses crimes against property or person—emphasizing illicit gain through coercion, deception, or abuse of power (e.g. Leviticus 19:13). In the Prophets and Psalms, it becomes a central term of prophetic social critique, censuring the elite for oppressing vulnerable Israelites. The term is distinct from גָּזַל (gazal, to rob or seize by violence), focusing more upon oppression and systemic injustice than simple theft. English translations as 'oppress,' 'defraud,' or 'exploit' often capture the core idea, but sometimes understate the broader cultural resonance of the term, which includes judicial corruption and social deprivation. Over the biblical period, the term remains consistently pejorative and associated with ethical, legal, and religious wrongdoing, not merely interpersonal quarrels or disputes.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root (identical with עָשַׁק); to press upon, i.e. quarrel; strive with.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עשק (ʿ-ś-q) — oppression, exploitation, wrongful deprivation

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4642 מַעֲשַׁקָּה acts of exploitation
H6216 עָשׁוֹק oppressor
H6217 עָשׁוּק oppressed ones
H6230 עֵשֶׂק Contention
H6231 עָשַׁק he oppressed

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6229-01 הִֽתְעַשְּׂק֖וּ hiteasequ HVtp3cp they contended they oppressed one another 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6229-01 Genesis 26:20 הִֽתְעַשְּׂק֖וּ hiteasequ HVtp3cp they contended they oppressed one another
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