← H6230 H6232 →

עָשַׁק

𐤏𐤔𐤒

ʻâshaq

H6231 verb

SILEX Entry

Root עַשַׁק to oppress, to exploit, to extort

Definition

To oppress or exploit, particularly through the unjust withholding of what rightfully belongs to another, such as wages, property, or legal rights. The word primarily conveys a sense of ruthless or forceful deprivation, typically of the vulnerable by those in power. In some contexts it can denote extortion or acts of exploitation, and, more rarely, the act of forcibly consuming or draining resources from another.

Semantic Range

to oppress, to exploit, to extort, to withhold wages or rights, to mistreat (in a legal or economic sense), to drain or consume resources forcibly, to defraud

Root / Etymology

From the triliteral root עשק (ʿ-š-q), meaning 'to press, squeeze, oppress.' The verbal form עָשַׁק (ʿāshaq) carries a nuance of pressure leading to abuse, especially in economic or legal relationships. It is related in sound but likely not in direct derivation to עָשַׂק (ʿāsaq, H6232), which has a similar meaning in some dialectal forms.

Historical & Contextual Notes

עָשַׁק appears chiefly in legal, prophetic, and wisdom texts to denote social or economic oppression, especially of vulnerable groups such as laborers, widows, and orphans (e.g., Leviticus 19:13, Jeremiah 21:12). The term emphasizes acts where power is used to deprive others of what is due to them, or to exploit them for personal gain. In poetic texts it may be broadened figuratively to the idea of consuming or draining. English translations often use the word 'oppress,' but this can obscure the economic or legal focus of the term in biblical contexts. The cognate Aramaic and Northwest Semitic roots reinforce the notion of unjust gain or harsh use of power. In post-exilic texts, the term retains this nuance but may appear in broader lists describing types of ethical wrongdoing, sometimes overlapping with other terms for violence or injustice. The verb is sometimes juxtaposed with terms for 'robbery' (גזל, gazal) or 'violence' (חמס, ḥamas), but specifically highlights injustice through misuse of authority rather than outright theft or violent assault.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root (compare עָשַׂק); to press upon, i.e. oppress, defraud, violate, overflow; get deceitfully, deceive, defraud, drink up, (use) oppress(-ion), -or), do violence (wrong).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

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

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4642 מַעֲשַׁקָּה acts of exploitation
H6216 עָשׁוֹק oppressor
H6217 עָשׁוּק oppressed ones
H6229 עָשַׂק they oppressed one another
H6230 עֵשֶׂק Contention

Word Forms

22 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6231-14 עוֹשֵׁ֑ק osheq HVqrmsa oppresses ruthless oppression 4
H6231-06 עָשׁ֧וּק ashuq HVqsmsa oppressed oppressed one 4
H6231-01 עָשַׁ֥ק ashaq HVqp3ms he oppressed he oppressed 3
H6231-16 תַעֲשֹׁ֥ק taashoq HVqi2ms you oppress you oppress 3
H6231-07 עֲשׁוּקִ֛ים ashuqim HVqsmpa are oppressed oppressed ones 2
H6231-12 לְ/עָשְׁקָ֑/ם leasheqam HR/Vqc/Sp3mp to oppress them to oppress them 2
H6231-05 עָ֣שְׁקוּ ashequ HVqp3cp have oppressed they oppressed 2
H6231-17 תַֽעֲשֹׁ֔קוּ taashoqu HVqi2mp oppress you oppress 2
H6231-20 וְ/עֹשֵׁ֣ק veosheq HC/Vqrmsa who oppresses oppression 1
H6231-18 וּ/בְ/עֹשְׁקֵ֣י uveosheqey HC/R/Vqrmpc and-against-oppressors-of oppressors of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

36 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6231-01 Leviticus 5:21 עָשַׁ֥ק ashaq HVqp3ms he-oppresses he oppressed
H6231-01 Leviticus 5:23 עָשָׁ֔ק ashaq HVqp3ms he oppressed he oppressed
H6231-16 Leviticus 19:13 תַעֲשֹׁ֥ק taashoq HVqi2ms you-shall-oppress you oppress
H6231-16 Deuteronomy 24:14 תַעֲשֹׁ֥ק taashoq HVqi2ms you shall oppress you oppress
H6231-06 Deuteronomy 28:29 עָשׁ֧וּק ashuq HVqsmsa oppressed oppressed one
H6231-06 Deuteronomy 28:33 עָשׁ֥וּק ashuq HVqsmsa oppressed oppressed one
H6231-03 1 Samuel 12:3 עָשַׁ֨קְתִּי֙ ashaqeti HVqp1cs have I oppressed I oppressed
H6231-02 1 Samuel 12:4 עֲשַׁקְתָּ֖/נוּ ashaqetanu HVqp2ms/Sp1cp defrauded us you oppressed us
H6231-08 Isaiah 23:12 הַֽ/מְעֻשָּׁקָ֞ה hameushaqah HTd/VPsfsa O oppressed one the oppressed woman
H6231-04 Isaiah 52:4 עֲשָׁקֽ/וֹ ashaqo HVqp3ms/Sp3ms oppressed them he exploited him
← H6230 Hebrew Lexicon H6232 →