H3906 H3906
Oppression, distress — crushing pressure exerted by a hostile power, especially foreign domination
The noun לַחַץ (lachats) denotes the crushing pressure of oppression, typically inflicted by a foreign power or harsh authority. Its theological weight derives from the Exodus narrative: God declares 'I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them' (Exod 3:9), and Israel is to remember that the LORD delivered them from Egypt's oppression (Deut 26:7). The judges cycle repeatedly invokes it — when Israel cried out under the pressure of enemies, God raised up deliverers (Judg 2:18; 4:3; 6:9; 10:12). Second Kings 13:4 records how Hazael's oppression of Israel moved the king to seek the LORD's face. Spanish 'opresión' and French 'affliction' both convey the sociopolitical weight.
Senses
1. oppression, distress — The crushing pressure or distress of oppression, typically from foreign enemies or harsh overlords. The foundational usage is God's acknowledgment of Egypt's oppression of Israel (Exod 3:9), recalled in liturgical confession (Deut 26:7). The judges cycle uses it repeatedly for the hostile pressure that drives Israel to cry out for deliverance (Judg 2:18; 4:3; 6:9; 10:12). Aram's oppression under Hazael (2 Kgs 13:4, 22) and the psalmist's cry against oppressors (Ps 42:10; 43:2; 44:25) round out the usage. Spanish 'opresión' and English 'oppression' both capture the political and existential weight. 12×
AR["الضَّغْطِ", "الضِّيقَ", "الضِّيقِ", "بِ-الضّيقِ", "بِ-ضيقِ", "ضِيقٍ", "ضِيقَ", "ضِيقَنَا", "وَضيقَنا"]·ben["অত্যাচার", "অত্যাচারে", "আমাদের-নিপীড়ন", "ও-উৎপীড়ন-আমাদের", "কষ্টে", "কষ্টের", "চাপ-এর", "দ্বারা-চাপ", "পীড়ন"]·DE["[בלחץ]", "[לחץ]", "affliction", "der-Unterdrueckung", "oppression-von", "und-unser-oppression", "unser-oppression", "weil-von-oppression-von"]·EN["affliction", "and-our-oppression", "because-of-oppression-of", "in-oppression", "of-oppression", "oppression", "oppression-of", "our-oppression", "the-oppression"]·FR["[לחץ]", "affliction", "dans-oppression", "et-à-oppression", "le-oppression", "notre-oppression", "oppression-de", "בלחץ"]·heb["ב-לחץ", "ה-לחץ", "ו-לחצינ-ו", "לחץ", "לחצנו"]·HI["अत्यचार", "और-सताव-हमारा", "कष्ट-का", "का-कष्ट", "की-कष्ट", "दबाव", "में-पीड़ा", "संकट-का", "संकट-की", "संकट-में", "संकट-हमारा"]·ID["dalam-penindasan", "kesengsaraan", "kesukaran", "penindasan", "penindasan-kami"]·IT["[לחץ]", "afflizione", "e-oppressione", "il-oppressione", "nel-in-oppression", "nostro-oppression", "oppression-di", "oppressione"]·jav["ing-panekan", "ing-tindhes", "karibedan", "kasangsaran", "lan-tindhes-kita", "panekan-kita", "panganiaya", "tindhes"]·KO["-압제-에서", "굁핸-의", "그-압제를", "그리고-우리-압제-를", "압제-를", "압제-에서", "압제의", "우리-압박을"]·PT["a-opressão", "aflição", "e-nossa-opressão", "na-opressão", "na-opressão-do", "nossa-opressão", "opressão", "opressão-de", "por-opressao-de"]·RU["в-угнетении", "и-угнетение-наше", "от-угнетения", "скудной", "скудным", "скудости", "угнетение", "угнетение-наше", "угнетения"]·ES["aflicción", "en-la-opresión", "la-opresión", "nuestra-opresión", "opresión", "opresión-de", "por-opresión-de", "y-nuestra-opresión"]·SW["dhiki-ya", "dhiki-yetu", "katika-dhiki", "kwa-uonevu-wa", "na-uonevu-wetu", "shida", "uonevu", "wa-dhiki", "ya-dhiki", "ya-taabu"]·TR["-baskısında", "baskinini", "baskıda", "baskımızı", "baskıyı", "sıkıntı", "sıkıntılı", "sıkıntısını", "ve-baskımızı"]·urd["اور-ہمارا-دباؤ", "تنگی-کا", "تنگی-کی", "دباؤ میں", "دباؤ-میں", "ظلم", "مصیبت", "مصیبت-کا", "ہمارا-دُکھ"]
Related Senses
H7965 1. peace, absence of conflict (198×)H3467 1. save, deliver, rescue (Hifil active) (156×)H5127 1. flee, run away (Qal) (144×)G1515 1. peace, well-being, harmony (93×)H8002 1. peace offering(s) (87×)G4982 1. save spiritually, grant salvation (79×)H3444 1. salvation, deliverance (67×)H4422 1. Nifal: escape, flee (63×)H1272 1. flee, run away (Qal) (58×)H6869b 1. distress, trouble (57×)G4991 1. of salvation (46×)G2347 1. tribulation, affliction, distress (45×)H0983 1. security, safety, confidence (42×)H6031b 1. Piel: afflict, oppress (42×)H6040 1. affliction, misery, suffering (36×)H3468 1. salvation, deliverance (33×)G5343 1. flee, run away (28×)H3467 2. savior, deliverer (Hifil participle substantive) (28×)H8668 1. salvation, deliverance (27×)H8252 1. be quiet, be at rest (26×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† לַ֫חַץ n.m. oppression, distress;—ל׳ abs. 1 K 22:27(×2) + 5 times; cstr. 2 K 13:4 + 2 times; sf. לַחֲצֵ֫נוּ Dt 26:4 ψ 44:25;—oppression of Isr. Ex 3:9 (E; + vb. cogn.), 2 K 13:4 cf. Dt 26:7 (‖ עֳנִי, עָמָל) ψ 44:25 (‖ עֳנִי); oppr. of (i.e. by) an enemy, ψ 42:10; 43:2; in gen. Jb 36:15 (‖ עֳנִי); לֶחֶם ל׳ וּמַיִם ל׳ 1 K 22:27 = 2 Ch 18:26 bread of oppression and water of oppression, i. e.…