Search / H6231
H6231 H6231
Prep-l | V-Qal-Inf | 3mp  |  36× in 5 senses
Oppress, wrong, extort; as participle: oppressor (active) or oppressed person (passive) — from עָשַׁק
The verb עָשַׁק denotes oppression that specifically involves economic exploitation and abuse of power over the vulnerable. Unlike חָמַס (raw violence) or לָחַץ (external pressure), עָשַׁק carries overtones of extortion and fraudulent seizure — taking what belongs to another by leveraging one's position. Leviticus 19:13 pairs it with withholding a worker's wages; Amos 4:1 accuses the wealthy women of Samaria of 'oppressing the poor.' Samuel's farewell speech uses it as a test of integrity: 'Whom have I oppressed?' (1 Sam 12:3-4). The Syriac cognate ܥܫܰܩ meaning 'accuse, slander' and the Arabic عَسَقٌ 'roughness, injustice' confirm the semantic core of wrongful, coercive treatment. Both active and passive participles are common, creating a matched pair of 'oppressor' and 'oppressed' that runs through the Psalms and Proverbs.

Senses
1. oppress, exploit The core verbal meaning: to oppress, exploit, or wrong another person through abuse of power, typically involving economic extortion or seizure of property. The Holiness Code forbids it alongside robbery and wage-theft (Lev 19:13; 6:2, 4). Deuteronomy 24:14 prohibits oppressing a hired servant who is poor. Samuel asks Israel to testify whether he has ever oppressed anyone (1 Sam 12:3-4). Micah 2:2 condemns those who covet fields and 'oppress' their owners. Spanish 'defraudar/oprimir' captures both the fraudulent and coercive dimensions. Hosea 12:8 exposes Ephraim's love of 'oppressing' in commerce. 18×
VIOLENCE_CONFLICT Violence, Harm, Destroy, Kill Oppression and Tyranny
AR["اسْتَظْلَمُوا","تَظْلِمَ","تَظْلِمُ","تَظْلِمُوا","تَظْلِمُونَ","تَظْلِمْ","تَظْلِمْنَا","ظَلَمَ","ظَلَمَهُ","ظَلَمُوا","ظَلَمْتُ","لِ-يَظْلِمَهُمْ","لِيَظلِمَ","وَ-يَظْلِمُونَ","يَظلِمهُم","يَظْلِمْنِي"]·ben["অত্যাচার-করতে-তাদের","অত্যাচার-করবে","আপনি-উৎপীড়ন-করেন","আপনি-জুলুম-করেছেন-আমাদেরকে","আমি-জুলুম-করেছি","এবং-তারা-অত্যাচার-করে","জুলুম-করে","জুলুম-করেছে","জুলুম-করেছে-তারা","তাকে-অত্যাচার-করেছিল","তাদের-উৎপীড়ন-করতে","তারা-অত্যাচার-করুক","তোমরা-জুলুম-করবে","নিপীড়ন-করবে","নির্যাতন","শোষণ-করতে","শোষণ-করেছে"]·DE["[ועשקו]","[לעשק]","[לעשקם]","[עשק]","[עשקו]","[תעשק]","[תעשקו]","du-oppressed-uns","du-soll-unterdruecken","er-unterdrueckte","hat-unterdrueckte","ich-oppressed","lass-unterdrücken-mich","unterdruecken","zu-unterdrücken-ihnen"]·EN["I-oppressed","You-oppress","and-they-oppress","has-oppressed","have-oppressed","he-oppressed","let-oppress-me","oppress","oppressed-him","they-oppress","to-oppress","to-oppress-them","you-oppressed-us","you-shall-oppress"]·FR["[לעשקם]","[עשקו]","[תעשקו]","a-opprimé","et-opprimer","il-opprimé","je-opprimé","oppress","opprimer","tu-devra-oppress","tu-opprimé-nous","à-opprimer"]·heb["ו-עשקו","יעשקוני","ל-עשוק","ל-עשקם","ל-עשקם-ם","עשק","עשקו","עשקתי","עשקתנו","תעשוק","תעשקו"]·HI["अत्याचार-करो","अत्याचार-किया","अत्याचार-किया-उन्होंने","अन्याय-किया","अन्याय-किया-तूने-हमें","उन्हें-सताने-के-लिए","और-दबाते-हैं","जुल्म-करोगे","ठगने-के-लिए","तुम-सताओ","तू-अत्याचार-करे","शोषण-करेगा","शोषण-किया-उसने","सताने"]·ID["Engkau-menindas","biarkan-mereka-menindas-aku","dan-menindas","engkau-telah-menindas-kami","ia-memeras","ia-menindas","ia-telah-menindas","kamu-menindas","kamu-tindas","melakukan-penindasan","menindas","menindasnya","mereka-tindas","untuk-menindas-mereka","yang-telah-kutindas"]·IT["You-oppress","[לעשקם]","e-opprimere","egli-oppresse","ha-oppresse","io-oppresse","oppresse","opprimere","tu-dovra-opprimere","tu-oppresse-noi"]·jav["Panjenengan-nindhes","kanggé-nindhes","kawula-nindhes","lan-ningkah","memeras","nindas-piyambakipun","nindhes","nindhes-panjenengan","nindhes-piyambakipun","nipu","panjenengan-nindhes","panjenengan-nindhes-kita","piyambakipun-nindas","sami-nyiksa","sami-tresna","tiyang-tiyang-gumunggung-nindhes-kula"]·KO["그들-을-압제하기를","그리고-억압한다","당신이-압제하는-것이","압박했느냐-나는","압박했다-우리를-당신이","압제하라","압제하리라","압제하였느니라","압제하였다","압제하지","압제하지-말게-하소서-나-를","압제할-것이다-너는","압제했다","억압하면","억압한","에-압제하다-그들-을","에-압제하려고"]·PT["e-oprimem","extorquiu","me-oprimam","o-oprimiu","oprimais","oprimas","oprimi","oprimir","oprimiram","oprimirdes","oprimirás","oprimiste-nos","oprimiu","os-oprimisse","para-oprimi-los"]·RU["без-","и-притесняют","притеснил","притесняй","притесняйте","притеснял","притеснял-его","притеснял-ты-нас","притеснял-я","притесняли","притеснять","притеснять-их","притесняют-меня","угнетаешь"]·ES["defraudare","defraudó","lo-oprimió","me-opriman","nos-oprimiste","oprimas,","oprimieron","oprimir","oprimirlos","oprimirás","oprimiréis","oprimió","oprimáis","oprimí","y-oprimen"]·SW["alidhulumu","amemdhulumu","kudhulumu","kuwadhulumu","kuwaonea","msiwaonee","na-wanadhulumu","nimemdhulumu","umetudanganya","unaonea","utamdhulumu","wadhulumu","wakanidhulumu","waliwatesa","wamedhulumu"]·TR["ezersin","ezmelerine","ezmezseniz","onlara-zulmetsin-diye","soyarsa","soydu","soydum","soydun-bizi","sömüreceksin","ve-zulmederler","zorbalık-etti","zorbalık-ettiler","zorbalık-yapmayı","zulmetmeyin","zulmetti-onu","ȩzmesinler-beni"]·urd["اور-ظلم-کرتے-ہیں","اُن-پر-ظلم-کرنے","ستاؤ","ظلم-کر","ظلم-کرنا","ظلم-کرو","ظلم-کریں-مجھ-پر","ظلم-کرے","ظلم-کیا","ظلم-کیا-اُن-پر","ظلم-کیا-میں-نے","ظلم-کیا-ہم-پر-تُو-نے"]
2. oppressor The Qal active participle עֹשֵׁק used as a substantive: 'the oppressor,' one who habitually oppresses. Proverbs deploys this form memorably: 'whoever oppresses the poor insults his Maker' (Prov 14:31); the rich who oppress the poor to increase wealth ultimately lose it (Prov 22:16); 'a poor man who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no food' (Prov 28:3). The psalmist pleads for protection from 'my oppressors' (Ps 119:121) and asks the king to crush 'the oppressor' (Ps 72:4). Amos 4:1 uses the feminine plural for the indolent women of Samaria. Spanish 'el que oprime' transparently marks the agentive function.
VIOLENCE_CONFLICT Violence, Harm, Destroy, Kill Oppression and Tyranny
AR["الظالِماتِ","الظَّالِمِ","الظّالِمَ","ظالِمُ","لِ-ظَالِمِيَّ","مَنْ-يَظْلِمُ","وَ-ظالِمٌ","وَعَلَى-ظَالِمِي","يَدِ"]·ben["-যারা-আমাকে-অত্যাচার-করে-তাদের-কাছে","অত্যাচারিণীরা","এবং-যারা-প্রতারণা-করে","এবং-যে-নিপীড়ন-করে","নিপীড়ককে।","নিপীড়নকারীদের-তাদের","যে-অত্যাচার-করে","যে-নির্যাতন-করে","শোষকের"]·DE["[העשקות]","[ובעשקי]","[ועשק]","[עושק]","[עשק]","[עשקיהם]","der-oppressor","zu-mein-oppressors"]·EN["and-against-those-oppressing","and-oppressing","he-who-oppresses","oppresses","oppressor","the-ones-oppressing","the-oppressor","their-oppressors","to-my-oppressors"]·FR["[עושק]","et-opprimer","opprimer","opprimer-eux","à-opprimer"]·heb["ה-עוֹשקוֹת","ו-ב-עושקי","ו-עושק","ל-עושקיי","עושק","עושקיהם"]·HI["अत्याचार-करनेवाला","अत्याचारी-को","उनके-अत्याचारियों-के","और-अत्याचारी","और-में-शोषकों","जो-सताती-हो","शोषण-करने-वाले-के","शोषण-करनेवाला"]·ID["Siapa-menindas","Yang-menindas","dan-terhadap-yang-menindas","kepada-penindas-penindas","penindas","penindas-penindas-mereka","yang-menindas"]·IT["e-e-oppressing","e-opprimere","egli-chi-oppresses","loro-oppressors-loro","oppresse","oppresses","opprimere"]·jav["dhateng-tiyang-tiyang-ingkang-nindhes-kula","kang-nindhes","lan-dhumateng-kang-nèken","lan-nindhes","tiyang-ingkang-nindhas","tiyang-ingkang-nindhes","tiyang-ingkang-nindhes-sami","tiyang-kang-nganiaya","tiyang-kang-nindhes"]·KO["그리고-압제하는-자가","그리고-에-억압하는-자들","나-를-압제하는-자들-에게","압제자-를","압제자들-그들의","압제하는-자-는","압제하는-자는","압제하는-자의","학대하는-자들"]·PT["Opressor-de","Quem-oprime","aos-meus-opressores","as-que-oprimem","e-contra-os-que-oprimem","e-opressor-de","o-opressor","opressor","opressores-seus"]·RU["и-притесняющий","и-против-угнетающих","притеснителя","притеснителям-моим","притесняющие","притесняющий","угнетающих-их -"]·ES["El-que-oprime","El-que-oprime-al","a-opresores-de-mí","al-opresor","las-que-oprimen","opresor","sus-opresores","y-contra-los-que-oprimen","y-que-oprime"]·SW["amdhulumaye","anayemdhulumu","kwa-wanaonidhulumu","mdhalimu","mnaowanyonya","na-anayewadhuluumu","na-dhidi-ya-wanaowakandamiza","wadhulumiaji-wao"]·TR["ezen","ezenler","ezenlerinin","ve-ezen","ve-sömürenlere-karşı","zalimi","zalimlerime","zorbanın"]·urd["-ظلم-کرنے-والیاں","اور-دبانے-والوں","اور-ظلم-کرنے-والا","ظالم-کو","ظالم-کے","ظالموں-کو","ظالموں-کے-ان-کے","ظلم-کرنے-والا"]
3. oppressed (person) The Qal passive participle עָשׁוּק used as a substantive: 'the oppressed,' the person who suffers exploitation. Deuteronomy 28:29, 33 warns Israel that disobedience will leave them 'oppressed and crushed continually.' The Psalms celebrate God as the champion of the oppressed: 'the LORD executes justice for the oppressed' (Ps 146:7; 103:6). Isaiah 23:12 addresses Sidon as 'oppressed virgin daughter.' Spanish 'oprimido/oprimidos' and English 'oppressed' consistently mark this passive-experiential sense, forming the natural counterpart to sense 2.
VIOLENCE_CONFLICT Violence, Harm, Destroy, Kill Oppression and Tyranny
AR["المَظلومين","الْمَظْلُومَةُ","لِـ-المَظْلُومِينَ","مَظلومٌ","مَظْلُومًا","مَظْلُومُونَ"]·ben["-নির্যাতিতা","নিপীড়িত","নির্যাতিত","নির্যাতিতদের-জন্য"]·DE["[המעשקה]","[עשוק]","[עשוקים]","der-unterdrückt","für-der-unterdrückt","unterdrueckte"]·EN["Oppressed","for-the-oppressed","oppressed","the-oppressed"]·FR["[המעשקה]","[עשוקים]","opprimer","opprimé","à-opprimer"]·heb["ה-מעושקה","ל-עשוקים","עשוק","עשוקים"]·HI["दबाया-हुआ","सताई-गई","सताए-गए-लोगों-के-लिए","सताए-हुए","सताए-हुओं-के-लिए","सताया-गया"]·ID["Tertindas","bagi-yang-tertindas","ditindas","yang-diperas","yang-tertindas"]·IT["oppresse","opprimere"]·jav["dipun-tindhes","dipuntindhes","ingkang-dipun-tindhes","kanggo-tiyang-ingkang-dipuntekan","katindhes","tiyang-ingkang-dipun-tindhes"]·KO["그-압박받는-자들을-위하여","압박-받는-자가","압박받는-자-들-에게","압박받는-자들이다","압제당한","압제당한-자여"]·PT["Oprimido","Oprimidos","a-oprimida","aos-oprimidos","oprimido","os-oprimidos"]·RU["-угнетённых","Угнетены","для-угнетённых","притеснённая","притеснённым","угнетён"]·ES["Oprimido","a-los-oprimidos","oh-oprimida","oprimido","oprimidos"]·SW["Ameonewa","kwa-walioonewa","uliyekandamizwa","unakandamizwa","wameonewa","wanaoonewa"]·TR["ezilen","ezilenler","ezilenlere","ezilmis","ezilmiş","ezilmişlere"]·urd["ظلم-کے-ماروں-کے-لیے","ظلم-ہوئی","ظلم-ہوا","لِ-مظلوموں-کے-لیے","مظلوم-ہیں"]
4. sense 4 In Proverbs 28:17, a person 'oppressed' (עָשֻׁק) by the guilt of bloodshed flees to the pit. The oppressor here is not another human but the burden of one's own guilt — an internalized, psychological oppression. English 'oppressed' and Spanish 'oprimido' retain the same form as sense 3, but the agent has shifted from external exploiter to internal conscience. This rare usage bridges the concrete social-justice meaning into the moral-psychological domain.
VIOLENCE_CONFLICT Violence, Harm, Destroy, Kill Oppression and Tyranny
AR["مُثْقَلٌ"]·ben["ভারাক্রান্ত"]·DE["[עשק]"]·EN["oppressed"]·FR["opprimer"]·heb["עשוק"]·HI["दबा-हुआ"]·ID["yang-terbebani"]·IT["oppressed"]·jav["kang-kawratanan"]·KO["짐어진"]·PT["oprimido-por"]·RU["обременённый"]·ES["oprimido"]·SW["aliyeelemewa"]·TR["ezilen"]·urd["بوجھل"]
5. sense 5 In Job 40:23, describing Behemoth: even if the Jordan 'rages' or 'surges' against its mouth, the creature is untroubled. English renders 'the river rages'; Spanish 'oprime' (oppresses). The subject is not a human oppressor but a mighty river pressing with overwhelming force. This extends עָשַׁק from social coercion to raw natural force — the river 'oppresses' or bears down upon the creature. The Assyrian cognate ešqu (strong, mighty) may illuminate this forceful, non-moral application of the root.
VIOLENCE_CONFLICT Violence, Harm, Destroy, Kill Oppression and Tyranny
AR["يَطْغَى"]·ben["সে-নিপীড়ন-করে"]·DE["[יעשק]"]·EN["the-river-rages"]·FR["opprimer"]·heb["יעשוק"]·HI["वह-दबाता-है"]·ID["ia menindas"]·IT["il-river-rages"]·jav["lèpèn-banjir"]·KO["압도한다"]·PT["oprime"]·RU["взбушуется"]·ES["oprime"]·SW["akisukumwa"]·TR["baskı-yapar"]·urd["اگر-زور-سے-بہتی-ہے"]

Related Senses
H4421 1. war, battle, armed conflict (319×)H0341 1. enemy, adversary, foe (284×)H3898a 1. Nifal: to fight, wage war (167×)H2026 1. kill, slay (active) (146×)H2451 1. wisdom, discernment (146×)H5483b 1. horse (the animal) (138×)H0006 1. to perish, be destroyed (105×)H7843 1. Hifil: destroy, annihilate (83×)H2491a 1. slain, fatally pierced (74×)H6862c 1. adversary, enemy, foe (69×)H8045 1. destroy, exterminate (69×)G0615 1. kill, put to death (60×)H6571b 1. horseman, cavalryman (52×)H8077a 1. desolation, waste (abstract state) (52×)G4678 1. of wisdom (51×)G4717 1. crucify, fasten to a cross (46×)H2763a 1. utterly destroy (Hifil active) (44×)G0622 1. perish, be destroyed (intransitive) (41×)H0006 2. to destroy, annihilate (Piel) (38×)H8074 1. be desolate, lie waste (36×)

BDB / Lexicon Reference
עָשַׁק vb. oppress, wrong, extort (𝔗 עֲשַׁק = BH, so Old Aramaic עשק; Syriac ܥܫܰܩ accuse, slander; Assyrian adj. ešḳu, strong; Arabic عَسَقٌ roughness, injustice);— Qal Pf. ע׳ Lv 5:21; Ez 18:18; 2 ms. sf. עֲשַׁקְתָּ֫נוּ 1 S 12:4, etc.; Impf. 3 ms. sf. יַעַשְׁקֻנִי ψ 119:122; 2 ms. תַּעֲשֹׁק Lv 19:13 +, etc.; Inf. cstr. עֲשֹׁק Ho 12:8, sf. עָשְׁקָם 1 Ch 16:21 ψ 105:14; Pt. act. עֹשֵׁק Pr 14:31