נָגַשׂ
na.ga.s (H5065)
to oppress
AI Word Study
# Nāgas (נָגַשׂ): Hebrew's Word for Oppression The Hebrew verb nāgas carries the primary meaning "to oppress," reflecting a concept deeply rooted in ancient Israelite experience. With 23 biblical occurrences, this word appears frequently enough to suggest it addressed a significant social concern rather than a marginal concept. The term specifically denotes the active imposition of hardship or burden upon others, capturing the dynamics of power imbalance where one party exercises force or pressure over another. The presence of this dedicated verb in biblical Hebrew indicates that oppression constituted a distinct and recognizable social problem worthy of its own linguistic designation. Its recurrence across biblical texts suggests the concept was relevant to multiple contexts and time periods within the scriptural tradition. The word's existence in the biblical vocabulary—neither extremely rare nor ubiquitous—suggests it was serious enough to merit specific terminology, yet common enough that Israelite audiences would readily understand its referent without elaborate explanation. This lexical evidence reveals that Hebrew-speaking communities had developed precise vocabulary to identify and discuss oppressive practices, indicating both awareness of such social dynamics and a need to name them explicitly within religious and community discourse.
AI synthesis uses only provided lexicon data -- never training knowledge.
Yahweh said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.
The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying,
The taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I will not give you straw.
The taskmasters were urgent saying, “Fulfill your work quota daily, as when there was straw!”
The officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and were asked, “Why haven’t you fulfilled your quota both yesterday and today, in making brick as before?”
This is the way it shall be done: every creditor shall release that which he has lent to his neighbor. He shall not require payment from his neighbor and his brother, because Yahweh’s release has been proclaimed.
Of a foreigner you may require it; but whatever of yours is with your brother, your hand shall release.
When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were distressed), then the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in tombs, and in pits.
The men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul had adjured the people, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food until it is evening, and I am avenged of my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food.
Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh. He exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, from everyone according to his assessment, to give it to Pharaoh Necoh.
There the prisoners are at ease together. They don’t hear the voice of the taskmaster.
He scorns the tumult of the city, neither does he hear the shouting of the driver.
The people will be oppressed, everyone by another, and everyone by his neighbor. The child will behave himself proudly against the old man, and the wicked against the honorable.
As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. My people, those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths.
For the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as in the day of Midian.
The peoples will take them, and bring them to their place. The house of Israel will possess them in Yahweh’s land for servants and for handmaids. They will take as captives those whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.
that you will take up this parable against the king of Babylon, and say, “How the oppressor has ceased! The golden city has ceased!”
He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he didn’t open his mouth. As a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he didn’t open his mouth.
‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you don’t see? Why have we afflicted our soul, and you don’t notice?’ “Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and oppress all your laborers.
For bronze I will bring gold; for iron I will bring silver; for wood, bronze, and for stones, iron. I will also make peace your governor, and righteousness your ruler.
“Then one who will cause a tax collector to pass through the kingdom to maintain its glory will stand up in his place; but within few days he shall be destroyed, not in anger, and not in battle.
I will encamp around my house against the army, that no one pass through or return; and no oppressor will pass through them any more: for now I have seen with my eyes.
From him will come the cornerstone, from him the nail, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler together.