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Hebrew verb · H6231

עָשַׁק

ashaqaw-shak'

to oppress

36 uses in the Hebrew text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key

Concordance spelling: ʻâshaq

Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's H6231is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.

  • 16 of 39
    Old Testament books
  • 34
    spellings

The definition in full

Strong's key (1890) · H6231

to press upon, i.e. oppress, defraud, violate, overflow

The King James renders it: get deceitfully, deceive, defraud, drink up, (use) oppress(-ion), -or), do violence (wrong).

James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.

Summary

ashaq is rendered "to oppress". It stands 36 times in the Hebrew text, across sixteen books.

  • Six of the uses stand in Psalms, more than in any other book.
  • Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Leviticus 6:2“If someone sins and acts unfaithfully against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor in regard to a deposit or security entrusted to him or stolen, or if he extorts his neighbor
  • The Greek text spells it thirty-four different ways.

The first use

“If someone sins and acts unfaithfully against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor in regard to a deposit or security entrusted to him or stolen, or if he extorts his neighbor

Leviticus 6:2עָשַׁ֥ק

The first use, in the order of the Old Testament's books.

Where the word stands

The word stands in sixteen of the 39 Old Testament books.

The other 23 Old Testament books never use the word.

What the word means

Each meaning, and the words it is translated by

How the Greek text is glossed, word by word

  • oppressed5
  • oppresses2
  • they have oppressed2
  • to oppress them2
  • you must oppress2
  • you will oppress2
  • an oppressor1
  • and on defraud1
  • and oppresses1
  • and they oppress1
  • are oppressed1
  • for the oppressed1

and 15 more, 36 uses in all

The words built on the same word-part

Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.

עָשַׁרasharto enrichUses17
עָשַׂרasarto titheUses9
עָשַׁןashanbe angryUses6
עָשַׁתashathto gleamUses2
עָשַׂקasaqto contendUses1

The words it stands beside

All 36, in canonical order

Every use, in order

Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.

34 spellings and their grammar

STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.

How it is spelled

  • עָשׁ֥וּק2
  • תַעֲשֹׁ֥ק2
  • הַֽמְעֻשָּׁקָ֞ה1
  • הָעֹשְׁק֣וֹת1
  • וּבְעֹשְׁקֵ֣י1
  • וְעֹשֵׁ֣ק1
  • וְעָֽשְׁקוּ֙1
  • יַעֲשֹׁ֣ק1
  • יַעַשְׁקֻ֥נִי1
  • לָעֲשׁוּקִ֗ים1
  • לַעֲשֹׁ֥ק1
  • לְעֹֽשְׁקָֽי׃1

and 22 more spellings in the ledger below.

The grammar of each form

  • verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singular4HVqrmsa
  • verb · simple (qal), passive participle · masculine singular4HVqsmsa
  • verb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 2nd person masculine singular3HVqi2ms
  • verb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singular3HVqp3ms
  • preposition + verb · simple (qal), infinitive (“to…”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine plural2HR/Vqcc/Sp3mp
  • verb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common plural2HVqp3cp
  • verb · simple (qal), passive participle · masculine plural2HVqsmpa
  • conjunction (“and”) + preposition + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”)1HC/R/Vqrmpc
  • Hc/Vqq3cp1Hc/Vqq3cp
  • conjunction (“and”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singular1HC/Vqrmsa
  • preposition + verb · simple (qal), infinitive (“to…”)1HR/Vqcc
  • preposition + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 1st person masculine or feminine singular1HR/Vqrmpc/Sp1bs

Leviticus

three uses
  • “If someone sins and acts unfaithfully against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor in regard to a deposit or security entrusted to him or stolen, or if he extorts his neighbor

    Leviticus 6:2

    • עָשַׁ֥קʾashakverb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he has oppressed
  • once he has sinned and becomes guilty, he must return what he has stolen or taken by extortion, or the deposit entrusted to him, or the lost property he found,

    Leviticus 6:4

    • עָשָׁ֔קʾashakverb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he oppressed
  • You must not defraud your neighbor or rob him. You must not withhold until morning the wages due a hired hand.

    Leviticus 19:13

    • תַעֲשֹׁ֥קtaashokverb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: you will oppress

Deuteronomy

three uses
  • Do not oppress a hired hand who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother or a foreigner residing in one of your towns.

    Deuteronomy 24:14

    • תַעֲשֹׁ֥קtaashokverb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: you must oppress
  • and at noon you will grope about like a blind man in the darkness. You will not prosper in your ways. Day after day you will be oppressed and plundered, with no one to save you.

    Deuteronomy 28:29

    • עָשׁ֧וּקʾashukverb · simple (qal), passive participle · masculine singulartagged: oppressed
  • A people you do not know will eat the produce of your land and of all your toil. All your days you will be oppressed and crushed.

    Deuteronomy 28:33

    • עָשׁ֥וּקʾashukverb · simple (qal), passive participle · masculine singulartagged: oppressed

1 Samuel

two uses
  • Here I am. Bear witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated or oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe and closed my eyes? Tell me, and I will restore it to you.”

    1 Samuel 12:3

    • עָשַׁ֙קְתִּי֙ʾashaktiverb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 1st person common singulartagged: have I oppressed
  • “You have not wronged us or oppressed us,” they replied, “nor have you taken anything from the hand of man.”

    1 Samuel 12:4

    • עֲשַׁקְתָּ֖נוּʾashaktanuverb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 2nd person masculine singular + pronoun suffix · 1st person masculine or feminine pluraltagged: you have oppressed us

1 Chronicles

one use
  • He let no man oppress them; He rebuked kings on their behalf:

    1 Chronicles 16:21

    • לְעָשְׁקָ֔םleashekampreposition + verb · simple (qal), infinitive (“to…”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: to oppress them

Job

two uses
  • Does it please You to oppress me, to reject the work of Your hands and favor the schemes of the wicked?

    Job 10:3

    • תַעֲשֹׁ֗קtaashokverb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: you will oppress
  • Though the river rages, Behemoth is unafraid; he remains secure, though the Jordan surges to his mouth.

    Job 40:23

    • יַעֲשֹׁ֣קyaashokverb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: it is violent

Psalms

six uses
  • May he vindicate the afflicted among the people; may he save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor.

    Psalms 72:4

    • עוֹשֵֽׁק׃oshekverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: oppressor
  • The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

    Psalms 103:6

    • עֲשׁוּקִֽים׃ʾashukimverb · simple (qal), passive participle · masculine pluraltagged: are oppressed
  • He let no man oppress them; He rebuked kings on their behalf:

    Psalms 105:14

    • לְעָשְׁקָ֑םleashekampreposition + verb · simple (qal), infinitive (“to…”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: to oppress them
  • I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors.

    Psalms 119:121

    • לְעֹֽשְׁקָֽי׃leoshekaipreposition + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 1st person masculine or feminine singulartagged: to oppressors my
  • Ensure Your servant’s well-being; do not let the arrogant oppress me.

    Psalms 119:122

    • יַעַשְׁקֻ֥נִיyaashkuniverb · simple (qal), jussive (“let him”) · 3rd person masculine plural + pronoun suffix · 1st person masculine or feminine singulartagged: they oppress me
  • He executes justice for the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free,

    Psalms 146:7

    • לָעֲשׁוּקִ֗יםlaashukimpreposition with the article + verb · simple (qal), passive participle · masculine pluraltagged: for the oppressed

Proverbs

four uses
  • Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.

    Proverbs 14:31

    • עֹ֣שֵֽׁק־ʾoshek-verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: oppresses
  • Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty.

    Proverbs 22:16

    • עֹ֣שֵֽׁקʾoshekverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: oppresses
  • A destitute leader who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no food.

    Proverbs 28:3

    • וְעֹשֵׁ֣קveoshekconjunction (“and”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: and oppresses
  • A man burdened by bloodguilt will flee into the Pit; let no one support him.

    Proverbs 28:17

    • עָשֻׁ֣קʾashukverb · simple (qal), passive participle · masculine singulartagged: oppressed

Ecclesiastes

one use
  • Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter.

    Ecclesiastes 4:1

    • עֹֽשְׁקֵיהֶם֙ʾoshekeihemverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: oppressors their

Isaiah

two uses
  • He said, “You shall rejoice no more, O oppressed Virgin Daughter of Sidon. Get up and cross over to Cyprus—even there you will find no rest.”

    Isaiah 23:12

    • הַֽמְעֻשָּׁקָ֞הhamushakahthe definite article (“the”) + verb · intensive passive (pual), passive participle · feminine singulartagged: O oppressed
  • For this is what the Lord GOD says: “At first My people went down to Egypt to live, then Assyria oppressed them without cause.

    Isaiah 52:4

    • עֲשָׁקֽוֹ׃ashakoverb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singular + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: it oppressed it

Jeremiah

three uses
  • if you no longer oppress the foreigner and the fatherless and the widow, and if you no longer shed innocent blood in this place or follow other gods to your own harm,

    Jeremiah 7:6

    • תַֽעֲשֹׁ֔קוּtaashokuverb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 2nd person masculine pluraltagged: you must oppress
  • O house of David, this is what the LORD says: ‘Administer justice every morning, and rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor, or My wrath will go forth like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it because of their evil deeds.

    Jeremiah 21:12

    • עוֹשֵׁ֑קoshekverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: an oppressor
  • This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “The sons of Israel are oppressed, and the sons of Judah as well. All their captors hold them fast, refusing to release them.

    Jeremiah 50:33

    • עֲשׁוּקִ֛יםʾashukimverb · simple (qal), passive participle · masculine pluraltagged: oppressed

Ezekiel

three uses
  • As for his father, he will die for his own iniquity, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what was wrong among his people.

    Ezekiel 18:18

    • עָ֣שַׁקʾashakverb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he has extorted
  • The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy and have exploited the foreign resident without justice.

    Ezekiel 22:29

    • עָ֣שְׁקוּʾashekuverb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common pluraltagged: they have oppressed
    • עָשְׁק֖וּʾashekuverb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common pluraltagged: they have oppressed

Hosea

two uses
  • Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, for he is determined to follow worthless idols.

    Hosea 5:11

    • עָשׁ֥וּקʾashukverb · simple (qal), passive participle · masculine singulartagged: oppressed
  • A merchant loves to defraud with dishonest scales in his hands.

    Hosea 12:7

    • לַעֲשֹׁ֥קlaashokpreposition + verb · simple (qal), infinitive (“to…”)tagged: to defraud

Amos

one use
  • Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy, who say to your husbands, “Bring us more to drink.”

    Amos 4:1

    • הָעֹשְׁק֣וֹתhaoshekotthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · feminine pluraltagged: who oppress

Micah

one use
  • They covet fields and seize them; they take away houses. They deprive a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance.

    Micah 2:2

    • וְעָֽשְׁקוּ֙veashekuHc/Vqq3cptagged: and they oppress

Zechariah

one use
  • Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. And do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’

    Zechariah 7:10

    • תַּעֲשֹׁ֑קוּtaashokuverb · simple (qal), jussive (“let him”) · 2nd person masculine pluraltagged: you oppress

Malachi

one use
  • “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts.

    Malachi 3:5

    • וּבְעֹשְׁקֵ֣יuveoshekeiconjunction (“and”) + preposition + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”)tagged: and on defraud

The letters

Where it leads

How the numbers are counted

Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.

Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.

The words it stands beside are the nouns, verbs and adjectives immediately before or after it, counted in every verse where the word stands. The article, the conjunctions and the prepositions are left out, because they stand beside every word.

The family is read from the lexicon by the stem the two words share, with the accents off, and a person or a place named on the stem is left out.

Hebrew and Greek text, word tagging and grammar: STEP Bible (www.STEPBible.org), Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0. Their grammar codes are written out in English here and shown as tagged beside each one.

Meaning and senses: STEP Bible TBESH gloss (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary key: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890, public domain). English verse text: Berean Standard Bible (public domain, 2023).

Revised 2026-09-05. Every cited work, the sources registry →