What does לָחַץ (lāḥaṣ) mean in the Bible?
לָחַץ (lāḥaṣ): Physical pressure becomes the metaphor for oppression—affliction as external force squeezing victims powerless.
Hebrew · H3905
לָחַץ
Properly, to press , i.e. (figuratively) to distress
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לָחַץ H3905
Pronunciation lāḥaṣ
What does לָחַץ (lāḥaṣ) mean in the Bible?
לָחַץ (lāḥaṣ): Physical pressure becomes the metaphor for oppression—affliction as external force squeezing victims powerless.
Full entry for לָחַץ (H3905) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3905?
The BSB source-word alignment has 19 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include oppress (2), oppressed (2), their oppressors (2), and pressed herself (1), and they will oppress (1).
Where does לָחַץ (lāḥaṣ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 3:9. Its strongest book concentrations include Judges (5), 2 Kings (3), Exodus (3), Numbers (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It oppress 2× Exodus 22:21, Exodus 23:9
oppressed 2× Judges 4:3, 2 Kings 13:22
their oppressors 2× Isaiah 19:20, Jeremiah 30:20
and pressed herself 1× Numbers 22:25
and they will oppress 1× Amos 6:14
are oppressing them 1× Exodus 3:9
crushing 1× Numbers 22:25
forced 1× Judges 1:34
had inflicted 1× 2 Kings 13:4
oppressed them 1× Psalms 106:42
oppressed you 1× Judges 10:12
that oppressed you 1× 1 Samuel 10:18
they press 1× Psalms 56:1
to keep him out 1× 2 Kings 6:32
who oppressed them 1× Judges 2:18
your oppressors 1× Judges 6:9
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 3:9 לֹחֲצִ֥ים to are oppressing them Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Exodus 22:21 תִלְחָצֶ֑נּוּ to oppress Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular Exodus 23:9 תִלְחָ֑ץ to oppress Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Numbers 22:25 וַתִּלָּחֵץ֙ to and pressed herself Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Numbers 22:25 וַתִּלְחַ֛ץ to crushing Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Judges 1:34 וַיִּלְחֲצ֧וּ to forced Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Judges 2:18 לֹחֲצֵיהֶ֖ם to who oppressed them Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural Judges 4:3 לָחַ֞ץ to oppressed Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Judges 6:9 לֹחֲצֵיכֶ֑ם to your oppressors Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural Judges 10:12 לָחֲצ֖וּ to oppressed you Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Exodus 3:9
Aligned rows 19
Books represented 9
Exodus 3 Numbers 2 Judges 5 1 Samuel 1 2 Kings 3 Psalms 2 Isaiah 1 Jeremiah 1 Amos 1
Source forms
הַלֹּחֲצִ֖ים 1x hal·lō·ḥă·ṣîm 1 Samuel 10:18
וַיִּלְחֲצ֧וּ 1x way·yil·ḥă·ṣū Judges 1:34
וַיִּלְחָצ֥וּם 1x way·yil·ḥā·ṣūm Psalms 106:42
וְלָחֲצ֥וּ 1x wə·lā·ḥă·ṣū Amos 6:14
וּלְחַצְתֶּ֤ם 1x ū·lə·ḥaṣ·tem 2 Kings 6:32
וַתִּלְחַ֛ץ 1x wat·til·ḥaṣ Numbers 22:25
וַתִּלָּחֵץ֙ 1x wat·til·lā·ḥêṣ Numbers 22:25
יִלְחָצֵֽנִי׃ 1x yil·ḥā·ṣê·nî Psalms 56:1
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular 3x Judges 4:3, 2 Kings 13:4, 2 Kings 13:22
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural 2x Exodus 3:9, Isaiah 19:20
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural 1x 1 Samuel 10:18
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular 1x Numbers 22:25
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural 1x 2 Kings 6:32
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural 1x Amos 6:14
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular 1x Numbers 22:25
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural 1x Judges 1:34
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Physical pressure becomes the metaphor for oppression—affliction as external force squeezing victims powerless.
Source Gloss
properly, to press , i.e. (figuratively) to distress
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Physical pressure becomes the metaphor for oppression—affliction as external force squeezing victims powerless.
properly, to press, i.e. (figuratively) to distress BDB: squeeze Usage: afflict, crush, force, hold fast, oppress(-or), thrust self.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 1 Aligned forms 7
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 7×
Perfect 2Kgs 13:4 · 2Kgs 13:22 · Judg 4:3 · Judg 10:12 4×
Participle active Exod 3:9 · Isa 19:20 2×
Imperfect Exod 23:9 1×
Word Origins
לָחַץ is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain