What does עָשַׁק (ʿāšaq) mean in the Bible?
עָשַׁק (ʿāšaq): To oppress through forceful pressure—combining physical coercion with economic fraud; marks injustice in covenant society.
Hebrew · H6231
עָשַׁק
To press upon , i.e. oppress , defraud , violate , overflow
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
עָשַׁקH6231
Pronunciationʿāšaq
What does עָשַׁק (ʿāšaq) mean in the Bible?
עָשַׁק (ʿāšaq): To oppress through forceful pressure—combining physical coercion with economic fraud; marks injustice in covenant society.
Full entry for עָשַׁק (H6231) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6231?
The BSB source-word alignment has 36 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include oppress (2), oppress them (2), oppressed (2), against oppressors (1), and have exploited (1).
Where does עָשַׁק (ʿāšaq) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Leviticus 6:2. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (6), Proverbs (4), Deuteronomy (3), Ezekiel (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itoppress2×Deuteronomy 24:14, Zechariah 7:10
oppress them2×1 Chronicles 16:21, Psalms 105:14
oppressed2×Deuteronomy 28:29, Deuteronomy 28:33
against oppressors1×Malachi 3:5
and have exploited1×Ezekiel 22:29
are oppressed1×Jeremiah 50:33
burdened1×Proverbs 28:17
cheated us1×1 Samuel 12:4
defraud1×Leviticus 19:13
for the oppressed1×Psalms 146:7
have I cheated1×1 Samuel 12:3
have practiced1×Ezekiel 22:29
he practiced1×Ezekiel 18:18
if he extorts1×Leviticus 6:2
is oppressed1×Hosea 5:11
longer oppress1×Jeremiah 7:6
O oppressed1×Isaiah 23:12
of his oppressor1×Jeremiah 21:12
of their oppressors1×Ecclesiastes 4:1
oppress me1×Psalms 119:122
oppressed them1×Isaiah 52:4
Oppressing1×Proverbs 22:16
rages1×Job 40:23
taken by extortion1×Leviticus 6:4
the oppressed1×Psalms 103:6
the oppressor1×Psalms 72:4
They deprive1×Micah 2:2
to defraud1×Hosea 12:7
to my oppressors1×Psalms 119:121
to oppress me1×Job 10:3
who oppresses1×Proverbs 28:3
Whoever oppresses1×Proverbs 14:31
you women who oppress1×Amos 4:1
Show sample aligned rows
Leviticus 6:2עָשַׁ֥קtoif he extortsVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 6:4עָשָׁ֔קtotaken by extortionVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 19:13תַעֲשֹׁ֥קtodefraudVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularDeuteronomy 24:14תַעֲשֹׁ֥קtooppressVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularDeuteronomy 28:29עָשׁ֧וּקtooppressedVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singularDeuteronomy 28:33עָשׁ֥וּקtooppressedVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular1 Samuel 12:3עָשַׁ֙קְתִּי֙tohave I cheatedVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular1 Samuel 12:4עֲשַׁקְתָּ֖נוּtocheated usVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common plural1 Chronicles 16:21לְעָשְׁקָ֔םtooppress themPreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine pluralJob 10:3תַעֲשֹׁ֗קtoto oppress meVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowLeviticus 6:2
Aligned rows36
Books represented16
Leviticus3Deuteronomy31 Samuel21 Chronicles1Job2Psalms6Proverbs4Ecclesiastes1Isaiah2Jeremiah3Ezekiel3Hosea2Amos1Micah1Zechariah1Malachi1
Source forms
עָשׁ֥וּק2x‘ā·šūqDeuteronomy 28:33, Hosea 5:11
תַעֲשֹׁ֥ק2xṯa·‘ă·šōqLeviticus 19:13, Deuteronomy 24:14
הַֽמְעֻשָּׁקָ֞ה1xham·‘uš·šā·qāhIsaiah 23:12
הָעֹשְׁק֣וֹת1xhā·‘ō·šə·qō·wṯAmos 4:1
וּבְעֹשְׁקֵ֣י1xū·ḇə·‘ō·šə·qêMalachi 3:5
וְעֹשֵׁ֣ק1xwə·‘ō·šêqProverbs 28:3
וְעָֽשְׁקוּ֙1xwə·‘ā·šə·qūMicah 2:2
יַעֲשֹׁ֣ק1xya·‘ă·šōqJob 40:23
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular4xPsalms 72:4, Proverbs 14:31, Proverbs 22:16, Jeremiah 21:12
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular4xDeuteronomy 28:29, Deuteronomy 28:33, Proverbs 28:17, Hosea 5:11
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular3xLeviticus 19:13, Deuteronomy 24:14, Job 10:3
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular3xLeviticus 6:2, Leviticus 6:4, Ezekiel 18:18
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural2x1 Chronicles 16:21, Psalms 105:14
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural2xJeremiah 7:6, Zechariah 7:10
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural2xEzekiel 22:29
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural2xPsalms 103:6, Jeremiah 50:33
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. To oppress through forceful pressure—combining physical coercion with economic fraud; marks injustice in covenant society.
Strong'sH6231
Lexical occurrences36 versesWord forms1 form22 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkLeviticus 19:13-14Source Gloss
to press upon , i.e. oppress , defraud , violate , overflow
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
To oppress through forceful pressure—combining physical coercion with economic fraud; marks injustice in covenant society.
to press upon, i.e. oppress, defraud, violate, overflow BDB: oppress Usage: get deceitfully, deceive, defraud, drink up, (use) oppress(-ion), -or), do violence (wrong).
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 groups1Aligned forms22
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense22×
Participle passiveDeut 28:29 · Deut 28:33 · Hos 5:11 · Jer 50:33 · Prov 28:17 · Ps 103:66×
PerfectEzek 18:18 · Lev 5:21 · Lev 5:23 · Ezek 22:29 · 1Sam 12:36×
ImperfectDeut 24:14 · Job 10:3 · Lev 19:13 · Jer 7:6 · Job 40:235×
Participle activeJer 21:12 · Prov 14:31 · Prov 22:16 · Ps 72:44×
JussiveZech 7:101×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Legal prohibition against defrauding or withholding wages from hired workers
Prophetic indictment of societal injustice and exploitation of the vulnerable and poor
Royal duty to execute justice and cease oppressing the vulnerable, with threat of judgment
Wisdom teaching that oppressing the poor is sinful and contemptuous toward the Creator
Wisdom saying contrasting enrichment through exploitation with eventual impoverishment
Showing 5 selected witnesses from 36 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
עָשַׁק is built from this root:
עָשַׂקH6229
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.