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לַחַץ

𐤋𐤇𐤑

lachats

H3906 noun

SILEX Entry

Root לָחַץ to press, squeeze, oppress

Definition

State or experience of pressing distress, often referring to affliction imposed by external force, oppression, or intense hardship. Used to describe both physical and psychological states caused by pressure or harassment, as well as situations of extreme adversity involving threat or constraint. The term encompasses the sense of being hemmed in, overwhelmed, or crushed by adversity or hostile circumstances.

Semantic Range

distress, affliction, oppression, pressure, state of being pressed by hostile force, hardship, constraint

Root / Etymology

Root: לָחַץ (lachats) meaning to press, squeeze, or oppress. לַחַץ (lachats) as a noun derives from this root, signifying the result or state produced by pressing, namely distress or oppression. The noun maintains the connection to the action of pressing, focusing on the subjective and social consequences experienced.

Historical & Contextual Notes

לַחַץ appears primarily in poetic and prophetic literature to denote the suffering or affliction experienced by individuals or communities, particularly when caused by enemies or unjust rulers. In many contexts, it connotes more than internal distress—it describes the hostile circumstances that afflict Israelites or other people. The word often signals the experience of being pressured or squeezed by external forces, as seen, for example, in Psalm 107:39 or Isaiah 8:22. Unlike related terms such as צָרָה (tzarah, 'narrowness, trouble'), לַחַץ emphasizes the notion of external force compressing or constricting the victim, rather than mere misfortune or calamity. Later developments in Rabbinic Hebrew and modern usage use לַחַץ almost exclusively for 'pressure' (physical or psychological), but in Biblical contexts, the term is closely linked with social oppression and collective hardship. English translations such as 'distress,' 'affliction,' or 'oppression' partly reflect its range but sometimes fail to convey the active sense of external pressure inherent in the term.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from לָחַץ; distress; affliction, oppression.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

לחץ (l-ḥ-ts) — press, squeeze, oppress

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3905 לָחַץ the ones who press

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3906-04 לַ֨חַץ֙ lachats HNcmsa of-affliction he pressed 6
H3906-02 בְּ/לַ֣חַץ belachats HR/Ncmsc because of oppression in pressing-distress 2
H3906-05 לַחֲצֵֽ/נוּ lachatsenu HNcmsc/Sp1cp our oppression our pressing-distress 1
H3906-03 הַ/לַּ֔חַץ halachats HTd/Ncmsa the oppression the pressing-distress 1
H3906-01 בַּ/לַּ֣חַץ balachats HRd/Ncmsa in oppression in the pressing-distress 1
H3906-06 וְֽ/לַחֲצֵֽ/נוּ velachatsenu HC/Ncmsc/Sp1cp and our oppression and our pressing-distress 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3906-03 Exodus 3:9 הַ/לַּ֔חַץ halachats HTd/Ncmsa the oppression the pressing-distress
H3906-05 Deuteronomy 26:7 לַחֲצֵֽ/נוּ lachatsenu HNcmsc/Sp1cp our oppression our pressing-distress
H3906-04 1 Kings 22:27 לַ֨חַץ֙ lachats HNcmsa of-affliction he pressed
H3906-04 1 Kings 22:27 לַ֔חַץ lachats-2 HNcmsa of-affliction he pressed
H3906-04 2 Kings 13:4 לַ֣חַץ lachats HNcmsc oppression of he pressed
H3906-04 Isaiah 30:20 לָ֑חַץ lachats HNcmsa of oppression he pressed
H3906-02 Psalms 42:10 בְּ/לַ֣חַץ belachats HR/Ncmsc because of oppression in pressing-distress
H3906-02 Psalms 43:2 בְּ/לַ֣חַץ belachats HR/Ncmsc because of the oppression in pressing-distress
H3906-06 Psalms 44:25 וְֽ/לַחֲצֵֽ/נוּ velachatsenu HC/Ncmsc/Sp1cp and our oppression and our pressing-distress
H3906-01 Job 36:15 בַּ/לַּ֣חַץ balachats HRd/Ncmsa in oppression in the pressing-distress
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