מַעֲשַׁקָּה (ma.a.shaq.qah)
ma.a.shaq.qah
oppression
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun ma‘ashshaqah refers to an act of extortion or oppressive dealing. It describes a specific wrong where someone uses power or trickery to seize what belongs to another, going beyond simple theft to include abuse of authority or position.
Though it appears only twice in the Bible, its presence is striking. In Proverbs 28:17, a man burdened by this guilt cannot rest, illustrating how such injustice weighs heavily on the conscience. Isaiah 33:15 uses it to describe the conduct of those who refuse to look at evil, highlighting that ethical integrity requires rejecting exploitative gain.
The word stems from a root meaning to oppress or crush. This imagery suggests a forceful, grinding action rather than a subtle deception. It captures the heavy burden placed on victims by those who exploit their vulnerability for personal profit.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ma‘ashshaqah describes a specific kind of wrong where power is used to crush others for personal gain. It goes beyond simple theft, involving the abuse of authority or trickery to seize what belongs to someone else. This heavy burden of injustice weighs on the conscience, as seen in Proverbs 28:17, where such guilt prevents rest. Recognizing this pattern helps us identify not just overt crimes, but subtle exploitations that harm our neighbors.
Isaiah 33:15 offers a clear picture of integrity by contrasting it with the "gain of oppressions." A person of righteousness despises this ill-gotten profit and refuses to look at evil. This word reminds us that ethical living requires active rejection of exploitative practices. It calls us to examine our own actions and ensure we are not contributing to the suffering of others through unfair deals or abuse of position.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- extortion<s>2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַעֲשַׁקּ֗וֹת1×
- מַעֲשַׁקּ֑וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 28:16
A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment. One who hates ill-gotten gain will have long days.
This verse highlights the contrast between a ruler who hates ill-gotten gain and one who lacks judgment, showing that rejecting oppression is key to stable leadership.
-
Isaiah 33:15
He who walks righteously and speaks blamelessly, he who despises the gain of oppressions, who gestures with his hands, refusing to take a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from looking at evil—
Here the term describes the exploitative profit that a righteous person must despise to maintain spiritual integrity and avoid looking at evil.