צוּק (tsuq)
tsuq
to press
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 10 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb tsuq describes the physical act of pressing or squeezing something tight. In its most common usage, it conveys the idea of being constrained or brought into a narrow space. This creates a sense of pressure that restricts movement or freedom, often leading to distress.
When used in the Hiphil stem, as seen in Isaiah 28:16 and Deuteronomy 28:53, it takes on a heavier theological weight. It describes God or enemies pressing people into straits, effectively oppressing them until they are cornered. The imagery is visceral; it is not merely discomfort but an active force that closes off escape routes.
This word appears ten times in the Old Testament, with significant occurrences in Isaiah and Judges. It captures the reality of hardship where external forces exert such pressure that one’s options are severely limited. Translators often render it as "press," "straiten," or "oppress" depending on whether the context is physical confinement or social suffering.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tsuq paints a picture of intense pressure, where space disappears and options vanish. In the Old Testament, it describes moments when people are squeezed by external forces—whether by sieges, enemies, or inner turmoil. It captures the visceral reality of being cornered, where freedom is restricted and distress becomes overwhelming.
Yet this imagery also highlights the contrast between human oppression and divine refuge. When Isaiah speaks of God laying foundations while oppressors press in, it reminds us that stability comes from above. Even when circumstances feel suffocating, faith offers a perspective that transcends immediate confinement.
This word invites us to acknowledge our vulnerability without losing hope. It validates the experience of hardship while pointing toward the One who remains steadfast when all else is constrained.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 10 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he will bring distress3×
- the/ oppressor2×
- they will press1×
- she pressed/ him1×
- she pressed1×
- it has constrained/ me1×
- and/ those/ [who] bring distress1×
- and/ I will bring distress1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יָצִ֥יק3×
- יָצִ֧יקוּ1×
- וַ/הֲצִיק֖וֹתִי1×
- וְ/הַ/מְּצִיקִ֖ים1×
- הַ/מֵּצִֽיק\׃1×
- הַ/מֵּצִ֔יק1×
- הֵצִ֨יקָה1×
- הֱצִיקַ֔תְ/הוּ1×
- הֱ֝צִיקַ֗תְ/נִי1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 28:53
You will eat the fruit of your own body, the flesh of your sons and of your daughters, whom Yahweh your God has given you, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemies will distress you.
This verse uses tsuq to describe the extreme distress of siege, where enemies press people so tightly that survival instincts override natural bonds.
-
Isaiah 29:2
then I will distress Ariel, and there will be mourning and lamentation. She shall be to me as an altar hearth.
Here God declares He will distress Ariel, showing that tsuq can also describe divine judgment against those who oppose His purposes.
-
Judges 14:17
She wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted; and on the seventh day, he told her, because she pressed him severely; and she told the riddle to the children of her people.
In this narrative context, tsuq describes persistent personal pressure, as Delilah’s constant urging wears down Samson’s resolve.
-
Job 32:18
For I am full of words. The spirit within me constrains me.
Elihu uses tsuq metaphorically to describe how the spirit within him constrains him, illustrating internal pressure to speak truth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word tsuq mean?
How is tsuq different from other words for distress?
Where does tsuq appear most often in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (10 verses across 5 books)
Deuteronomy 3 verses
You will eat the fruit of your own body, the flesh of your sons and of your daughters, whom Yahweh your God has given…
Deuteronomy 28:55so that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he will eat, because he has nothing left to…
Deuteronomy 28:57toward her young one who comes out from between her feet, and toward her children whom she bears; for she will eat them…