To oppress
נָגַשׂStrong’s H5065nagas (na-ga-s)
Appears in 23 verses of the Old Testament
In short
Nagas is the Hebrew word usually translated “taskmasters of”, “oppressor” and “taskmasters its”. It appears in 23 verses of the Old Testament.
“Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.”
Meaning
- To press, drive, oppress, exact, exert demanding pressure(Qal) · (Niphal) to be hard pressed
How it's translated
- taskmasters of 2
- an oppressor 2
- taskmasters its 1
- the taskmasters 1
- and the taskmasters 1
- he will press 1
- you will press 1
- it was hard pressed 1
Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.
Where it's used most
- Isaiah 8
- Exodus 5
- Deuteronomy 2
- 1 Samuel 2
- Job 2
- Zechariah 2
8 books in all.
Explore in Scripture
- Zechariah 9:8In contextAnd I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.
- Zechariah 10:4In contextOut of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.
- Exodus 3:7And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
- Exodus 5:6And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,
- Exodus 5:10And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.
- Exodus 5:13And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.
Hebrew dictionary
נָגַשׂ nagas · to oppress
1) to press, drive, oppress, exact, exert demanding pressure 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to press, drive 1a2) to exact 1a3) driver, taskmaster, ruler, oppressor, tyrant, lord, exactor of tribute (participle) 1b) (Niphal) to be hard pressed
From STEPBible’s Hebrew lexicon (based on Brown-Driver-Briggs).
Webster's 1828 Dictionary
How the English word “oppressor” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.
OPPRESS'OR, noun
One that oppresses; one that imposes unjust burdens on others; one that harasses others with unjust laws or unreasonable severity.
Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.
Verses are from the King James Version. Word meanings come from the original Hebrew, not from any one translation.