Bible Dictionary
OPPRESSION
Oppression is the violent or unjust misuse of power against others, especially the poor, weak, strangers, or afflicted. The prophets repeatedly condemned it, and the New Testament warns against harsh control and favoritism.
Definition
Oppression is wrong done to others through violence, harsh control, or the misuse of power. It may be inflicted by foreign rulers upon Israel or arise within Israel’s society, especially against the poor, weak, strangers, and afflicted.
Biblical Usage
Oppression is a repeated subject of the psalmists, wise men, and prophets, who express sorrow and indignation over it. Scripture also speaks of Israel’s oppression by Egypt, Syria, and other nations. In the New Testament, the word describes using power harshly against another.
Historical Background
The biblical term translates several Hebrew words, including forms related to violence, wrong, and harsh treatment. The source material notes that oppression within Israel was never wholly overcome.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>o-presh'-un: Used in the King James Version to translate a variety of Hebrew words, all of which, however, agree in the general sense of wrong done by violence to others. There are a few cases where the reference is to the oppression of Israel by foreigners, as by their Egyptian masters (Ex 3:9; De 26:7), or by Syria (2Ki 13:4), or by an unmentioned nation (Isa 30:20 King James Version, margin). In all these cases the Hebrew original is lachats. But in the vast number of cases the reference is to social oppression of one kind or another within Israel's own body. It is frequently theme of psalmist and prophet and wise man. The poor and weak must have suffered greatly at the hands of the stronger and more fortunate. The word lachats, various forms of the root `ashaq, and other words are used by the writers as they express their sorrow and indignation over the wrongs of their afflicted brethren. In his own sorrow, Job remembers the suffering of the oppressed (Job 35:9; 36:15); it is a frequent subject of song in the Psalms (Ps 12:5; 42:9; 43:2; 44:24; 55:3; 119:134); the preacher observes and reflects upon its prevalence (Ec 4:1; 5:8; 7:7 the King James Version); the prophets Amos (3:9), Isaiah (5:7; 59:13), Jeremiah (6:6; 22:17) and Ezekiel (22:7,29) thundered against it. It was exercised toward strangers and also toward the Israelites themselves, and was never wholly overcome. In Jas 2:6, "oppress" is the rendering of katadunasteuo, "to exercise harsh control over one," "to use one's power against one."</p><p>William Joseph Mcglothlin</p>