# oppress

## Related Ideas:

oppression, oppressive, oppressor, ruthless

## Definition:

The terms "oppress" and "oppression" refer to treating people harshly. An "oppressor" is a person who oppresses people.

* The term "oppression" especially refers to a situation where people of greater strength mistreat or enslave people who are under their power or rule.
* The term "oppressed" describes the people who are being harshly treated.
* Often enemy nations and their rulers were oppressors to the people of Israel.
* The term "ruthless" describes who show no pity or compassion to others. Oppressors are ruthless.

## Translation Suggestions:

* Depending on the context, "oppress" could be translated as, "severely mistreat" or "cause to be heavily burdened" or "put under miserable bondage" or "rule harshly."
* Ways to translate "oppression" could include "heavy suppression and bondage" or "burdensome control."
* The phrase "the oppressed" could be translated as "oppressed people" or "people in terrible bondage" or "those who are treated harshly."
* The term "oppressor" could be translated as "person who oppresses" or "nation who controls and rules harshly" or "persecutor."

(See also: [bind](../kt/bond.md), [enslave](../other/enslave.md), [persecute](../other/persecute.md))

## Bible References:

* [1 Samuel 10:17-19](rc://en/tn/help/1sa/10/17)
* [Deuteronomy 26:07](rc://en/tn/help/deu/26/07)
* [Ecclesiastes 04:1](rc://en/tn/help/ecc/04/01)
* [Job 10:03](rc://en/tn/help/job/10/03)
* [Judges 02:18-19](rc://en/tn/help/jdg/02/18)
* [Nehemiah 05:14-15](rc://en/tn/help/neh/05/14)
* [Psalms 119:134](rc://en/tn/help/psa/119/134)

## Word Data:

* Strong's: H1790, H1792, H2541, H2555, H2556, H3238, H3905, H3906, H4642, H5065, H6031, H6115, H6125, H6184, H6206, H6216, H6217, H6231, H6233, H6234, H6693, H7429, H7533, H7701, H8496, G2561, G2616, G2669

## Forms Found in the English ULB:

oppress, oppressed, oppresses, oppressing, oppression, oppressive, oppressor, oppressors, ruthless