Lexical Summary dachaq: To press, to oppress, to crowd Original Word: דָּחַק Strong's Exhaustive Concordance thrust, vex A primitive root; to press, i.e. Oppress -- thrust, vex. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to thrust, crowd, oppress NASB Translation afflicted (1), crowd (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [דָּחַק] verb thrust, crowd, oppress (Late Hebrew id., Arabic  drive away, remove, Aramaic דְּחַק,  ) — Qal Imperfect יִדְחָק֔וּן thrust, crowd, of locusts in swarm Joel 2:8; Participle active plural suffix לֹחֲצֵיהֶם וְדֹחֲקֵיהֶם Judges 2:18 (because of) them that maltreated and oppressed them. Topical Lexicon Essential Meaning and Imagery דָּחַק portrays an intense pressing—whether the ruthless pressure of an oppressor or the concerted push of an advancing force. In both occurrences the verb communicates an external force that constrains someone or something within a tight, inescapable space. The word therefore evokes ideas of distress, compulsion, and inexorable advance. Usage in Historical Narrative: Judges 2:18 Within the cyclical history of the Judges, Israel’s apostasy invited hostile neighbors whose tyranny “oppressed and afflicted” (דָּחַק) the covenant people. The verb emphasizes more than generic hardship; it captures the suffocating squeeze that made Israel “groan.” This crushing pressure forms the backdrop for God’s compassion: “the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning” (Judges 2:18). The term thus intensifies the contrast between human cruelty and divine mercy, spotlighting the sovereign grace that repeatedly delivers a repentant nation. Prophetic Imagery: Joel 2:8 Joel’s locust army, a harbinger of the day of the LORD, advances with mechanical precision: “They do not jostle one another; each proceeds in his path” (Joel 2:8). Here דָּחַק appears negatively—there is no pushing among them—underscoring disciplined unity. The absence of דָּחַק within the ranks heightens the menace; nothing diverts the horde from its divinely appointed course, and nothing external can resist it. The image warns that God’s judgment, once unleashed, moves forward without the chaos typical of human armies, testifying to His absolute control over all instruments of chastening. Theological Themes 1. Divine Compassion amid Oppression: Judges 2:18 couples human distress with God’s pity. The Lord is neither indifferent to societal pressure nor slow to act when His people repent (Psalm 34:18; Isaiah 63:9). Practical Ministry Insights • Pastoral Care: Congregants crushed by life’s “pressures” can be pointed to the God who hears groans and sends deliverance (2 Corinthians 1:3-10). Connections with Related Vocabulary דָּחַק often overlaps conceptually with לָחַץ “to crush/oppress” (Judges 2:18) and דָּכָא “to crush” (Psalm 34:18). Together these verbs paint a comprehensive biblical picture of human misery answered by divine rescue (Isaiah 58:6-9). Christological and Eschatological Echoes Christ’s earthly ministry fulfilled Isaiah’s promise of a Deliverer who responds to oppression (Luke 4:18). At the same time, Joel’s disciplined host anticipates Revelation’s ordered armies of heaven (Revelation 19:14), showing that final judgment, like ancient chastening, will advance without misstep or delay. Questions for Reflection and Teaching 1. How does the Lord’s response to Israel’s anguish in Judges encourage perseverance in prayer during seasons of pressure? Forms and Transliterations וְדֹחֲקֵיהֶֽם׃ ודחקיהם׃ יִדְחָק֔וּן ידחקון vedochakeiHem wə·ḏō·ḥă·qê·hem wəḏōḥăqêhem yiḏ·ḥā·qūn yidchaKun yiḏḥāqūnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 2:18 HEB: מִפְּנֵ֥י לֹחֲצֵיהֶ֖ם וְדֹחֲקֵיהֶֽם׃ NAS: of those who oppressed and afflicted them. KJV: by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them. INT: because oppressed and afflicted Joel 2:8 2 Occurrences |
    |