Lexical Summary ekeph: Because, consequence, reward, end Original Word: אֶכֶף Strong's Exhaustive Concordance hand From 'akaph; a load; by implication, a stroke (others dignity) -- hand. see HEBREW 'akaph NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom akaph Definition pressure NASB Translation pressure (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [אֶ֫כֶף] noun masculine pressure, suffix אַכְמִּי Job 33:7 (ᵐ5 and others read כַּמִּי compare Job 13:21, but compare Di). אכר (Arabic Topical Lexicon Overview אֶכֶף appears only once in the Hebrew canon, in Job 33:7, where Elihu assures Job, “Surely no fear of me should terrify you, nor should my hand be heavy upon you” (Berean Standard Bible). The word conveys the idea of a burden, pressure, or weight that threatens to overwhelm. As a hapax legomenon, it gains interpretive richness from the immediate literary and theological context rather than from comparative lexical study. Context in the Book of Job Job 32–37 records Elihu’s speeches, positioned between the discourses of Job’s three friends and the divine response. Elihu seeks to correct both Job’s complaints and the friends’ theology. When he uses אֶכֶף, he addresses Job’s fear that any further counsel might deepen his misery. Elihu contrasts the crushing severity Job anticipates with a gentle pastoral approach: whatever he says will not be an additional “pressure.” The single usage therefore highlights the distinction between human arrogance, which can exacerbate suffering, and godly counsel, which relieves it (Proverbs 12:25). Semantic Nuances Though other Hebrew terms for heaviness (e.g., kaved) appear frequently, אֶכֶף carries an emphatic nuance of oppressive weight. The imagery evokes a hand pressing down—an action that can signal both discipline and domination. Here the negative sense predominates: it is a weight that could intimidate and immobilize. By denying such intent, Elihu implicitly models gentleness—one facet of true wisdom (James 3:17). Theological Reflections 1. Divine Compassion: Elihu’s assurance prefigures the Lord’s self-disclosure in Job 38–42, where God’s overwhelming majesty is tempered by His commitment to restore Job. The single-word promise of “no heavy hand” echoes later revelations of God’s merciful character (Psalm 103:13–14). Connections with Other Scriptural Themes • God’s “heavy hand” as discipline (1 Samuel 5:6) contrasts with Elihu’s “not heavy” hand, underscoring that human counselors must distinguish their role from divine judgment. Historical and Cultural Background Ancient Near Eastern wisdom traditions prized the mentor-disciple relationship. Heavy-handed authority figures were common, but Israel’s wisdom literature often sets forth a gentler ideal. Elihu’s sensitivity aligns with the covenant ethic of neighbor love (Leviticus 19:18), reinforcing that even in patriarchal society, true authority serves rather than crushes. Practical Ministry Applications • Counseling: Those ministering to the afflicted must guard against adding emotional אֶכֶף. Listening, praying, and speaking scriptural truth in love fulfill Elihu’s model. Christological Foreshadowing Elihu’s gentle hand anticipates the Messianic Shepherd who gathers lambs “and carries them in His bosom” (Isaiah 40:11). Jesus’ invitation, “My yoke is easy and My burden is light,” fulfills the longing for relief from אֶכֶף. His atoning work removes the ultimate weight of sin and wrath, establishing the believer’s freedom from every crushing burden. Summary Through its lone occurrence, אֶכֶף crystallizes a biblical ethic of compassionate counsel. It serves as a textual hinge in Job, pointing beyond human wisdom to the gracious God who relieves, rather than increases, the load borne by His people. Forms and Transliterations וְ֝אַכְפִּ֗י ואכפי veachPi wə’aḵpî wə·’aḵ·pîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 33:7 HEB: לֹ֣א תְבַעֲתֶ֑ךָּ וְ֝אַכְפִּ֗י עָלֶ֥יךָ לֹא־ NAS: you, Nor should my pressure weigh heavily KJV: shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy INT: no terrify my pressure and Nor 1 Occurrence |
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