Lexical Summary otser: Treasure, storehouse, treasury Original Word: עֹצֶר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance barren, oppression, prison From atsar; closure; also constraint -- X barren, oppression, X prison. see HEBREW atsar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom atsar Definition restraint, coercion NASB Translation barren (1), oppression (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs עֹ֫צֶר noun [masculine] restraint, coercion; — ׳ע absolute: וּמִמִּשְׁפָט ׳מֵע Isaiah 53:8 from (as a result of) coercion and judgment he was taken off; construct רָעָה ׳ע Psalm 107:39; רָ֑חַם ׳ע Proverbs 30:16 restraint of womb, barrenness (so Psalm 107:39 PerlesAnal. 85). Topical Lexicon Meaning and Scope עֹצֶר portrays the state of being forcibly held back or shut in, whether by external tyranny, internal barrenness, or divinely decreed limitation. In every case it signals an absence of the freedom or fullness God originally willed for His people and His creation. Occurrences in Scripture Psalm 107:39; Proverbs 30:16; Isaiah 53:8. Contextual Nuances 1. Collective Distress (Psalm 107:39) – The psalm recounts cycles of rebellion, chastening, deliverance, and praise. When “they were diminished and humbled by oppression, misery, and sorrow”, עֹצֶר describes the crushing social and economic restraints God permits to bring a wayward nation to repentance. The verse immediately anticipates divine intervention, underscoring that restraint is never God’s final word. 2. Personal Barrenness (Proverbs 30:16) – Listed among things that “never say, ‘Enough!’,” the “barren womb” embodies an unrelenting hunger created by עֹצֶר. Here the term is intensely personal, reminding readers that infertility in Israel was experienced not merely as biological limitation but as emotional anguish and perceived loss of covenant blessing (compare Genesis 30:1). The proverb treats this longing with sober realism, inviting dependence on the Lord rather than on human schemes. 3. Messianic Oppression (Isaiah 53:8) – “By oppression and judgment He was taken away”. The Servant song uses עֹצֶר to frame the unjust pressure that led to Messiah’s removal from public life and ultimately to His death. Unlike the deserved chastening in Psalm 107, this restraint is imposed on the Righteous One for the sake of the unrighteous (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 3:18). The word therefore becomes a lens through which believers view the atonement: the One who knew no sin submitted to the severest restraint so that His people might enter perfect liberty. Biblical Theology Across its limited appearances, עֹצֶר traces a movement from deserved judgment (Psalm 107) through existential human need (Proverbs 30) to redemptive substitution (Isaiah 53). The pattern mirrors the larger biblical storyline: bondage under sin, groaning for deliverance, and the gospel answer in Christ. Each context shows that God alone ultimately governs restraint and release (Psalm 146:7; Luke 4:18). Ministry Implications • Compassionate Identification: Leaders must recognize both societal oppression and personal barrenness in their congregations, offering the comfort with which they themselves have been comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1:4). • Prayer and Lament: The reality of עֹצֶר legitimizes cries for justice and fertility, encouraging honest lament while awaiting God’s timing. • Proclamation of Freedom: Because Christ has borne oppressive restraint, the church proclaims liberty to captives, whether captivity is political, spiritual, or emotional (John 8:36). Christological Connection The restraint laid on Jesus fulfills the servant motif and provides the legal basis for releasing all who trust Him. His resurrection demonstrates that every form of עֹצֶר, including death itself, has been decisively broken. Devotional Reflection Where the believer feels hemmed in—by hostile systems, by unanswered longings, or by spiritual opposition—the Scriptures invite a two-fold response: humble acknowledgment that God remains sovereign over every restraint, and confident hope that in Christ the end of the account is freedom, fruitfulness, and joy. Forms and Transliterations וְעֹ֪צֶ֫ר ועצר מֵעֹ֖צֶר מֵעֹ֤צֶר מעצר mê‘ōṣer mê·‘ō·ṣer meOtzer veOTzer wə‘ōṣer wə·‘ō·ṣerLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 107:39 HEB: וַיִּמְעֲט֥וּ וַיָּשֹׁ֑חוּ מֵעֹ֖צֶר רָעָ֣ה וְיָגֽוֹן׃ NAS: Through oppression, misery KJV: and brought low through oppression, affliction, INT: are diminished and bowed oppression affliction and sorrow Proverbs 30:16 Isaiah 53:8 3 Occurrences |
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