Lexical Summary tsahar: To glisten, to shine, to be bright Original Word: צָהַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance make oil A primitive root; to glisten; used only as denominative from yitshar, to press out oil -- make oil. see HEBREW yitshar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origindenominative verb from yitshar Definition to press out oil NASB Translation produce oil (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [צָהַר] verb denominative from foregoing, Hiph`il press out oil; — Imperfect3masculine plural יַצְהִ֑ירוּ Job 24:11. Topical Lexicon Root Idea and Sphere of Meaning Strong’s Hebrew 6671, צָהַר, denotes the manual act of squeezing or pressing olives until the oil flows. The term therefore belongs to the agricultural world of ancient Israel and appears once, in Job 24:11, to illustrate both the process itself and the social conditions surrounding it. Old-Testament Context (Job 24:11) Job 24 records Job’s protest that the wicked prosper while the vulnerable suffer. In verse 11 he points to laborers forced to “crush olives within their walls” yet who themselves remain deprived. The verb צָהַר captures the grinding toil of these oppressed workers. Olive oil was a staple of daily life—food, medicine, lamp fuel, sacrifice, and anointing—so the image magnifies the injustice: those who produce blessing for others are denied its benefits. Agricultural and Economic Background 1. Olive Cultivation: Trees were shaken or beaten (Deuteronomy 24:20); fruit was gathered and carried in baskets. Theological Insights • Divine Concern for the Oppressed: The lone usage of צָהַר occurs in a lament over exploitation. Scripture consistently condemns withholding wages (Leviticus 19:13; James 5:4) and calls rulers to defend laborers’ rights. Christological Overtones Gethsemane means “oil press.” There the greater Job, Jesus Christ, experienced soul-crushing anguish to bring forth salvation. The single Old-Testament use of צָהַר thus anticipates the gospel paradox: life and light flow out of pressure and suffering. Ministry Applications • Advocacy: Believers are to oppose exploitative labor practices, mirroring God’s concern revealed in Job 24:11. Related Vocabulary and Concepts yitshar (יִצְהָר, “fresh oil,” Deuteronomy 7:13) – the product of צָהַר. miṣrah (“press place,” Nehemiah 13:15) – installation where olives or grapes were pressed. dakaʾ (“crush,” Isaiah 53:10) – broader term for bruising, often with redemptive significance. Legacy in Jewish and Christian Tradition Rabbinic literature highlights fair treatment of day laborers in olive yards. Early church fathers drew parallels between olive oil and the Holy Spirit’s gifts. Medieval commentators saw Job 24:11 as a moral indictment of feudal exploitation. Modern missions employ the verse to challenge trafficking and sweatshop abuses. Practical Counsel for Today Remember the workers behind daily commodities, intercede for the exploited, support fair-trade initiatives, and embrace seasons when God’s providential “press” produces character and spiritual vitality. Forms and Transliterations יַצְהִ֑ירוּ יצהירו yaṣ·hî·rū yaṣhîrū yatzHiruLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 24:11 HEB: בֵּין־ שׁוּרֹתָ֥ם יַצְהִ֑ירוּ יְקָבִ֥ים דָּ֝רְכ֗וּ NAS: the walls they produce oil; They tread KJV: [Which] make oil within their walls, INT: Within the walls produce wine tread 1 Occurrence |