### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **gêzel**, represented by `{{H1499}}`, is derived from the root word `{{H1497}}` **gâzal** and signifies **plunder** or **violence**. It appears **2 times** across **2 unique verses** in the Bible. Its meaning is specifically associated with violent and unjust actions, such as the forceful perversion of justice.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H1499}}` describes a severe form of injustice. In Ecclesiastes, it is used to characterize the **violent** perverting of judgment and justice when one sees the oppression of the poor [[Ecclesiastes 5:8]]. Ezekiel uses the term to condemn a father who "spoiled his brother by **violence**" as part of a list of cruel and oppressive acts that lead to death in his iniquity [[Ezekiel 18:18]]. In both instances, the word is tied to exploitation and the corrupt exercise of power.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help to clarify the concept of violent injustice:
* `{{H1497}}` **gâzal**: The primitive root of **gêzel**, this verb means to pluck off, strip, or rob. It is used in contexts of spoiling the poor or violently taking what is not one's own ([[Job 20:19]], [[Deuteronomy 28:29]]).
* `{{H6233}}` **ʻôsheq**: Meaning injury, fraud, or unjust gain, this word appears alongside **gêzel** in [[Ecclesiastes 5:8]] to describe the **oppression** of the poor. It speaks to the unjust results of violent acts.
* `{{H4941}}` **mishpâṭ**: This word for **judgment** or a verdict is directly associated with **gêzel** in the phrase "violent perverting of **judgment**" [[Ecclesiastes 5:8]]. The Lord is described as a God of **judgment**, making its perversion a serious offense [[Isaiah 30:18]].
* `{{H6231}}` **ʻâshaq**: A verb meaning to press upon or oppress, it is used to describe the actions of the father in the context of **gêzel** in [[Ezekiel 18:18]]. God explicitly commands against oppressing the vulnerable [[Zechariah 7:10]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H1499}}` centers on its opposition to divine law and character.
* **Perversion of Justice:** The term is explicitly linked to the "violent perverting of **judgment** `{{H4941}}` and **justice** `{{H6664}}`" [[Ecclesiastes 5:8]]. This act stands in stark contrast to God, whose ways are judgment and who executes righteousness for the oppressed ([[Deuteronomy 32:4]], [[Psalms 103:6]]).
* **Exploitation of the Helpless:** The context of **gêzel** involves the oppression of the poor and the spoiling of a brother ([[Ecclesiastes 5:8]], [[Ezekiel 18:18]]). This theme is reinforced by related terms that warn against oppressing the widow, the fatherless, and the poor ([[Malachi 3:5]], [[Zechariah 7:10]]).
* **Sin with Grave Consequences:** The use of `{{H1499}}` is not merely a social critique but a declaration of sin. The father who spoils his brother by **violence** is condemned to "die in his iniquity" for his actions [[Ezekiel 18:18]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1499}}` **gêzel** is a potent, though rare, term for violent injustice. It is more than simple robbery; it describes a forceful perversion of what is right, particularly against the poor and vulnerable. Its usage in scripture highlights it as an act that defies the very nature of God's justice and righteousness, leading to severe consequences.
TRV