### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **châmôwts**, represented by `{{H2541}}`, describes one who is **oppressed**. Derived from a root meaning "violent," it implies a person who has been subjected to violence or robbery. It appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse**, making its single usage highly significant.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H2541}}` is in [[Isaiah 1:17]], as part of a series of divine commands. The verse instructs the people to "relieve the **oppressed**," placing this action within a list of righteous deeds that includes seeking judgment, judging the fatherless, and pleading for the widow. In this context, the **oppressed** are identified as a specific class of vulnerable people who require active defense and relief from injustice.
### Related Words & Concepts
The surrounding words in its only context illuminate the meaning and required response to the **oppressed**:
* `{{H833}}` **'âshar** (relieve): This is the specific action commanded in relation to the oppressed. It means to go forward, be proper, or relieve, highlighting a call to guide and restore those who have been wronged [[Isaiah 1:17]].
* `{{H4941}}` **mishpâṭ** (judgment): The command to "seek judgment" provides the framework for relieving the oppressed. It refers to justice, a verdict, or a right, indicating that defending the oppressed is an execution of divine justice [[Isaiah 1:17]].
* `{{H3490}}` **yâthôwm** (fatherless): This term for a bereaved child or orphan appears immediately after the command to relieve the oppressed. The pairing emphasizes that the oppressed are among society's most vulnerable, whom God specifically commands his people to protect [[Isaiah 1:17]].
* `{{H490}}` **'almânâh** (widow): Appearing alongside "fatherless" and "oppressed," this word for a widow completes the picture of those who lack social power and are in need of advocacy and protection [[Isaiah 1:17]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H2541}}` is concentrated in its singular, powerful context.
* **A Mandate for Active Justice:** The word is not merely descriptive; it is part of an imperative. God calls his people not just to feel sympathy but to actively "relieve" the oppressed, making intervention a requirement of righteousness [[Isaiah 1:17]].
* **Defining Righteous Living:** The act of relieving the oppressed is presented as a key component of learning to "do well" `{{H3190}}`. This demonstrates that, from a biblical perspective, ethical living is inseparable from social justice and the defense of the vulnerable.
* **God's Concern for the Vulnerable:** By placing the "oppressed" alongside the "fatherless" `{{H3490}}` and the "widow" `{{H490}}`, the text underscores God's special concern for those who cannot defend themselves. This theme is consistent throughout scripture, where God is portrayed as the ultimate judge and defender of such individuals [[Psalms 68:5]].
### Summary
In summary, while **châmôwts** `{{H2541}}` is one of the rarest words in the Hebrew Bible, its meaning is profound. Its single use in [[Isaiah 1:17]] frames the "oppressed" as those who have suffered violence and injustice. More importantly, it is embedded in a divine command that defines righteousness not as passive belief, but as the active pursuit of justice and the tangible relief of the most vulnerable members of society.
TRV