Word Study for H3906 (לַחַץ) | Strong's Concordance

lachats /lakh'-ats/ Ask about this word

Meaningdistress

KJV usageaffliction, oppression.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of lachats — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word lachats, represented by H3906, is a term for distress; affliction, oppression. Derived from the root word for "to press," H3905, it appears 12 times across 10 unique verses in the Bible. This word vividly conveys a sense of being squeezed or burdened, whether by a foreign power, an enemy, or difficult circumstances.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H3906 is frequently used to describe the suffering of Israel. God acknowledges the oppression of His people by the Egyptians, a sight which prompts their deliverance Exodus 3:9. This theme reappears when God sees the oppression of Israel by the king of Syria 2 Kings 13:4. The word also portrays profound personal anguish, as the psalmist cries out, "why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" (Psalms 42:9, Psalms 43:2). In a striking metaphor, it is used to describe a meager and punishing diet of "bread of affliction and with water of affliction" 1 Kings 22:27.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help define the scope of suffering associated with H3906:

H3905 lâchats (to press, i.e. (figuratively) to distress; afflict, crush, force, hold fast, oppress(-or), thrust self): This is the root verb from which the noun is formed. The two are used together to emphasize the action and its result, as seen when God observes "the oppression H3906 wherewith the Egyptians oppress H3905 them" Exodus 3:9.
H6040 ʻŏnîy (depression, i.e. misery; afflicted(-ion), trouble): This term is often used in parallel with lachats to paint a fuller picture of suffering, such as when Israel cried out to God, who looked on their affliction H6040 and their oppression H3906 Deuteronomy 26:7.
H6818 tsaʻăqâh (a shriek; cry(-ing)): This word represents the audible response to lachats. The cry H6818 of the children of Israel, brought on by their oppression H3906, is what comes before God Exodus 3:9.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H3906 is significant, highlighting God's relationship with the suffering.

A Catalyst for Divine Intervention: The sight of oppression is consistently presented as a trigger for God's action. He sees the oppression of Israel in Egypt and under the Syrians and acts to deliver them (Exodus 3:9, 2 Kings 13:4).
A Basis for Lament: The feeling of oppression forms the basis of heartfelt pleas to God, questioning His perceived absence and forgetfulness in times of trouble (Psalms 43:2, Psalms 44:24).
A Means of Revelation: In some contexts, oppression becomes the very circumstance in which God communicates. The Lord may give "the water of affliction" Isaiah 30:20, and Elihu states that God "openeth their ears in oppression" Job 36:15.

Summary

In summary, H3906 is far more than a simple word for trouble. It captures the painful pressure of being crushed, whether as a nation under a tyrannical regime or as an individual soul in deep distress. It serves a crucial role in scripture, acting as the impetus for Israel's cries, the focus of God's attention, and the motivation for His ultimate deliverance.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 12 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

לַחַץ
לַחַץ

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 10 verses across 8 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms (3 verses); never once in the other 31.

Exodus

Deuteronomy

1 Kings

2 Kings

2 Chronicles

Job

Psalms

Isaiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.