English · KJV
H5065

נָגַשׂ

nâgas /naw-gas'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto drive (an animal, a workman, a debtor, an army); by implication, to tax, harass, tyrannize
KJV usagedistress, driver, exact(-or), oppress(-or), taskmaster.
Idioms & phrasesidiom raiser of taxes

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of nâgas — 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 nâgas, represented by H5065, is a primitive root that conveys concepts of driving, harassment, and tyranny. Appearing 23 times in 23 unique verses, its meanings include distress, driver, exactor, oppressor, and taskmaster. This term is consistently used to describe the harsh exertion of power over others, whether they are animals, workers, debtors, or a conquered people.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H5065 is prominently featured in the context of Israel's bondage. The Lord hears the cry of His people in Egypt because of their taskmasters Exodus 3:7, who were commanded by Pharaoh to intensify their labor Exodus 5:6. The term also describes financial coercion, as in the law forbidding Israelites from exacting payment from a brother during the year of release Deuteronomy 15:2. In prophecy, it identifies tyrannical rulers like the king of Babylon, called "the oppressor" Isaiah 14:4, and is used to describe the suffering servant who "was oppressed" Isaiah 53:7.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a broader context for the types of hardship associated with H5065:

  • H6031 ʻânâh (afflict): Often appearing alongside H5065, this word means to depress or humble, highlighting the emotional and physical state of those being oppressed Isaiah 53:7.
  • H5383 nâshâh (creditor, exact): This term relates to lending and borrowing, specifically the act of a creditor collecting a debt, which provides the financial context for the command not to exact payment Deuteronomy 15:2.
  • H7287 râdâh (rule, have dominion): This word signifies subjugation and dominion. In a dramatic reversal of fortune, it is prophesied that Israel will rule over their former oppressors Isaiah 14:2.
  • H7626 shêbeṭ (rod, sceptre): This word for a stick used for punishment or ruling appears in Isaiah 9:4 as "the rod of his oppressor," a tangible symbol of the authority used to enforce tyranny.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5065 is significant, underscoring God's perspective on justice and power.

  • Condemnation of Tyranny: The word is consistently used to describe unjust actions that God opposes, from the cruelty of Pharaoh's taskmasters Exodus 5:13 to the self-serving worship of those who exact labor on a day of fasting Isaiah 58:3.
  • Divine Deliverance: God is portrayed as the deliverer from the oppressor. He acts in response to the cries of the afflicted Exodus 3:7, breaks the "rod of his oppressor" Isaiah 9:4, and promises a future where no oppressor will pass through His people Zechariah 9:8.
  • Messianic Suffering and Righteous Rule: The term finds its most profound use in describing the suffering servant who was oppressed and afflicted Isaiah 53:7. In the promised restoration, this dynamic is inverted, as God promises to make Israel's exactors a picture of righteousness Isaiah 60:17.

Summary

In summary, H5065 is more than just a word for driving or taxing; it is a term that defines the abuse of power and the resulting affliction. It frames key biblical events, from the bondage in Egypt to prophecies of judgment and messianic suffering. Ultimately, the use of nâgas highlights a core biblical theme: God's opposition to injustice and His ultimate deliverance of the oppressed.

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 verb across 23 occurrences, inflected in 9 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.

  • נֹגֵשׂ
  • נֹגְשֵׂי
  • נִגַּשׂ
  • נֹּגְשִׂים
  • נִגַּשׂ
  • תִּנְגֹּשׂוּ
  • תִּגֹּשׂ
  • יִגֹּשׂ
  • נָגַשׂ

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H6031 עָנָה a primitive root (possibly rather identical with עָנָה through the idea of looking down or browbeating); to depress lite H5383 נָשָׁה a primitive root (rather identical with נָשָׁה, in the sense of נָשָׁא); to lend or (by reciprocity) borrow on security H7287 רָדָה a primitive root; to tread down, i.e. subjugate; specifically, to crumble off; (come to, make to) have dominion, prevail H7626 שֵׁבֶט from an unused root probably meaning to branch off; a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting,

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 23 verses across 8 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (8 verses); never once in the other 31.

5
Exodus
2
Deuteronomy
2
1 Samuel
1
2 Kings
2
Job
8
Isaiah
1
Daniel
2
Zechariah

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.