### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʻûwq**, represented by `{{H5781}}`, is a primitive root meaning **to pack** or **be pressed**. This specific and evocative term appears only 2 times in a single verse, where it is used to describe a feeling of being burdened and weighed down.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole biblical context for `{{H5781}}` is found in a powerful divine declaration in [[Amos 2:13]]. In this verse, God uses a simile to express the burden of Israel's sin, stating, "Behold, I am **pressed** under you, as a cart is **pressed** that is full of sheaves." This imagery directly communicates the immense weight of the people's transgressions, portraying God as being crushed by their actions, much like a wagon overloaded to its limit. The word's repetition in the verse emphasizes the severity of the pressure.
### Related Words & Concepts
The vividness of `{{H5781}}` in its single appearance is enhanced by the words used alongside it:
* `{{H5699}}` **ʻăgâlâh** (cart, chariot, wagon): This word identifies the object being pressed. While often used for transport, such as the **wagons** sent by Joseph [[Genesis 45:21]], here it functions as a metaphor for a system under extreme strain.
* `{{H4392}}` **mâlêʼ** (full or filling): This term describes the state of the cart, signifying it has reached its capacity. This concept of being **full** is used for both physical abundance, like houses **full** of good things [[Deuteronomy 6:11]], and divine presence, where a train **filled** the temple [[Isaiah 6:1]].
* `{{H5995}}` **ʻâmîyr** (a bunch of grain; handful, sheaf): This identifies the contents of the cart. **Sheaves** are associated with the result of a harvest, which can be gathered for judgment [[Micah 4:12]], making them a fitting symbol for the accumulated sins weighing down the cart.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H5781}}` is concentrated in its powerful metaphorical use.
* **The Burden of Sin:** The word is used directly by God to articulate His experience of being burdened by sin. It transforms a physical action into a description of a divine emotional and spiritual reality [[Amos 2:13]].
* **A Strained Relationship:** The imagery of being "pressed" suggests that the relationship between God and His people has been pushed to a breaking point. The pressure is active and indicates that the current state is unsustainable.
* **Impending Consequence:** An overloaded cart being pressed down implies an imminent collapse. The cart is **full** `{{H4392}}` of **sheaves** `{{H5995}}`, suggesting the "harvest" of iniquity is complete and ready for its consequences, as seen when sheaves are gathered [[Micah 4:12]].
### Summary
In summary, while extremely rare, `{{H5781}}` offers a uniquely visceral and potent image within scripture. It is not a broad, abstract term but a focused metaphor that vividly portrays God as being personally burdened by human sin. Its use in [[Amos 2:13]] demonstrates how everyday agricultural imagery—a cart, sheaves, and the physical stress of a heavy load—is employed to convey a profound and unsettling theological truth about the weight of transgression and the limits of divine patience.
TRV