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H7533

רָצַץ

râtsats /raw-tsats'/ Ask about this word
a primitive root
to crack in pieces, literally or figuratively
break, bruise, crush, discourage, oppress, struggle together.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of râtsats — 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 râtsats, represented by H7533, is a primitive root meaning to crack in pieces, literally or figuratively. Its definition includes a range of intense actions such as to break, bruise, crush, discourage, oppress, and struggle together. It appears 19 times across 18 unique verses, highlighting its application to describe both physical destruction and social or emotional distress.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H7533 is used to convey several distinct types of crushing force. It describes literal, violent impact, as when a millstone was used to brake Abimelech's skull Judges 9:53, and the visceral prenatal struggle of Jacob and Esau Genesis 25:22. The word is also a powerful metaphor for unreliable strength; both Assyria and Babylon refer to Egypt as a "bruised" or "broken" reed that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it (2 Kings 18:21, Isaiah 36:6). A primary use of the term is to condemn the social sin of oppressing the vulnerable, as seen in the prophetic warning against those who crush the needy Amos 4:1 and in the covenant curses against Israel Deuteronomy 28:33.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help to define the scope of breaking and oppression:

  • H6231 ʻâshaq (to press upon, i.e. oppress, defraud, violate, overflow): This word is frequently paired with H7533 to describe the injustice done to the poor and needy. It emphasizes the act of fraudulent pressure, which is often followed by the crushing consequence described by râtsats Amos 4:1.
  • H7665 shâbar (to burst (literally or figuratively); break, crush, destroy): A close synonym for physical breaking, shâbar is used alongside râtsats to describe complete destruction. While the Servant will not break a bruised reed, Ezekiel describes Egypt as a reed that breaks and then is broken under pressure (Isaiah 42:3, Ezekiel 29:7).
  • H7492 râʻats (to break in pieces; figuratively, harass): This term is used in direct parallel with H7533 to intensify the description of mistreatment. For eighteen years, the children of Israel were "vexed and oppressed," a combination that shows a prolonged state of harassment and crushing Judges 10:8.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7533 is significant, highlighting themes of injustice, frailty, and divine character.

  • Condemnation of Oppression: The word is central to God's commands for social justice. Prophets use it to denounce the powerful who crush the poor Amos 4:1, and Samuel's integrity is partly defined by his claim to have never oppressed anyone 1 Samuel 12:3.
  • Human Frailty and Unreliability: The imagery of a "bruised" or "broken" reed serves as a potent metaphor for human weakness and untrustworthy alliances, such as Israel's reliance on Egypt Isaiah 36:6. In Ecclesiastes, the "golden bowl" being broken is a picture of the body's final decay Ecclesiastes 12:6.
  • Messianic Gentleness and Liberation: In a striking contrast, the Lord's Servant is characterized by what He will not do: He will not break a bruised reed Isaiah 42:3. His mission is not to crush the weak but to bring justice without being discouraged himself Isaiah 42:4. Furthermore, true worship involves letting the oppressed go free Isaiah 58:6.

Summary

In summary, H7533 conveys a profound sense of being broken, whether physically, socially, or spiritually. It depicts everything from a fatal blow to a skull to the systemic crushing of the poor and the internal state of being discouraged. The word is a key descriptor for the sin of oppression which God judges, yet it is also used to paint a picture of the Messiah's gentle strength, who, rather than crushing the weak, comes to heal and set the oppressed free.

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 20 occurrences, inflected in 17 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.

  • רָצוּץ
  • תָּרִץ
  • יִּתְרֹצֲצוּ
  • נָרֹץ
  • תֵּרוֹץ
  • יְרֹצְצוּ
  • יְרַצֵּץ
  • רִצַּצְתָּ
  • רִצַּץ
  • תָרֻץ
  • יָרוּץ
  • רְצוּצִים
  • רְצוּץ
  • רֹצְצוֹת
  • רַצּוֹתִי
  • רַצּוֹתָ
  • נָתַץ

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.

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 18 verses across 13 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (4 verses); never once in the other 26.

1
Genesis
1
Deuteronomy
2
Judges
2
1 Samuel
1
2 Kings
1
2 Chronicles
1
Job
1
Psalms
1
Ecclesiastes
4
Isaiah
1
Ezekiel
1
Hosea
1
Amos

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.