oppress

Everyday

To oppress people is to treat them cruelly and unfairly, keeping them under hard control. tree →

In the lessons

in stories a cruel ruler oppresses the people and takes away their freedom

Examples

• The wicked king oppressed the poor villagers. tree →
• No one should oppress another person. tree →
• The people rose up against the soldiers who oppressed them. tree →

Note

nothing for maths

In Jewish tradition

The Torah forbids oppressing the stranger, because Israel was once oppressed as strangers in Egypt.

Interpretation. Tradition teaches that Israel should remember its own slavery to treat the stranger and the weak kindly, a lesson told at Passover.

Examples

• And a stranger shalt thou not wrong, neither shalt thou oppress him; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. (Torah EXO.22.21, JPS 1917) tree →
• And a stranger shalt thou not oppress; for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. (Torah EXO.23.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• And now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto Me; moreover I have seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. (Torah EXO.3.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• From the wicked that oppress, my deadly enemies, that compass me about. (Writings PSA.17.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! (Prophets ZEP.3.1, JPS 1917) tree →
• Be surety for Thy servant for good; let not the proud oppress me. (Writings PSA.119.122, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

nothing for maths