אוּץ
to press; (by implication) to be close, hurry, withdraw
Definition
The Hebrew verb אוּץ (ʼûwts) fundamentally means 'to press' or 'to exert pressure.' This core idea branches into several related meanings in biblical usage. It can describe physical haste or urgency, as when the angels urge Lot to hurry from Sodom (Genesis 19:15). In other contexts, it conveys the sense of being constrained or pressed for space, such as in Joshua 17:15 where the tribe of Joseph feels its hill country is too 'narrow' for them. The word also extends to the mental and moral realm, describing the negative haste of impulsive action that leads to poverty (Proverbs 21:5) or sin (Proverbs 19:2).
Biblical Usage
The word appears 10 times, primarily in narrative and wisdom literature. In historical books like Genesis, Exodus, and Joshua, it describes urgent physical action or spatial constraint (Genesis 19:15, Exodus 5:13, Joshua 10:13, 17:15). In the book of Proverbs, its usage is almost exclusively moral and psychological, warning against rash, hasty behavior that lacks proper understanding or diligence (Proverbs 19:2, 21:5, 28:20, 29:20). This pattern shows a development from concrete, physical pressure to abstract, ethical admonition.
Etymology
As a primitive root, אוּץ is not derived from a simpler Hebrew verb. Its core meaning of 'to press' is likely connected to physical force or compression. Cognates exist in related Semitic languages, such as Ugaritic and Arabic, with similar meanings of 'to hurry' or 'to be narrow,' supporting the basic sense of constriction or pressure that underlies all its biblical uses.
Semantic Range
אוּץ is theologically significant in wisdom literature, where it contrasts human haste with divine patience and prudent planning. The proverbs using this word teach that hurried, thoughtless action—whether in speech, decisions, or the pursuit of wealth—is opposed to the wisdom that comes from fear of the Lord and careful consideration. Understanding this Hebrew concept enriches reading by highlighting that biblical warnings against 'haste' are not merely about speed but about the moral and spiritual poverty of being 'pressed' or driven by impulse rather than godly understanding.
In an ancient agrarian and tribal society, the concept of being 'pressed' had immediate physical realities: narrow land boundaries, urgent agricultural deadlines, and the pressure of taskmasters. The word's use for spatial constraint (Joshua 17:15) reflects the high cultural value placed on sufficient land for a clan's survival and prosperity. The wisdom warnings connect this tangible pressure to the intangible but equally dangerous pressures of social ambition and rash judgment.
חוּשׁ (chûsh, H2363) — emphasizes a quick, sudden movement or emotional haste. בָּהַל (bāhal, H926) — focuses on being startled, terrified, or thrown into panic, often causing hasty action. מָהַר (māhar, H4116) — a more neutral term for acting quickly or speeding up a process.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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