Meaning
An oppressor is a person or group that subjects others to unjust, cruel, or abusive treatment.
Biblical Usage
In Scripture, an oppressor is a person, ruler, nation, or other group that subjects others to hardship, exploitation, violence, or unjust control. Oppressors may exercise authority over individuals or whole populations.
Scripture describes both foreign powers that oppressed Israel and individuals who abused the weak or used authority unjustly. The term identifies the agent responsible for oppression, while oppression describes the unjust treatment itself.
Key References
- Judges 2:18
- Judges 4:3
- 1 Samuel 12:10
- 2 Samuel 22:3
- Psalm 12:5
- Psalm 72:4
- Psalm 74:8
- Psalm 119:121-122
- Isaiah 49:26
- Isaiah 60:14
- Jeremiah 22:17
- Luke 3:14
- Acts 10:38
Related Terms
- Oppression
- Enemy
- Adversary
- Persecutor
- Tyrant
- Justice
- Judgment
- Deliverer
- Affliction