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H405 · Hebrew · Old Testament
אֶכֶף
Ekef
Noun, masculine
Pressure, force

Definition

The Hebrew noun ekef (אֶכֶף) means "pressure, force" — derived from the verb akaf (H404, to press/urge). It appears only once in the Old Testament (Job 33:7), where Elihu assures Job that his "pressure" (ekef) will not weigh heavily upon him — that God's spokesman speaking to him carries no crushing burden.

Usage & Theological Significance

In Job 33:7, Elihu says: "No fear of me should alarm you, nor should my hand be heavy on you." The word ekef here means the weight or pressure of authority — the oppressive heaviness that Job feared from God Himself. Job had complained that God's hand was too heavy upon him (Job 23:2). Elihu corrects this misperception: the mediator who comes to speak for God does not come with crushing pressure but as one who stands on equal footing as a fellow creature. This anticipates Christ — the true Mediator — who "emptied himself" and came not to crush but to carry our burden (Matthew 11:29–30).

Key Bible Verses

Job 33:7 No fear of me should alarm you, nor should my hand be heavy (ekef) on you.
Job 23:2 Even today my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.
Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.
Psalm 38:4 My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.
Isaiah 53:4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering.

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External Resources

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