The Hebrew verb maak means to press, crush, squeeze, or bruise. It refers to the physical action of pressing something flat or the crushing of a wound. The word appears in Leviticus in connection with injuries and in the context of physical suffering.
While maak appears infrequently in the Old Testament, it connects to the broader theological theme of crushing and pressing in Scripture. The suffering servant of Isaiah 53 is described as being 'crushed' (H1792, dakah) for our iniquities — the same concept of violent pressing. Grapes must be pressed to yield wine; olives must be crushed to yield oil. This physical reality becomes a powerful metaphor for the suffering that produces spiritual fruit. The crushing of God's servant was not purposeless — it was the ordained means of atonement. Maak thus points toward the costly nature of redemption.