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Bible Dictionaries
Burden
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
or BURDEN . The word so rendered in the OT is derived from a root which means to ‘lift’ or ‘carry.’ It has the two senses of an actual burden and a prophetic utterance. Instances of the former are 2 Kings 5:17 , Nehemiah 13:19 , Numbers 4:15 . Related usages are frequent; in Isaiah 22:25 the word suggests the pressure of something hanging on a peg, in Numbers 11:11 the responsibility and in Hosea 8:10 the privilege of government, in Psalms 38:4 the responsibility for sin. The second sense is that of a solemn utterance, and the marginal alternative ‘oracle’ ( Isaiah 14:28 et al .) is to he preferred. It was customary to explain this use of the word as due to the threatening character of the utterance; but many of the utterances are not threatening (cf. Zechariah 12:1-14; Zechariah 9:1; Zechariah 9:9-17; in Proverbs 30:1; Proverbs 31:1 RV [Note: Revised Version.] puts ‘oracle’ in the text and ‘burden’ in the margin), and the word-play in Jeremiah 23:33 ff. involves a reproof of the men who were disposed to regard the oracle of God as literally a burden. Most utterances of the prophets, moreover, were of necessity from their occasion minatory. ‘Burden’ in this second usage denotes simply something taken up solemnly upon the lips, both weighty in itself and weighty in its communication. It is not used of merely human utterances, but always carries with it the suggestion of Divine inspiration, actual or falsely assumed ( Lamentations 2:14 ).
In the NT, Acts 21:3 is an instance of the literal use. The figures are easy. The word is used for the ordinances of the Law as interpreted by the Pharisees ( Matthew 23:4 , Luke 11:46 ), for the prohibitions of the Apostolic decree ( Acts 15:28; cf. Revelation 2:24 ), for the pressure and load of life ( Matthew 20:12 ), for an exacting or even legitimate charge upon others ( 2 Corinthians 11:9; 2 Corinthians 12:13 f.), for the imagined difficulties of following Christ ( Matthew 11:30 ). Two other kinds of burdens with their right treatment are contrasted. Other men’s errors and sorrows must be shared in sympathy ( Galatians 6:2 ); though in the service of Christ there can be no transfer of obligations, but each man must carry his own kit and do his own duty ( Galatians 6:5 ).
R. W. Moss.
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Hastings, James. Entry for 'Burden'. Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hdb/b/burden.html. 1909.
