Bible Dictionaries
Burden, Burdened, Burdensome

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

denotes "a weight, anything pressing on one physically," Matthew 20:12 , or "that makes a demand on one's resources," whether material, 1 Thessalonians 2:6 (to be burdensome), or spiritual, Galatians 6:2; Revelation 2:24 , or religious, Acts 15:28 . In one place it metaphorically describes the future state of believers as "an eternal weight of glory," 2 Corinthians 4:17 . See WEIGHT.

lit., "something carried" (from phero, "to bear"), is always used metaphorically (except in Acts 27:10 , of the lading of a ship); of that which, though "light," is involved in discipleship of Christ, Matthew 11:30; of tasks imposed by the scribes, Pharisees and lawyers, Matthew 23:4; Luke 11:46; of that which will be the result, at the judgment-seat of Christ, of each believer's work, Galatians 6:5 .

Note: The difference between phortion and baros is, that phortion is simply "something to be borne," without reference to its weight, but baros always suggests what is "heavy or burdensome." Thus Christ speaks of His "burden" (phortion) as "light;" here baros would be inappropriate; but the "burden" of a transgressor is baros, "heavy." Contrast baros in Galatians 6:2 , with phortion in Galatians 6:5 .

from a root gem---, signifying "full, or heavy," seen in gemo, "to be full," gemizo, "to fill," Lat. gemo, "to groan," denotes "the lading of freight of a ship," Acts 21:3 , or "merchandise conveyed in a ship," and so "merchandise in general," Revelation 18:11,12 . See MERCHANDISE.

akin to A, No. 1, is used of the effect of drowsiness, "were heavy," Matthew 26:43; Mark 14:40; Luke 9:32; of the effects of gluttony, Luke 21:34 ("overcharged"); of the believer's present physical state in the body, 2 Corinthians 5:4; of persecution, 2 Corinthians 1:8; of a charge upon material resources, 1 Timothy 5:16 (RV). See CHARGE , HEAVY PRESS.

epi, "upon" (intensive), "to burden heavily," is said of material RV, "burden," AV, "be chargeable to;" of the effect of spiritual admonition and discipline, 2 Corinthians 2:5 , RV, "press heavily," AV, "overcharge." See CHARGEABLE , PRESS.

"to weigh down" (kata, "down"), "overload," is used of material charges, in 2 Corinthians 12:16 .

"to be a burden, to be burdensome," primarily signifies "to be numbed or torpid, to grow stiff" (narke is the "torpedo or cramp fish," which benumbs anyone who touches it); hence, "to be idle to the detriment of another person" (like a useless limb), 2 Corinthians 11:9; 12:13,14 . See CHARGEABLE.

Note: For thlipsis, "distress, affliction," "burdened" (AV of 2 Corinthians 8:13 ) see AFFLICTION , B. No. 4.

"without weight" (a, negative, and baros, "see" A, No. 1), is used in 2 Corinthians 11:9 , lit. "I kept myself burdensomeless."