Topic
Burden
57 passages cited, from 3 classic reference works.
These works date from 1896–1915 and are in the public domain. They reflect the Protestant scholarship of their time: their history, archaeology and dates can be out of date, and where they interpret, other traditions read the text differently. The verses are shown in the King James Version, the wording these works were written against.
The verses
The passages the works cite, those cited by more of them first.
- Isaiah 13:1Easton · ISBE · Nave FIGURATIVE — Of the prophetic message
The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.
- Exodus 23:5Easton · ISBE
If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.
- Isaiah 17:1Easton · Nave FIGURATIVE — Of the prophetic message
The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.
- Habakkuk 1:1Easton · ISBE
The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.
- Luke 11:46ISBE · Nave FIGURATIVE — Of oppressions
And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
- Galatians 6:2ISBE · Nave FIGURATIVE — Of oppressions
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
- Genesis 25:14ISBE
And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,
- Exodus 2:11Easton
¶ And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.
- Exodus 5:4ISBE
And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.
- Exodus 5:5ISBE
And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.
- Exodus 6:6ISBE
Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:
- Exodus 6:7ISBE
And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
Show 45 more
- Exodus 18:22 Easton
- Numbers 4:15 ISBE
- Numbers 4:24 ISBE
- Numbers 4:27 ISBE
- Numbers 11:11 ISBE
- Numbers 11:17 ISBE
- Deuteronomy 1:12 ISBE
- 2 Samuel 15:33 ISBE
- 2 Samuel 19:35 ISBE
- 1 Kings 11:28 ISBE
- 2 Kings 5:17 ISBE
- 2 Kings 8:9 ISBE
- Nehemiah 4:17 ISBE
- Job 7:20 ISBE
- Psalms 38:4 ISBE
- Psalms 81:6 ISBE
- Proverbs 30:1 ISBE
- Proverbs 31:1 ISBE
- Isaiah 10:27 ISBE
- Isaiah 14:25 ISBE
- Isaiah 14:28 ISBE
- Isaiah 15:1 Nave FIGURATIVE — Of the prophetic message
- Isaiah 19:1 Nave FIGURATIVE — Of the prophetic message
- Isaiah 58:6 Nave FIGURATIVE — Of oppressions
- Jeremiah 23:33 ISBE
- Jeremiah 23:36 ISBE
- Jeremiah 23:38 ISBE
- Lamentations 2:14 ISBE
- Ezekiel 12:10 ISBE
- Hosea 8:10 ISBE
- Amos 5:11 ISBE
- Nahum 1:1 ISBE
- Zechariah 9:1 ISBE
- Zechariah 12:1 ISBE
- Zechariah 12:1–14 ISBE
- Malachi 1:1 ISBE
- Matthew 11:30 ISBE
- Matthew 20:12 ISBE
- Matthew 23:4 Nave FIGURATIVE — Of oppressions
- Acts 15:28 ISBE
- Acts 21:3 ISBE
- 1 Corinthians 9:24–27 ISBE
- Galatians 6:5 ISBE
- Hebrews 12:1 ISBE
- Revelation 2:24 ISBE
In the reference works
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · 6 references
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915) · 50 references
bur'-dn.
1. In the Old Testament:
In the Old Testament more than one word is rendered "burden."
(1) massa', from a root nasa' "he lifted up." Thus literally any load is called massa' (Ex 23:5; Nu 4:15,24,27 ff; 2Ki 5:17; 8:9). Figuratively, people are a burden (Nu 11:11,17; De 1:12; 2Sa 15:33; 19:35). A man may be a burden to himself (Job 7:20). Iniquities are a burden (Ps 38:4). Taxes may be a burden (Ho 8:10).
(2) In both the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) massa' is translated "burden," as applied to certain prophetic utterances; but both the American Revised Version, margin and the Revised Version, margin have "oracle." Examples are Isa 13:1; 14:28, and often; Jer 23:33,36,38, no marginal reading; Eze 12:10; Na 1:1; Hab 1:1; Zec 9:1; 12:1; Mal 1:1. As was natural under the circumstances, such oracles usually denounced judgment upon place or people. Hence, probably the translation "burden." But some of these prophetic utterances do not contain denunciation or threat (Zec 12). The passage in Jer, moreover, implies that the prophet used the term in the sense of "oraele," for scoffers are reproved for perverting the word and giving it the meaning "burden." Massa', therefore, means something taken up with solemnity upon the lips, whether threatening or not, and the rendering, "burden," ought most likely to be given up.
The word mas'-eth, of the same derivation as massa', is applied to foolish oracles (La 2:14 the King James Version, oracles the American Standard Revised Version, burdens the American Revised Version, margin, burdens the Revised Version (British and American), oracles the Revised Version, margin; Am 5:11, burdens the King James Version, exactions the American Standard Revised Version and the Revised Version (British and American)).
Massa' is used also in Pr 30:1 and Pr 31:1, and is variously rendered prophecy (the King James Version), oracle (American Revised Version), burden, or the name of the speaker's country (Revised Version margin, the American Revised Version, margin), oracle (Revised Version). The reading is doubtful, but probably the reference is to the speaker's country- -"Jakeh, of Massa" (compare Ge 25:14), "Lemuel king of Massa."
Other words translated "burden" are from the root cabhal, "to bear a load" (Ne 4:17; Ps 81:6; 1Ki 11:28; King James Version margin, charge the King James Version, labor the American Standard Revised Version and the Revised Version (British and American), burden the American Revised Version, margin and the Revised Version, margin, Ex 5:4,5; 6:6,7; Isa 10:27; Isa 14:25).
2. In the New Testament:
In the New Testament several Greek words mean "burden."
(1) baros, "something heavy." Burdens of the day (Mt 20:12), the burden of duty to be borne, a difficult requirement (Ac 15:28; Re 2:24). The burden of one's moral infirmities (Ga 6:2).
(2) phortion, "something to be borne." The obligation which Christ imposes (Mt 11:30); the legal ordinances of the Pharisees (Lu 11:46); a man's individual responsibility (Ga 6:5). Whether any clear and consistent distinction can be made between these two words is doubtful. Probably, however, phortion refers to the load as something to be borne, whether heavy or light, whilst baros may be an oppressive load. According to Lightfoot baros may suggest a load of which a man may rightly rid himself should occasion serve, but phortion a burden which he is expected to bear, as every soldier carries his own pack. But most likely too much weight should not be given to these distinctions.
(3) There is also the word gomos, "the freight" of a ship (Ac 21:3); compare ogkos, weight or encumbrance which impedes the runner's progress to the goal (Heb 12:1), with particular reference to the superfluous flesh which an athlete seeks to get rid of in training (compare 1Co 9:24-27), and figuratively whatever hinders the full development of Christian manhood.
George Henry Trever
In the topical indexes
Texts: Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897); International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915); Nave's Topical Bible (1896), from the CrossWire SWORD modules (public domain). Verse references were parsed from the works' own markup and checked against the KJV verse list.