Reference: Burden
American
A weight or load, on body or soul; often used figuratively, to denote afflictions, failings, sins, Ps 38:4; 55:22; Ga 6:2; services under law, Mt 23:4; official responsibilities, Ex 18:22; De 1:12; and especially prophetic messages, not always of a threatening character, Isa 19:1. In this last sense the Hebrew word may be rendered "oracle," "divine declaration," or "prophecy," as in 1/31/type/acv'>Pr 31:31,1.
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and let them judge the people at all seasons. And it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring to thee, but every small matter they shall judge themselves. So shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear [the burden
How can I myself alone bear your encumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?
For my iniquities have gone over my head. As a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
(Cast thy burden upon LORD, and he will sustain thee. He will never allow the righteous man to be moved.)
The words of king Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him.
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.
The burden of Egypt. Behold, LORD rides upon a swift cloud, and comes to Egypt. And the idols of Egypt shall tremble at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.
For they bind heavy burdens and difficult to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders, but they do not want to move them with their finger.
Bear the burdens of each other, and so fulfill the law of the Christ.
Easton
(1.) (1.) A load of any kind (Ex 23:5). (2.) A severe task (Ex 2:11). (3.) A difficult duty, requiring effort (Ex 18:22). (4.) A prophecy of a calamitous or disastrous nature (Isa 13:1; 17:1; Hab 1:1, etc.).
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And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown up, that he went out to his brothers, and looked on their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brothers.
and let them judge the people at all seasons. And it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring to thee, but every small matter they shall judge themselves. So shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear [the burden
If thou see the donkey of him who hates thee lying under his burden, thou shall refrain leaving him. Thou shall surely release [it] with him.
The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.
The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.
The burden which Habakkuk the prophet saw.
Hastings
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 2Ki 5:17; Ne 13:19; Nu 4:15. Related usages are frequent; in Isa 22:25 the word suggests the pressure of something hanging on a peg, in Nu 11:11 the responsibility and in Ho 8:10 the privilege of government, in Ps 38:4 the responsibility for sin. The second sense is that of a solemn utterance, and the marginal alternative 'oracle' (Isa 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. Zec 12; 9:1,9-17; in Pr 30:1; 31:1 RV puts 'oracle' in the text and 'burden' in the margin), and the word-play in Jer 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 (La 2:14).
In the NT, Ac 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 (Mt 23:4; Lu 11:46), for the prohibitions of the Apostolic decree (Ac 15:28; cf. Re 2:24), for the pressure and load of life (Mt 20:12), for an exacting or even legitimate charge upon others (2Co 11:9; 12:13 f.), for the imagined difficulties of following Christ (Mt 11:30). Two other kinds of burdens with their right treatment are contrasted. Other men's errors and sorrows must be shared in sympathy (Ga 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 (Ga 6:5).
R. W. Moss.
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And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the furniture of the sanctuary, as the camp is set forward, after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it, but they shall not touch the sanctuar
And Moses said to LORD, Why have thou dealt ill with thy servant? And why have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou lay the burden of all this people upon me?
And Naaman said, If not, yet, I pray thee, let there be given to thy servant two mules' burden of dirt, for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt-offering nor sacrifice to other gods, but to LORD.
And it came to pass that, when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath. And I set some of my servant
For my iniquities have gone over my head. As a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle. The man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
The words of king Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him.
In that day, says LORD of hosts, the nail that was fastened in a sure place shall give way, and it shall be hewn down, and fall. And the burden that was upon it shall be cut off, for LORD has spoken it.
And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of LORD? Then thou shall say to them, What burden! I will cast you off, says LORD.
Thy prophets have seen FALSE and foolish visions for thee. And they have not uncovered thine iniquity, to bring back thy captivity, but have seen for thee FALSE oracles and causes of banishment.
Yea, though they hire among the nations, I will now gather them, and they shall begin to be diminished because of the burden of the king of rulers.
For my yoke is befitting, and my burden is light.
saying, These last did one hour, and thou have made them equal to us, who have borne the burden of the day and the heat.
For they bind heavy burdens and difficult to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders, but they do not want to move them with their finger.
And he said, Woe also to you lawyers! Because ye load men with burdens difficult to bear, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
For it was decided by the Holy Spirit, and by us, to lay upon you not one greater burden than these necessary things:
And having sighted Cyprus, and having left it behind on the left side, we sailed to Syria and came down to Tyre, for there the ship was unloading the merchandise.
And being present with you, and when needy, I was a burden to no man. For the brothers who came from Macedonia, they supplied my need. And in everything I kept, and I will keep myself non-burdensome to you.
For what is there which ye were inferior to the other congregations? Except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong.
Bear the burdens of each other, and so fulfill the law of the Christ.
For each man will bear his own burden.
But I say to you, to those remaining in Thyatira, as many as have not this teaching, who do not know, as they say, the deep things of Satan, I do not cast upon you another burden.
Morish
Besides the common use of this word, it occurs at the commencement of several prophecies; as 'The burden of Babylon,' 'the burden of Moab.' Isa 13:1; 15:1; etc. The learned are not agreed as to the force of massa in such places: its natural meaning would be 'a judgement that lies heavy on the people;' but some take its meaning to be 'an oracle or sentence pronounced against them.' The word occurs also in Jer 23:33-38, where it is 'the burden of the Lord.' The false prophets were not to use this expression, as if they had a message from God. If they did, it should bring judgement upon them. The same word is translated 'prophecy' in Pr 30:1; 31:1.
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The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle. The man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
The words of king Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him.
The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.
The burden of Moab. For in a night Ar of Moab is laid waste, [and] brought to nothing. For in a night Kir of Moab is laid waste, [and] brought to nothing.
And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of LORD? Then thou shall say to them, What burden! I will cast you off, says LORD. And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, who shall say, The burden of LORD, I will even punish that man and his house. read more. Thus ye shall say each one to his neighbor, and each one to his brother: What has LORD answered? and, What has LORD spoken? And the burden of LORD ye shall mention no more, for every man's own word shall be his burden. For ye have perverted the words of the living God, of LORD of hosts our God. Thus thou shall say to the prophet: What has LORD answered thee? and, What has LORD spoken? But if ye say, The burden of LORD, therefore thus says LORD: Because ye say this word, The burden of LORD, and I have sent to you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of LORD,