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/mstc'>Pr 31:31,1.
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And let them judge the people at all seasons: If there be any great matter, let them bring that unto thee, and let them judge all small causes them selves, and ease thyself, and let them bear with thee.
'How,' said I, 'can I myself alone bear the cumbrance, charge, and strife that is among you?
For my wickednesses are gone over my head, and are like a sore burden, too heavy for me to bear.
O cast thy burden or care upon the LORD; he shall nourish thee, and not leave the righteous in unquietness.
These are the words of king Lemuel, and the Prophecy that his mother taught him.
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
This is the heavy burden upon Egypt: Behold, the LORD will ride upon a swift cloud, and come into Egypt. And the idols of Egypt shall tremble at his coming, and the heart of Egypt shall quake within her.
Yea, and they bind heavy burdens, and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders: but they themselves will not heave at them with one of their fingers.
Bear ye one another's burden; and so fulfill the law of 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 happened in these days when Moses was waxed great, that he went out unto his brethren and looked on their burdens, and spied an Egyptian smiting one of his brethren, an Hebrew.
And let them judge the people at all seasons: If there be any great matter, let them bring that unto thee, and let them judge all small causes them selves, and ease thyself, and let them bear with thee.
If thou see thine enemy's ass sink under his burden, thou shalt not pass by and let him alone: but shalt help him to lift him up again.
This is the heavy burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amos did see.
This is the heavy burden upon Damascus: Behold, Damascus shall be no more a city, but a heap of broken stones.
This is the heavy burden, which the Prophet Habakkuk did see.
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 things of the sanctuary, against that the host remove, then the sons of Kohath shall come in for to bear, and so let them not touch the sanctuary lest they die. And this is the charge of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of witness.
And Moses said unto the LORD, "Wherefore dealest thou so cruelly with thy servant? Wherefore do I not find favour in thy sight, seeing that thou puttest the weight of this people upon me?
And Naaman said, "If thou wilt not: yet I pray thee, may there not be given to thy servant the burden of two mules of earth? For thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt sacrifice nor offering unto any other God, than to the LORD.
And it fortuned, that when the ports of Jerusalem began to be dark in the evening before the Sabbath, I commanded to shut the gates, and charged that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the Sabbath day.
For my wickednesses are gone over my head, and are like a sore burden, too heavy for me to bear.
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh. The prophecy of a true faithful man; whom God hath helped, whom God hath comforted and nourished.
These are the words of king Lemuel, and the Prophecy that his mother taught him.
The same year that king Ahaz died, God threatened by Isaiah on this manner:
In that day, sayeth the LORD of Hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place depart and be broken, and fall: and the burden that was upon it shall be plucked away. For the LORD himself hath said it.
If this people, either any prophet or priest ask thee, and say, 'What is the burden of the LORD?' Thou shalt say unto them, 'What burden? I will cast you from me, sayeth the LORD, because ye yourselves are a burden.'
{Nun} Thy prophets have looked out vain and foolish things for thee: they have not showed thee of thy wickedness, to keep thee from captivity; but have overladen thee, and through falsity scattered thee abroad.
Therefore are they scattered among the Heathen; There will I gather them up. They shall soon be weary of the burden of king and princes.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
'These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us which have borne the burden and heat of the day.'
Yea, and they bind heavy burdens, and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders: but they themselves will not heave at them with one of their fingers.
Then he said, "Woe be to you also ye lawyers: for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be born, and ye yourselves touch not the packs with one of your fingers.
For it seemed good to the holy ghost and to us, to put no grievous thing to you more than these necessary things,
Then appeared unto us Cyprus, and we left it on the left hand, and sailed unto Syria, and came unto Tyre. For there the ship unladed her burden.
And when I was present with you and had need, I was grievous to no man. For that which was lacking unto me, the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I kept myself that I should not be grievous to you: and so will I keep myself.
For what is it wherein ye were inferiors unto other congregations? Except it be therein that I was not grievous unto you. Forgive me this wrong done unto you.
Bear ye one another's burden; and so fulfill the law of Christ.
For every man shall bear his own burden.
Unto you I say, and unto others of them of Thyatira, as many as have not this learning, and which have not known the deepness of Satan, as they say; I will put upon you none other 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 prophecy of a true faithful man; whom God hath helped, whom God hath comforted and nourished.
These are the words of king Lemuel, and the Prophecy that his mother taught him.
This is the heavy burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amos did see.
This is the heavy burden upon Moab: Ar of Moab was destroyed and overthrown in the night season: Kir also, in Moab, perished in the night and vanished away.
If this people, either any prophet or priest ask thee, and say, 'What is the burden of the LORD?' Thou shalt say unto them, 'What burden? I will cast you from me, sayeth the LORD, because ye yourselves are a burden.' And the prophet, priest, or people that useth this term, 'the burden of the LORD' - him will I visit, and his house also. read more. But thus shall ye say, every one to another: What answer hath the LORD given? Or what is the LORD's commandment? And as for 'the burden of the LORD,' ye shall speak no more of it: for every man's own word is his burden, because ye have altered the words of the living God the LORD of Hosts our God. Thus shall every man say to the Prophets, 'What answer hath the LORD given thee?' Or, 'What sayeth the LORD?' And not once to name the burden of the LORD. Therefore thus sayeth the LORD: Forsomuch as ye have used this term, 'the burden of the LORD,' whereas I notwithstanding sent unto you and forbade you to speak of the LORD's burden -