עָמַס
to load, i.e. impose aburden (or figuratively, infliction)
Definition
The Hebrew verb עָמַס (ʻâmaç) fundamentally means 'to load' or 'to impose a burden.' It describes the physical act of placing a load on a person or animal, as seen when Joseph's brothers loaded their donkeys (Genesis 44:13). Figuratively, it conveys the idea of imposing a heavy obligation or infliction, such as the oppressive 'heavy burdens' King Rehoboam threatened to place on the people (1 Kings 12:11). In a unique theological sense, Psalm 68:19 uses the word to describe God bearing our burdens, transforming the concept from a harsh imposition to a divine act of sustaining grace.
Biblical Usage
This verb appears in narrative, prophetic, and poetic books. Its primary use is literal, describing the loading of goods (Genesis 44:13; Nehemiah 4:17; 13:15). In political contexts, it describes the imposition of harsh labor or taxes (1 Kings 12:11; 2 Chronicles 10:11). Prophetically, Isaiah uses it ironically for idols being loaded onto carts (Isaiah 46:1) and for the burdens God has carried since Israel's birth (Isaiah 46:3). The most significant usage is in Psalm 68:19, where it depicts God's gracious action of bearing burdens for His people.
Etymology
It is a primitive root (or עָמַשׂ). The core concept relates to bearing a weight or load. Cognates in other Semitic languages support meanings of 'loading' and 'burden.' The word's development shows a consistent link between the physical act and its metaphorical extensions of obligation and affliction.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant because it captures both human oppression and divine salvation. In most contexts, the burden is negative—an imposition by human authority. However, Psalm 68:19 radically reorients this: the same verb describes God's gracious act of carrying our burdens. This contrast highlights a key biblical theme: where humans impose heavy loads, God in His mercy takes them upon Himself. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of passages about suffering, sovereignty, and grace.
In an agrarian and trade-based society, loading animals (donkeys, camels) was a daily reality. A 'burden' (מַשָּׂא, massa') was a standard measure of weight for goods or taxes. The metaphorical use for oppressive labor or taxation would be immediately understood by an ancient Israelite living under monarchies or foreign rule, where such burdens were a common grievance.
נָשָׂא (nasa', H5375) — a broader term for 'to lift, carry, bear'; often used for bearing iniquity or guilt, not just physical loads. סָבַל (saval, H5445) — to bear a heavy load or burden, often in contexts of forced labor or servitude.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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